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Native Village of Wales, Alaska: Energy Efficiency RetrofitsCX(s) Applied: B2.5, B5.1Date: 09/08/2009Location(s): Wales, AlaskaOffice(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Congress directed the Commission, in its development of a National Broadband Plan, to include “a plan for the use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing . . . energy independence and efficiency.” Smart Grid technology has been identified as a promising way to use broadband and other advanced communications to promote energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage energy independence.

In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Congress directed the Commission, in its development of a National Broadband Plan, to include “a plan for the use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing . . . en...

Electrical Interconnection of the Kittitas Valley Wind Project

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has decided to offer contract terms for interconnection of up to 108 megawatts (MW) of power to be generated by the proposed Kittitas Valley Wind Project (Wind Project) into the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS). Sagebrush Power Partners, LLC (Sagebrush) has received authorization from the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) to construct and operate the proposed Wind Project in Kittitas County, Washington, and has requested interconnection to the FCRTS on BPA’s Columbia-Covington 230-kV transmission line in the vicinity of Ellensburg, Washington. BPA will construct a new substation to accommodate this additional power into the FCRTS.

The Department of Energy’s (Department) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore) is a premier research and development institution supporting the Department’s scientific, engineering, environmental, and national security activities. Livermore is managed and operated under contract by Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS) LLC, for the Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). In accordance with the Department’s safeguards and security policy, Livermore maintains a cadre of armed protective force officers to prevent and defend against malevolent acts. Federal regulations establish protective force arrest authority to enforce specific laws regarding property of the United States in the custody of the Department or its contractors. Federal regulations and Department policy limit protective force officials’ arrest authority to the performance of official duties related to Department property. In November 2008, the Office of Inspector General received an allegation that Livermore’s protective force was acting outside its established authority. Specifically, it was alleged that the protective force violated the law and Livermore policy by responding to a local Livermore Police Department radio call for assistance, which they overheard on their police band radio. Protective force officers already away from the Livermore site responded to a private residence and interacted with the public. It was also alleged that while onsite at Livermore, the protective force violated employees’ privacy rights by accessing the Department of Motor Vehicles database when conducting vehicle traffic stops for administrative traffic violations. We noted that the protective force was using the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (CLETS) to access the Department of Motor Vehicles database. Information available from CLETS can include vehicle registration information and criminal records, such as outstanding “wants and warrants.” We initiated this inspection to review the facts and circumstances regarding the allegation.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Protective Force Authority