Dan McKay's Blog (839)

Just a reminder –

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a public meeting at the Airline Community School, Aurora, Maine, on Wednesday, January 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.   The purpose of the meeting is to allow the Department to receive public input regarding the proposed Weaver Wind Project.

If you are unable…

 EUT Interested Party Introductions January 24th

The EUT Committee will provide an opportunity for interested parties to introduce themselves and the organization(s) they represent during its afternoon meeting on Thursday, January 24, 2019.  Due to the anticipated number of interested parties,…

Democratic Rep. Seth Berry said the report will likely have little impact under Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has voiced support for promoting renewable energy. Mills’ office didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.

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Seth Berry

Berry described…

Remember the Maine Power Reliability Project ?

CMP managed to get ISO-NE to agree it was for regional benefits, consequently, Maine's proportional cost was 8% of the total socialized cost.

Now comes Offshore Wind with Offshore Transmission.

"NEW ENGLAND is in the midst of an energy sea…

§3143. Declaration of policy on smart grid infrastructure

Have you ever wondered why "smart meters" ? well, here it is 

BRUCE FARRIN, RUMFORD FALLS TIMES  

ROXBURY — A proposal to build four wind turbines nearly 500 feet tall on North Twin Mountain in Roxbury drew opposition from conservationists and others at a public hearing Monday evening at the Town Office.

Nearly half of the 25 people attending testified, many of them having ties to Mahoosuc Land Trust in Bethel. The organization, which has more than 1,000 members, is dedicated to protecting the natural and cultural treasures…

  Now in the case of RoxWind's application for a small scale wind project in Roxbury, Maine.

"RGGI sets a regional limit, or cap, on carbon pollution from the region’s power plants. The cap declines annually—reducing total pollution—and is enforced by selling a decreasing number of permits, known as allowances, via quarterly auctions. Owners of polluting power plants purchase the allowances, or trade for them in the market, to account for their emissions."

"A bipartisan coalition of…

The States yell " More Wind, More Solar " , While the Grid Operator exclaims " More Reliable Energy " 

"Mark Karl,  Vice President, Market Development, ISO New England, explained that the ( New England ) region is shifting away from resources with on-site fuel supplies (coal, oil, nuclear) toward those that rely on “just-in-time” fuel delivery (natural gas) or variable weather conditions (renewables). Karl explained that, during extended cold weather…

This man explains it in simple terms to ISO-NE :

Paul Peterson,  Principal Analyst, Synapse Energy Economics,  said that, between 2015 and 2030, natural gas use is projected to decrease by more than 40 percent and that the region needs to do more to ensure it is able to meet its carbon reduction goals. He also said that markets need to evolve in order to better value resources such as…

   I can't remember one natural gas plant owner in Maine that fought with us as we opposed  all the wind projects in Maine that now send over a million megawatt-hours of electricity into the grid because of purchase contracts with Southern New England Utilities. 

 It's time for Maine to take a passive stance on energy policy for the sake of reliability and ratepayer price relief. The latest reports on Maine electric production pegs the state at 75% renewable electric generation. . Emissions from Maine Electric plants are at just half the 2025 RGGI…

                           Source : EIA 

In 2017, about three-quarters of Maine's net electricity generation came from renewable sources, with almost one-third from hydroelectric dams, one-fourth from biomass generators using mainly wood waste products, and one-fifth from wind turbines. In addition, almost one-fifth of net generation came from natural gas.  

   To all those people, like the Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Democratic Wing of the Maine Legislature, who want all of New England's electricity to be derived from renewables, aka, wind and solar replacing fossil fuels, how could you not confront the ISO-NE people who have decided to retain natural gas resources seeking retirement, specifically, Mystic Units 8 and 9, natural gas plants fueled by LNG . A special cost-of- service agreement will be implemented to keep these…