Maine Ratepayers Expected to Cough Up $370,000,000 (370 million dollars) for an ISO-NE Upgrade for a Wind Project

by Dan McKay

11 hours ago

             

              

           
 ISO-NE identifies the Aroostook County wind project ( part of the Northern Maine                                           Renewable Energy Development Program) requires a transmission upgrade within the                 
 ISO-NE Network even though this wind project is not in the ISO-NE territory.
 The minimum cost of these upgrades among the six bids received by ISO-NE is about                                     $1,000,000,000( One Billion Dollars)
 ISO-NE determines the cost of this project( if approved) will be allocated by a formula:
 
 " public policy projects, a cost allocation is used:
70% of the costs of upgrades are spread throughout the region on a load-ratio basis
30% of the costs are allocated on a load-ratio basis among states with public policies driving the need for the project
 A billion dollar project : Driven by Maine Public Policy Law
 70% X $1,000,000,000 = $700,000,000
Maine ratepayers pay 10% of this = $70,000,000 (70 million dollars) plus:
30% X $1,000,000,000 = $300,000,000 (300 million dollars whereas Maine public                        policies are driving the need for this project)
Maine pays $370,000,000 (370 million dollars) for the ISO-NE Upgrade
But, that isn't all. Maine ratepayers get to pay for the wind project and generator connection line to the ISO-NE Upgrade.
The Maine PUC is begging other New England States to help with the costs. So far New Hampshire will not and how much the other States will help is a secret as all PUC wind project proposals are.