FERC Issues Order Requiring Wind Generation Facilities To Comply With Certain Transmission Owner And Transmission Operator Reliability Standards

Introduction

On June 16, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the "Commission" or "FERC") issued an Order denying the appeals of two wind generating facilities—Cedar Creek Wind Energy, LLC ("Cedar Creek") and Milford Wind Corridor Phase I, LLC ("Milford")-of the North American Energy Reliability Corporation's ("NERC's") determinations that Cedar Creek and Milford must each be registered as a transmission owner and transmission operator on the NERC Compliance Registry (the "Order"). Moreover, the Commission directed NERC to work with Cedar Creek and Milford to develop and submit to the Commission a list of transmission owner and transmission operator Reliability Standards and Requirements that apply to Cedar Creek and Milford based on the factual circumstances underlying the proceedings.