A FEW EXCERPTS AND COMMENTS FROM A 2004 REPORT FROM THE MAINE PUC TO THE EUT COMMITTEE
In 2003, the hands of Government enter the deregulated electric market:
NOTE THE DIRECTIVE " to consult with entities with expertise or substantial interest in the promotion of renewable resources "
In Dixfield, that means consulting the wind developer on the proper writing of an ordinance .
..."During its 2003 session, the Legislature enacted Resolve, Relating to Renewable Resources.[4] This Resolve directs the Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) to examine mechanisms to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for the State and to promote the State’s use of renewable and indigenous resources. In particular, the Resolve asks the Commission to examine mechanisms that would provide adequate support for biomass generation, hydroelectric facilities with a capacity less than 30 megawatts or less, and fuel cell generation. The Commission was directed to include an analysis, including cost impacts, of the most effective forms of the following mechanisms:
•Renewable Portfolio Requirement;
•System Benefit Charge; and
•Use of purchases from Maine’s renewable generators
to supply standard offer service.
Additionally, the Resolve directs the Commission to examine mechanisms used in other states and their adaptability for use in Maine, to consult with entities with expertise or substantial interest in the promotion of renewable resources, and to present any consensus positions or alternatives if consensus cannot be reached. The Resolve requires that the Commission submit its report and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy by December 31, 2003."
In 2003, the Public Utilities commission speaks of the mistakes made in government's choice of winners in the electric market : Is history repeating itself ?
"A. Promotion of Resources Prior to Electric Restructuring
...Prior to the restructuring of Maine’s electric industry,[6] the State, through its Public Utilities Commission, had substantial control and influence over the resources used to supply electricity to Maine’s public. This occurred through the Commission’s oversight of vertically integrated electric utilities that had the obligation to provide electricity through a least cost mix of generating (as well as demand-side) resources.
Beginning in the early 1980s, the Commission’s oversight of utility resource acquisition was guided by several legislative directives that promoted resource diversity and the development of renewable and indigenous generating resources.[7] By the time the industry was restructured, these policies resulted in an overall resource mix serving Maine’s public that consisted of almost 50% renewable power. [8]
This result, however, has come at a substantial cost. Due to mis‑estimates of the future cost of electricity generation, policies to promote the development of renewable resources (as well as cogeneration) have contributed to high electricity rates in this State and have resulted in substantial ongoing “stranded costs.” These stranded costs currently account for approximately 30% of transmission and distribution utility rates and will continue in rates for years to come."
No taxes on your electric bills ?............................................
"RESOURCE SUPPORT MECHANISMS
...Funding through taxes or utility rates: There are a variety of mechanisms that can be used to support generation resources and technologies. As mentioned above, such mechanisms can be funded through taxes or electricity prices."
And the winner is ( with a little help from the federal government )........................................................................................
"F. Grid-Scale Wind
...Wind is an eligible resource under Maine’s current RPS statute. Two grid-scale wind projects, with combined capacity of 100 MWs, are in the permitting stage in Maine, and national studies indicate that there are a number of sites in Maine where wind conditions are favorable for grid-scale wind facilities. Because of its intermittent nature, a grid-scale wind facility is likely to sell its generation to a wholesale or retail electricity supplier rather than become a retail supplier of electricity. This gives a facility the potential to obtain a long-term sales contract, which is extremely desirable for a developer to receive financing for capital investment. A wind facility will likely be built only if it can operate at a 30% capacity factor or better. While wind is sporadic, many believe that wind patterns in portions of Maine generally coincide with peak electric load needs, making wind a useful supplement to base load generation.
Grid-scale wind technology has advanced to the point where, with the current federal Production Tax Credit, it can compete with other sources of generation. A reasonable estimate of generation costs is about $0.06-$0.07 per kWh over the long-term. At this cost, wind is close to being competitive in the current short-term generation market and offers long-term price stability. The federal government provides an inflation-adjusted $0.015-per-kWh tax credit (currently $0.018 per kWh) to for-profit wind generation. This credit lowers the cost of wind generation to about $0.04-$0.05 per kWh, which is in the range of prevailing market prices.
Those who support wind generation point to the long-term economic benefits. The price of fuel is not volatile, the fuel will not be depleted, and operating costs are relatively low because of the lack of thermal processes and complex mechanics.
The RPS program in Massachusetts (discussed in section V of this report), which is limited to new renewable generation, has created discernible economic value for wind generation in Maine. In addition, the $0.018 federal Production Tax Credit is critical to the economic viability of wind generation. The credit will soon expire, but it appears likely that it will be renewed.
Proliferation of wind facilities is likely to increase the geographic diversity of generation in Maine. As discussed in section II of this report, this feature provides both benefits and risks to the utility grid. Depending on the configuration of the grid in the vicinity of the facility, the generator could provide voltage support; however, the sporadic nature of wind generation limits this benefit. Alternatively, in some locations the grid must be upgraded significantly to allow for generation into (as opposed to out of) the area."
The Public Utilities Commission shuns " large, low cost hydro-electric generation "
"Support Mechanisms
...· “New or other renewables” RPS or SBC: An RPS or SBC that includes new renewable resources or renewables such as wind, solar, geothermal, and fuel cells but that excludes larger, low-cost hydroelectric and cogeneration facilities, would add financial value to wind generation by increasing demand and thus the price the generator would receive for its power. In addition, an RPS or SBC may reassure investors that the State is likely to continue long-term support for wind generation and that the facility therefore will continue to be financially viable."
The Public Utilities Commission invites environmental groups to collude with wind enthusiasts ( developers ? ).................................................
"· Siting requirements: The State might review siting requirements to find areas that could be removed or streamlined, and might confer with environmental and local groups to examine ways to mitigate public concern over visual impact."
Views: 115
Comment
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Comment by Mike DiCenso on December 2, 2014 at 8:12pm
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Seems like the original Resolve did not mention windsprawl, but soon after the wind cabal latched onto the opportunity. Time for windsprawl to blow away. Maine can easily do without.
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/
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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/
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