LOCAL UPDATES

ANTRIM WIND UPDATE:

Adjudicative Hearing Update

Antrim Wind is closing in on the evidentiary hearings, with the deliberative sessions to follow. There have been 12 days of hearings, with one more scheduled (Monday, Nov 7^th). Following the evidentiary hearings, the intervenors will have 7 days to submit their written briefs (1-2 pages) and Antrim Wind will then have 7 days to submit their brief. The deliberative sessions will follow, with the SEC Sub-committee making a permit decision before the end of the year.

NHWindWatch has submitted these comments to the SEC, outlining our concern that Antrim Wind has NOT complied with the SEC Application Requirements and therefore the SEC Sub-Committee will be unable to make an ‘informed’ decision on the project and should DENY the project.

The public is welcome to submit comments until the deliberative sessions begin, likely end of November. If you would like to share your thoughts regarding the Antrim Wind project, please email Pam Monroe at pamela.monroe@sec.nh.gov with a reference in the subject line to Antrim Wind Docket 2015-02.

NH Electric Coop to purchase 25% of Antrim Wind’s output

The electricity generated from the Antrim Wind facility has been contracted with NH Electric Cooperative (NHEC) for 25% of the power, at a price of ~$81/MWh for the next 20 years, while the current market price of electricity is in the range of $50/MWh. The actual price negotiated was not disclosed although based on the information in Antrim Wind’s proforma, the $81/MWh has been estimated. NHEC has recently announced a rate hike of 14.2%, see article. Why is NHEC signing a long-term contract for above market priced electricity, when they are already having to increase their electricity price?

Partners Healthcare to purchase ~70% of Antrim Wind’s output

Partners Healthcare of Boston, MA (Mass General, Brigham & Women’s Hospitals) has signed a letter of intent to “purchase roughly 70% of the energy and renewable energy credits” generated by the Antrim Wind facility. There is no pricing information although it’s likely to be in the same range as anticipated for NHEC, which is $81/MWh.

As stated in Partners letter of intent, “Partners has made sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction a top organizational priority. The Health care sector utilizes energy at a far greater rate than many others. We recognize that this consumption is at odds with our commitment to "do no harm", and are working to reduce our impact on the environment.” (emphasis added)

“Do no harm”? Obviously, Partners Healthcare has not considered the environmental, societal, health and wildlife impacts this industrial wind facility will have on the Antrim area. This project has been strongly opposed by the community and will destroy a super sanctuary for wildlife and the quality of life for people in the area. For more information, please refer to the letter of intent.

If you have concerns with this agreement, please feel free to share your thoughts with Partners Healthcare (contact: John Messervy Email: jmesservy@partners.org) and/or NH’s Site Evaluation Committee (email: pamela.monroe@sec.nh.gov).

GROTON WIND UPDATE:

According to a recent Union Leader article, Groton Wind says 2015 output blew in below expectations. From the article:

 “As the state’s Site Evaluation Committee decides whether to permit a proposed new wind farm in Antrim, New Hampshire Wind Watch is citing Groton Wind’s estimate four years ago that its facility would have a capacity factor of 33 to 36 percent. The capacity factor measurement is the average power generated divided by the rated peak power.

In its 2015 reports, Groton Wind said it fell short of that prediction, showing a 27.3 percent capacity factor. On Tuesday, Groton Wind told the Union Leader that its two-year average at the plant was 26.5 percent.

But Groton Wind LLC, which is owned by Iberdrola Renewables of Spain, is optimistic about stronger winds in the area and improved production in the future, said spokesman Paul Copleman.

“We're hopeful that the wind resource will pick up in these next couple of years at Groton and hit a more robust average net capacity factor,” Copleman said.”

The full article can be found here: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20161028/NEWS02/161029403/-1/news

NHWINDWATCH PRESS RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:                         Oct. 30, 2016

NH RESIDENTS EXPRESS CONCERN WITH

ANTRIM WIND’S FAILURE TO FOLLOW NEW SITING RULES

Antrim Wind Energy LLC’s second try at building the tallest wind turbines in the state is raising concerns from New Hampshire Wind Watch, a Lakes Region citizens’ group involved in creating new siting regulations for energy projects, including wind energy facilities.

First denied a site permit in 2013 on grounds of its visual impact, Antrim Wind is currently back before the NH Site Evaluation Committee with a plan for nine turbines instead of ten.  Eight turbines will stand 488 feet tall; the ninth has shortened to 446 feet.  The project is located in the northwest corner of Antrim and spans 3.5 miles of the undeveloped ridgeline between the Tuttle and Willard mountains.

Antrim Wind’s second application is the first project to be heard under the new Energy Siting Rules.  Those new regulations were reformulated during a two-year process that involved the NH Office of Energy and Planning, the NH Site Evaluation Committee, and public engagement.

 “New Hampshire residents have an expectation the Rules adopted by the SEC Committee will be followed by the applicant and their experts,” said Lori Lerner of NHWindWatch. “It is clear the letter and spirit of the rules, as adopted, are not being followed by Antrim Wind, leading to concern the project will not be evaluated in compliance with the rules. “

The Site Evaluation Committee began the hearing phase for AWE’s second application on Sept. 13 and is expected to conclude that phase on Nov. 7.

NHWind Watch members cite three areas of concern with AWE’s current plan:

1) Photo simulations.  New rules spell out that photographs used in simulations should be taken on clear weather conditions and at a time of day that provides optimal clarity and contrast and avoid if feasible showing poles, fences foreground objects and obstructions.  Antrim Wind’s photo simulations were primarily taken on hazy days with no attempt made to avoid foreground obstructions and distractions.

2) Decommissioning plans now require: “All underground infrastructure at depths less than four feet below grade shall be removed from the site.”   Antrim Wind’s plans called for digging an 8-foot trench around the turbine base(s) to bury the demolished concrete.

3) The new rules establish a maximum noise limit that the turbines can produce on all nearby properties, requiring worse-case operating conditions.  Evidence presented at the SEC hearings suggests that Antrim Wind’s project will exceed this noise limit.  Of further concern are examples of non-compliance in the areas of shadow flicker, wildlife studies, and safety setbacks.

The reformulation of the SEC rules were the direct result of public pressure from NH citizens who wanted energy project siting evaluated in a consistent, transparent manner.

“Given Antrim Wind’s lack of compliance with the new rules, it’s abundantly clear the SEC Sub-Committee will be unable to make an ‘informed’ decision following the letter and intent of the rules,” Lori Lerner said.

NHWind Watch has urged the NHSEC to deny AWE’s application.

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STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

General Election – Get out and vote next Tuesday! Please know your {Governor, NH Senate, NH Representative, US President and US Senate} candidate’s position on industrial wind before voting.  We need elected officials that will represent our position in Concord and Washington, DC! It’s been a LONG four years, we don’t need another four years of the same challenges and obstacles!

OTHER

Vermont SECRETARY OF STATE QUESTIONS IBERDROLA PAYMENTS TO VOTERS

According to the VTdigger article,

“Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos says he’s “greatly concerned” about a turbine developer’s monetary offer to registered voters in Windham and Grafton.

Though the Vermont Attorney General’s office has said Iberdrola Renewables’ proposed “direct partnership payments” don’t violate election law, Condos asserts that the developer is “pushing the envelope in an attempt to influence the vote.”

Voters in both towns are scheduled to weigh in on Iberdrola’s controversial Stiles Brook Wind Project on Nov. 8. The developer has promised that, if the project is built, each Windham resident could get a minimum of $1,162 annually, and each Grafton resident would receive at least $428 annually.”