Nuclear wins big in Connecticut clean energy competition - major disappointment to wind developers

The final clean energy competition of the Malloy administration not only handed the Millstone Nuclear Power Station the lifeline it has sought for nearly two years — claiming the plant was at risk of closing otherwise — but it also accepted a proposal from the region’s only other nuclear plant, Seabrook in New Hampshire, which is not claiming financial distress.

Together the two plants account for some 1,256 megawatts of power – more than 82 percent of the overall bids accepted.

In a major disappointment to the environmental community, only 104 megawatts of offshore wind power was approved – to be added to the 200 megawatts the state has already authorized for the Revolution wind project being developed by Deepwater Wind, the developers of the nation’s only operating offshore wind off Block Island.

Read the full article at the following weblink:

https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/28/nuclear-wins-big-clean-energy-compe...

Hartford Courant: Connecticut commits to nuclear power, ending debate over Millstone’s future

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy linked the selection of zero-carbon power to efforts to head off the impacts of climate change.

But the Connecticut Fund for the Environment criticized the Malloy administration for shaping an energy portfolio “weighted very heavily” to the two nuclear plants.

“We’re glad the state will see some new solar and wind come online as a result of this procurement, but are still very concerned that as a whole, these ... choices don’t put Connecticut on the road to a clean energy economy,” the group said.

Read the full article at the following weblink:

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-millstone-state-auctions-20...

Gov. Malloy Announces Zero-Carbon Resource Selections

https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?Q=607002&A=4965

Malloy%20Millstone.pdf

RECENT AND RELATED:

Lawmakers Overwhelmingly Vote To Modernize US Nuclear Fleet

The Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act was approved in the House of Representatives by wide margins Friday, clearing the chamber by 361 to 10. The Senate had already approved the bill on Thursday by a voice vote.

Introduced by Wyoming GOP Sen. John Barrasso and co-sponsored by a number of Republicans and Democrats alike, the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act calls for a number of reforms that would unburden the industry. The legislation streamlines how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates facilities by improving licensing procedures and giving licensees more transparency on how the agency spends its money. Additionally, it encourages investment in nuclear research and supports the development new technology in labs around the country.

The end goal of the bill is to make the development and commercialization of nuclear technology more affordable.

Read the full article at the following weblink:

https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/22/congress-passes-modern-nuclear-p...

A Growing Number Of States Are Rushing To Save Their Nuclear Plants

https://dailycaller.com/2018/11/26/states-nuclear-plants-carbon/

Views: 299

Comment

You need to be a member of Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine to add comments!

Join Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine

Comment by Penny Gray on December 31, 2018 at 6:52am

Carbon free nuclear power is the future.  From the article:

"Nuclear technology has been misrepresented since its inception. These days, Patrick Moore, a leading figure in Greenpeace Canada and Greenpeace International between 1971 and 1986, and Whole Earth Catalog founder Stewart Brand support nuclear energy. More than two dozen notable environmentalists support nuclear power, but we have to make these facts known to the grass roots in order to garner support for our public referendums.

Maine may find success in educating the people about small modular reactor technology. Transparency is still a growing factor in responsible government. By submitting legislation that would make it easier to site a small nuclear plant in Maine, Gov. Paul LePage may find that the Maine people are not as gullible as the environmental opposition groups would lead them to be."

Comment by Long Islander on December 30, 2018 at 11:23pm
Comment by Willem Post on December 30, 2018 at 10:55am

The areas occupied by power systems for electricity generation by various energy sources for 60 years are shown in table 1. Wind and solar have short lives, i.e., 20 to 25 years, but nuclear has a life of about 60 years. Any large-scale build-out of wind and solar would have a much larger area “footprint” than nuclear. PLEASE READ THE URL.

http://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/land-and-sea-area-for-v...

 

- Nuclear produces 84 times more electricity per acre than solar during 60 years.

- Nuclear produces 612 times more electricity per acre than onshore wind during 60 years

- Nuclear produces 980 times more electricity per acre than offshore wind during 60 years

 

In addition:

 

- All PV panels would be replaced in about year 25 and year 50, which would reduce generation during a 60-y period.

- Onshore wind turbines would require major refurbishment and replacement in about year 25 and year 50, which would reduce generation during a 60-y period, based on European onshore wind experience.

- Offshore wind turbines would require major refurbishment and replacement in about year 20 and year 40, and year 60, which would reduce generation during the 60-y period, based on European offshore wind experience.

http://energyskeptic.com/2018/wind/?fbclid=IwAR3u-kxMrxTGSDHNBS-_-E...

Table 1/Land area

Acre/MW

CF

Site occupation

Electricity generation at site

Nuclear

60 y

 y

MWh/acre

Times better

Nuclear

0.5

0.90

60

946728

1

Solar, field-mounted

7

0.15

60

11271

84

Wind, onshore

102

0.30

60

1547

612

Wind, offshore

245

0.45

60

966

980

 

CF = capacity factor

Comment by Willem Post on December 29, 2018 at 5:46pm

Gee, it is about time folks start to wake up regarding having CO2 free nuclear as a major contributor to the electricity mix.

France has among the lowest household electricity prices in thé EU, because it is 75 to 80% nuclear

Nuclear has the least footprint of all energy sources

It takes up the smallest area by far.

Wind and solar are space hogs

They take up spaces all over the place and that means there has to be grid all over the place, on land and offshore.

The stupidity of subsidizing wind and solar instead of nuclear is lunacy to the nth degree.

Comment by Penny Gray on December 29, 2018 at 12:50pm

Nuclear and hydro, in the end, will carry the day.  They should be granted all the same carbon free perk$ that inefficient and intermittent wind and solar now receive, and the sooner the better for our environment and economy.

Comment by Dan McKay on December 28, 2018 at 3:36pm

Even though Connecticut can lay claim to emission free attributes for these nuclear generation plants, they will remain reliable sources of electricity to the New England Regional Grid and continue to bid as price takers in the day ahead market. It would be great if Southern New England States extended their Emission-free PPAs to New Nuclear Plants and New Hydro; two resources that could lower electric prices as well as emissions in New England.

Comment by Donna Amrita Davidge on December 28, 2018 at 3:24pm

yeah

 

Maine as Third World Country:

CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power

 

Click here to read how the Maine ratepayer has been sold down the river by the Angus King cabal.

Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting – Three Part Series: A CRITICAL LOOK AT MAINE’S WIND ACT

******** IF LINKS BELOW DON'T WORK, GOOGLE THEM*********

(excerpts) From Part 1 – On Maine’s Wind Law “Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine if the law’s goals were met." . – Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, August 2010 https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/From Part 2 – On Wind and Oil Yet using wind energy doesn’t lower dependence on imported foreign oil. That’s because the majority of imported oil in Maine is used for heating and transportation. And switching our dependence from foreign oil to Maine-produced electricity isn’t likely to happen very soon, says Bartlett. “Right now, people can’t switch to electric cars and heating – if they did, we’d be in trouble.” So was one of the fundamental premises of the task force false, or at least misleading?" https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-swept-task-force-set-the-rules/From Part 3 – On Wind-Required New Transmission Lines Finally, the building of enormous, high-voltage transmission lines that the regional electricity system operator says are required to move substantial amounts of wind power to markets south of Maine was never even discussed by the task force – an omission that Mills said will come to haunt the state.“If you try to put 2,500 or 3,000 megawatts in northern or eastern Maine – oh, my god, try to build the transmission!” said Mills. “It’s not just the towers, it’s the lines – that’s when I begin to think that the goal is a little farfetched.” https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/flaws-in-bill-like-skating-with-dull-skates/

Not yet a member?

Sign up today and lend your voice and presence to the steadily rising tide that will soon sweep the scourge of useless and wretched turbines from our beloved Maine countryside. For many of us, our little pieces of paradise have been hard won. Did the carpetbaggers think they could simply steal them from us?

We have the facts on our side. We have the truth on our side. All we need now is YOU.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

 -- Mahatma Gandhi

"It's not whether you get knocked down: it's whether you get up."
Vince Lombardi 

Task Force membership is free. Please sign up today!

Hannah Pingree on the Maine expedited wind law

Hannah Pingree - Director of Maine's Office of Innovation and the Future

"Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine."

https://pinetreewatch.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/

© 2024   Created by Webmaster.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service