Electric power transmission has become central to policies relating to energy security, reliability, market access, capacity and grid resilience.
Transmission owners, operators and developers are responding with programs and projects to address each of these considerations, and as they respond, they are often shifting and reprioritizing in a dynamic environment. Few industries have witnessed such flux. We have found it essential to understand and learn about our clients’ needs and priorities, adapt our services, and transfer learning and capabilities throughout SWCA. We have earned a reputation as a reliable and responsive team member who will provide quality work, and can scale to virtually any size transmission project or program. We get involved in every phase of the project, from the preliminary environmental analysis to long-term monitoring after project completion.
SWCA’s transmission practice supports many of the largest electric utilities, transmission developers, and operators in the country. We have completed projects under on-call contracts, and supported and managed complex and large-scale programs, often as owner’s representative. We are experienced with projects at all levels of transmission and distribution voltage, and in almost any physiographic setting. Our teams complete challenging intra-state projects as well as larger multi-state projects. Our project managers are proven and recognized for their strategic thinking and proactive approach.
Association Involvement
• Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (MI EIBC)
• WIRES Group
Relevant Services
Project Types We Support
- Capacity
- Safety and Reliability
- Design Compliance
- Emergency Response
- Interconnections and Tie-lines
- New Construction: Green Field, Re-build, Upgrade
Programs We Help Implement and Manage
- NERC and Other Grid Compliance
- Pole Replacement
- Vegetation Management
- On-Call Services, including Rapid Response and Emergency Services
- Owner’s Environmental Representative for Large-Scale Programs and Projects
Licensing, Permitting, and Decision Documents
- Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
- Federal Use Permits and Plans of Development
- State Public Utility Commission License and Permits Applications and Corresponding Environmental Assessments
- Federal, State, and Local Resources Permit Packages and Supporting Documentation
- Supporting Technical Studies and Reports
- Constraints, Routing, and Siting Studies and Corresponding Permit Requirements Analyses and Strategies
Corresponding Services We Provide
- Project Management and Staff Augmentation
- Natural Resources Services
- Cultural Resources Studies
- Environmental Reporting
- Agency Consultations
- Planning and Land Use Studies
- GIS Analytics and Mapping
- Construction Environmental Compliance Management Plans, Training, and Staffing
Meet The Experts
Relevant Case Studies
NEPA Compliance
Southline Transmission Project: Environmental Impact Statement
The desert southwest is undergoing substantial growth, and with it, there’s a growing demand for energy. The Southline Transmission project was proposed as a solution to both strengthen the regional transmission grid, and facilitate the development of renewable energy projects in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Transmission Services
Best Practices for Transmission Projects
SWCA provides environmental consulting and planning services for electric transmission clients nationwide, including regulated utilities, independent transmission operators, and federal energy agencies. SWCA’s transmission practice easily scales to client needs, from a single site focused biological survey and report to playing key team roles in multi-state/multi-component transmission systems planning, management, permitting, and construction.
Regulatory Compliance
Got Species? Endangered Species Act Tools & Tips
Once a species is protected by the Endangered Species Act, projects that impact those species could require authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. SWCA tracks threatened and endangered species issues closely and offers the following tips for staying ahead of the game.
Transmission Case Study
Western Electricity Coordinating Council: Environmental Mitigation Costs Study
WECC hired SWCA to conduct a study that would substantiate WECC’s recommendations regarding how environmental mitigation costs might be applied generally for long-term transmission expansion planning efforts within the WECC region. SWCA was selected because our approach combined interviews with transmission project developers and our applied knowledge of the environmental regulations that typically have the greatest influence on the transmission project development process.
Take the Next Step
Request more information about our transmission capabilities.