Notice2024-10558
Application for Authorization To Export Electric Energy; Merelec USA LLC
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 15, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
Merelec USA LLC (the Applicant or Merelec USA) has applied for authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico pursuant to the Federal Power Act.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42465-42466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10558]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[GDO Docket No. EA-509]
Application for Authorization To Export Electric Energy; Merelec
USA LLC
AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of application.
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SUMMARY: Merelec USA LLC (the Applicant or Merelec USA) has applied for
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to
Mexico pursuant to the Federal Power Act.
DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on
or before June 14, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for
more information should be addressed by electronic mail to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90d5fcf5f3e4e2f9f3f9e4e9bed5e8e0ffe2e4e3d0f8e1bef4fff5bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b1e373e382f293238322f22751e232b34292f281b332a753f343e753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janessa Zucchetto, (240) 474-8226,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#591c353c3a2d2b303a302d20771c2129362b2d2a193128773d363c773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fcb990999f888e959f958885d2b9848c938e888fbc948dd2989399d29b938a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Department of Energy (DOE)
regulates electricity exports from the United States to foreign
countries in accordance with section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act
(FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)) and regulations thereunder (10 CFR 205.300 et
seq.). Sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the DOE Organization Act (42
U.S.C. 7151(b) and 7172(f)) transferred this regulatory authority,
previously exercised by the now-defunct Federal Power Commission, to
DOE.
Section 202(e) of the FPA provides that an entity which seeks to
export electricity must obtain an order from DOE authorizing that
export (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)). On April 10, 2023, the authority to issue
such orders was delegated to the DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO) by
Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S3-2023 and Redelegation Order No. S3-DEL-
GD1-2023.
On January 29, 2024, Merelec USA filed an application with DOE
(Application or App.) to transmit electric energy from the United
States to Mexico for a term of five-years. App. at 1.
According to the Application, Merelec USA is a limited liability
corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Texas. App. at Exhibit B. Merelec USA represents it is 95%
owned by MECSA Holding LLC, and 5% owned by an individual, Geibi
Menjivar. Id. at 3. Merelec USA further states ``MECSA Holding LLC is
wholly-owned by four individuals, each with a 25% ownership share:
Gustavo Napole[oacute]n Ch[aacute]vez, Carolina Beatriz Ch[aacute]vez
D[iacute]az, Gustavo Enrique Ch[aacute]vez D[iacute]az, and Carlos
Guillermo Ch[aacute]vez D[iacute]az.'' Id. According to the
application, ``Merelec USA is a power marketer authorized by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (``FERC'') to make sales of
electric power at wholesale in interstate commerce at market-based
rates.'' Id. at 2. The Applicant further states it ``will purchase the
energy to be exported from wholesale generators, electric utilities,
and federal power marketing agencies. The instant application relates
to Merelec USA as a marketer of electric energy only.'' Id. at 2-3.
The Applicant asserts it ``does not own or control any transmission
facilities and does not have a franchised service area'' App. at 2. The
Applicant represents that it ``will make all necessary commercial
arrangements and will obtain any and all other regulatory approvals
required in order to carry out any electricity exports[,]'' including:
``(1) scheduling each transaction with the appropriate balancing
authority area in compliance with all reliability criteria, standards,
and guidelines of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation
and the relevant Regional Entities (collectively, ``NERC'') in effect
at the time of export, and (2) obtaining all necessary transmission
access over approved export facilities.'' Id. at 3. Merelec USA notes
it will purchase the electricity that it may export, on either a firm
or an interruptible basis, from wholesale generators, electric
utilities, federal power marketing agencies, and affiliates through
negotiated agreements that have been voluntarily executed by the
selling parties after considering their own need for any such
electricity. Id. at 2-3. For these reasons, the Applicant asserts that
``proposed electricity exports will not impair or tend to impede the
sufficiency of electric power supplies in the United States or the
regional coordination of electric utility planning or operations.'' Id.
at 3.
The existing international transmission facilities to be utilized
by the Applicant have been previously authorized by Presidential
permits issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended, and are
appropriate for open access transmission by third parties. See App. at
Exhibit C.
Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the Application at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#43062f262037312a202a373a6d063b332c313730032b326d272c266d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1e5b727b7d6a6c777d776a67305b666e716c6a6d5e766f307a717b30797168">[email protected]</span></a>. Protests should be filed in accordance
with Rule 211 of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) Rules
of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any
[[Page 42466]]
person desiring to become a party to this proceeding should file a
motion to intervene at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3e6cfc6c0d7d1cac0cad7da8de6dbd3ccd1d7d0e3cbd28dc7ccc68dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="89cce5eceafdfbe0eae0fdf0a7ccf1f9e6fbfdfac9e1f8a7ede6eca7eee6ff">[email protected]</span></a> in accordance
with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214).
Comments and other filings concerning Merelec USA's Application
should be clearly marked with GDO Docket No. EA-509. Additional copies
are to be provided directly to Gustavo Enrique Ch[aacute]vez
D[iacute]az, Merelec USA LLC, 3000 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77042,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3b5c5e58535a4d5e417b5c494e4b54565e495e575e5815585456"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f0979593989186958ab0978285809f9d9582959c9593de939f9d">[email protected]</span></a>, and Frederick G. Jauss IV, Husch Blackwell
LLP, 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20006-
3606, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fb9d899e9fd5919a8e8888bb938e88989399979a98908c9e9797d5989496"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1670647372387c77636565567e6365757e747a77757d61737a7a3875797b">[email protected]</span></a>.
A final decision will be made on the requested authorization after
the environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's
National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part
1021) and after DOE evaluates whether the proposed action will have an
adverse impact on the sufficiency of supply or reliability of the
United States electric power supply system.
Copies of this Application will be made available, upon request, by
accessing the program website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/gdo/pending-applications-0">https://www.energy.gov/gdo/pending-applications-0</a> or by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ca8fa6afa9beb8a3a9a3beb3e48fb2baa5b8beb98aa2bbe4aea5afe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a0f262f293e382329233e33640f323a25383e390a223b642e252f642d253c">[email protected]</span></a>.
Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was
signed on May 9, 2024, by Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment
Office, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy.
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by
DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on May 9, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-10558 Filed 5-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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