James Whitaker, PE
Supervisor, Power Systems Studies

With over 37 years of industry experience and over 15 years at TRC, Mr. Whitaker is highly skilled in the areas of power system design, studies and consulting. He currently serves as Supervisor within the Power Systems Studies Group. His extensive background includes projects nationwide with transmission organizations, major utilities, ISO’s, electric cooperatives and large power users such as mining operations and manufacturing.

Mr. Whitaker’s roles at TRC include Generation Interconnection studies, Bulk and Regional Power Transmission Studies, as well as creating Agreements for Generator Interconnection with Transmission Owners and Providers, Participation Agreements with Large Industrial Users and Electricity Purchase Power Agreements with Electric Generation Companies. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University.

Project Experience

• El Paso Electric (EPE): Mr. Whitaker assists in coordinating efforts for EPE’s Large and Small Generation Interconnection System Impact Studies. His roles include individual generator requests, multi-GW cluster studies, and transmission and distribution levels. He also leads TRC teams to ensure that EPE is NERC TPL-001-4, MOD-33, and CIP-014 compliance.
• New York Power Authority (NYPA): Acts as Technical Lead to conduct North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Mock Audits to train and prepare NYPA staff for NERC Audits of reliability standards. Reviews all evidence prepared by NYPA staff and their consultants to identify gaps and inconsistencies.
• New York Independent System Operator: Manages TRC’s Generator Feasibility and System Impact Studies and Reliability Impact Studies throughout New York and Long Island.
• Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA): Led a team performing Emergency System Restoration Studies to finalize the rebuilding of voltages for the PREPA distribution and subtransmission systems. The findings of these studies were used to assist PREPA and Federal officials on the best way to rebuild Puerto Rico after the Hurricane Maria disaster.
• Avangrid/Iberdrola USA: Mr. Whitaker oversaw Transmission System Impact Studies to assist Avangrid/Iberdrola with their NERC standard TPL-001-4 compliance. This included steady state and stability analyses for Central Maine Power utility and for New York utilities. Both efforts were coordinated with regional utilities and ISO’s.
• ISO-New England: Worked as a team lead to complete System Impact Studies to examine the impacts of a 28 MW gas turbine on the ISO-NE transmission system in Northern Vermont and a 50 MW System of gas turbines interconnected to an ISO-NE Transmission Owner’s system in Central Vermont. Both studies were conducted using a combination of steady state, dynamic, and short circuit analyses.
• Whitaker, assisted by the TRC Power Systems Studies Team, conducted Generator Interconnection Assistance including high-level scoping and capacity studies for potential sites nationwide since 2013. The Team collaborates with various Generator Developers across the country to determine overall expected costs for interconnection at each site. Together, they also work to complete Interconnection Requests and Application for Developers.

Selected Presentations and Publications

• Whitaker, James D “Lessons Learned on How to Obtain a Successful Solar Interconnection” PowerGen 2016 and Renewable Energy World.  Orlando, Florida, December 2016.
• Whitaker, James D. “Why Studies Matter,” RMEL Electric Energy, Spring 2014.
• Whitaker, James D. “Transmission Activity in the Western US,” Western LAMPAC (Labor and Management Public Affairs Committee) Spring Conference, Sandia Resort and Casino, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 2007.
• Whitaker, James D. “FERC Order 2003 Issues and Impacts on Xcel Energy,” Rocky Mountain Electric League (RMEL) Transmission Issues Conference, Holiday Inn, Thornton, Colorado, March 2005.

Education and Professional Registrations

• B.S. Electrical Engineering, New Mexico State University
• Registered as Professional Engineer in Virginia (#22965) and Arizona (#26619)

Certifications and Training

• Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) Devices – January 2007
• FERC Order 2004 – September 2004
• FERC Order 2003 – October 2003
• Wind Powered Generation Development and Design – August 2003
• Siemens-PTI PSS/E (Power System Load Flow) – May 2002
• Siemens-PTI MUST (Managing and Utilizing System Transmission) – March 2002
• Siemens-PTI Power System Dynamics – November 2002