What is CREZ?
CREZ stands for Competitive Renewable Energy Zones. The CREZ process was established by the Texas Legislature in 2005 through the enactment of Senate Bill 20. It was created to help encourage the development of wind generation in Texas by facilitating the construction of electric transmission lines to areas of the state determined to have superior wind energy resources. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (“PUCT”) has designated certain portions of West Texas and the Texas Panhandle and South Plains as CREZ Zones and has selected a transmission scenario that will bring in 18,456 megawatts of wind power from these regions into the ERCOT electric market. On January 29, 2009, the PUCT designated numerous transmission service providers (“TSPs”), including Sharyland Utilities, to construct specific portions of the CREZ facilities.
