Proposed MassDEP Clean Energy Standard (CES)

" Regulatory Arrogance "  Is there a chance of that in the halls of Augusta ?

Thank you, Lisa Linowes ....................https://www.masterresource.org/cape-wind-project-windpower/cape-wind-dead-forever/

     Would anyone from the legislature be willing to offer a bill to direct the PUC to determine if there is presently enough qualified Maine Class 1 Renewable Energy Credits ( REC )  accumulated to satisfy the 2017 goal of 10% new renewable in the State's electric portfolio, assuming a 2% growth in electricity consumption from 2015 to 2017 ?  If such a scenario is presently available, then the Maine Renewable Portfolio Standard should be retired two years early and the Maine Class 1 REC…

   This graphic depicts the several wind projects in place or looking for approval to build in Maine. Power Purchase Agreements with out of state utilities have provided collateral for financing.

    DEP/BEP approval is essentially a given for these projects.

    The Maine PUC is aware of the transmission constraints  these projects will encounter in trying to…

 Wind projects in New England receive such enormous payments for their generation, they will offer their output to the grid even when prices go negative. Clearly, when low or negative pricing occurs, the best course for the electric power providers is to reduce the production of energy. That's common sense, unless the power producer can be paid handsomely for products attached to their output, " the enhancers ."

Date: 11/11/2013

During 2013, ISO New England (ISO-NE), the region's independent system operator, continued to address a range of issues that impact wind power's access to and participation in the regional power market. These issues cover the integration of variable resources; the forward capacity market; bidding rules in ISO's energy market; and transmission congestion, planning, and cost allocation. Many of the topics are under active consideration, and depending on the outcome,…

 It won't be long before wind is setting some of the clearinghouse prices for electric supply in New England.

http://isonewswire.com/updates/2014/4/1/new-wind-power-forecast-integrated-into-iso-ne-processes-and.html

Another recently adopted change to ISO-NE energy market pricing rules will (pending FERC final approval) affect wind power projects. Today, intermittent generators like wind projects participating in ISO's energy markets can simply bid zero ($0 per MWh) and be assured of being selected and getting paid the real-time market clearing price, a practice referred to as being a "price taker." There are times, however, when the output of all projects acting as price takers would exceed the load. In…

http://blogs.platts.com/2013/11/22/ee-nov13/#more-13051

The Legislature finds that it is in the public interest to explore opportunities for and encourage the development, where appropriate, of wind energy production in the State in a manner that is consistent with all state and federal environmental standards and that achieves reliable, cost-effective, sustainable energy production on those sites in the State that will attract investment and permit the development of viable wind energy projects. The Legislature finds that the development of the…

Feb. 20, 2009 ISO-NE question to CMP about MPRP :

Q. What percentage of this Project, if any, can be attributed solely for generation

integration?

March 16,2009 CMP answer :

A. None. 100% of the project was developed and designed solely to address reliability

issues in the Maine transmission system. At ISO's request, CMP evaluated the ability

of MPRP to accommodate the addition of wind generation resources, but no portion of

the project was modified as a…

Webpage to the Maine's PUC report to the EUT committee.......http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/legislative/documents/Economics%20of%20Renewable%20Energy%20Policy.pdf

Maine may be even “ Greener “ than anyone realized. From the EIA website……………………………,

“Trade is highest in regions with large amounts of hydropower. Canadian hydroelectric generators are concentrated in the Pacific Northwest; in Northern Manitoba, which exports electricity via transmission lines running south through Minnesota and North Dakota; in Ontario bordering New York and Michigan; and in Quebec north of New England. Certain states rely heavily on imported electricity:…

Maine and Massachusetts have the greatest potential to grow their renewable capacity while Connecticut has the least.

To be “Green” in New England is a matter of law, not individual choice. With the exception of Vermont, every other New England State has a Renewable Portfolio Standard which mandates a certain percentage of electricity sold within the State will be derived from renewable sources. Each year, this percentage increases at 1% for all States, except Connecticut, which…

"Through its Maine Power Reliability Program, CMP is upgrading a swath of power lines through central Maine to connect to lines from Canada."  Excerpt from Sun Journal story :     http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2012/12/20/cmp-powers-larrabee-road-substation/1295931

This is the first I've heard of the connection to Canadian lines…

" The PUC agrees that wind projects tend to reduce prices in the wholesale markets and contribute to energy diversity and price stability. "

A wind developer contemplating a project in New York laments that the project must be put on hold due to electrical power prices currently at an all-time low because of oversupply of natural gas. See www.windaction.org “Galloo Island Wind Farm "on hold" for at least six months; low price of electricity cited “

At some point, the electricity produced from wind has to enter the market and is subject to the current market price. Sometimes, the…

When I came across this quote, I couldn't help but think of Stantec, Sewall Co. Kleinschmidt and all the engineers hired by CMP trying to make a transmission fit for wind :

“No engineer could, or would, join [a government funded bound rubber band electricity generation plant].” Would that this were true, Mr. Hails. Given what I’ve seen, engineers would join with economists in a New York minute, putting grand make work on display with their shoulders to the wheel of making the…

The Maine Public Utilities Commission ( Overseers of electric rates in Maine ) must be having one of those “ If we only knew then what we know now “ moments . In 2009, the PUC mandated a contract between a wind turbine project owner in Lincoln, Maine and Central Maine Power and Bangor-Hydro. An article from the Lewiston Sun Journal appearing in April 2010 states “The 20-year contract between Rollins’ owner, First Wind, and CMP and Bangor Hydro Electric Co. was hammered out by the Maine…