[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 3903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01076]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. EA-275-C]


Application To Export Electric Energy; NorthPoint Energy 
Solutions Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Electricity, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: NorthPoint Energy Solutions Inc. (Applicant or NorthPoint) has 
applied to renew its authorization to transmit electric energy from the 
United States to Canada pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on 
or before February 24, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for 
more information should be addressed to: Office of Electricity, Mail 
Code: OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0350. Because of delays in handling conventional 
mail, it is recommended that documents be transmitted by overnight 
mail, by electronic mail to [email protected], or by 
facsimile to (202) 586-8008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy (DOE) regulates 
exports of electricity from the United States to a foreign country, 
pursuant to sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7151(b) and 7172(f)). Such exports require 
authorization under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
824a(e)).
    On December 21, 2009, DOE issued Order EA-275-B, which authorized 
NorthPoint to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada 
as a power marketer for a ten-year term using existing international 
transmission facilities appropriate for open access. The authorization 
expires on April 7, 2020. On December 20, 2019, NorthPoint filed an 
application (Application or App.) with DOE for renewal of the export 
authorization contained in Order No. EA-275-B for an additional ten-
year term.
    NorthPoint states in its Application that it ``does not own, 
operate, or control any electric generation, transmission, or 
distribution facilities in the United States, nor is it affiliated with 
any owner of electric generation, transmission, or distribution 
facilities in the United States.'' App. at 4. NorthPoint states that it 
``is a wholly owned subsidiary of SaskPower, a Provincial Crown 
corporation of the Government of Saskatchewan, Canada'' and that 
``SaskPower is engaged in the generation of power from predominantly 
thermal sources and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such 
power to wholesale and retail customers within Saskatchewan.'' Id. At 
2. NorthPoint further states that ``[a]ny power purchased by NorthPoint 
for export to Canada will be surplus to the needs of the entities 
selling power to NorthPoint.'' Id. at 4. The existing international 
transmission facilities to be utilized by the Applicant have previously 
been authorized by Presidential permits issued pursuant to Executive 
Order 10485, as amended, and are appropriate for open access 
transmission by third parties.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this 
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the application at the 
address provided above. Protests should be filed in accordance with 
Rule 211 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become 
a party to this proceeding should file a motion to intervene at the 
above address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). Two 
(2) copies of such comments, protests, or motions to intervene should 
be sent to the address provided above on or before the date listed 
above.
    Comments and other filings concerning NorthPoint's application to 
export electric energy to Canada should be clearly marked with OE 
Docket No. EA-275-C. Additional copies are to be provided directly to 
Matthew T. Rick, John & Hengerer LLP, 1629 K Street NW, Suite 402, 
Washington, DC 20006, and to General Council, SaskPower--Corporate & 
Regulatory Affairs, 2025 Victoria Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 
S4P 0S1.
    A final decision will be made on this application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's National 
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) and 
after DOE determines that the proposed action will not have an adverse 
impact on the sufficiency of supply or reliability of the U.S. electric 
power supply system.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above, by 
accessing the program website at http://energy.gov/node/11845, or by 
emailing Matthew Aronoff at [email protected].

    Signed in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2020.
Christopher Lawrence,
Management and Program Analyst, Transmission Permitting and Technical 
Assistance, Office of Electricity.
[FR Doc. 2020-01076 Filed 1-22-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P