News
Category:
Transmission
No decision yet from Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Clean Line application
March 29, 2011 by Jay F. Marks in The Oklahoman
March 29, 2011 by Jay F. Marks in The Oklahoman
Jimmy Glotfelty, Clean Line's executive vice president for external affairs, said he is optimistic commissioners will approve the company's application, which he admitted raises new issues for state regulators.
Also filed under [
Oklahoma]
Appealed: Group attempts to stop transmission line
March 25, 2011 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune
March 25, 2011 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune
The stay pending appeal asks the commission to withhold its ruling authorizing ITC to begin construction of its 5,000 megawatt proposed transmission line until the Michigan Court of Appeals hears the matter.
ABATE's position for appealing the commission's ruling is that ITC is overbuilding, because a 345 kV double-circuit is not necessary to meet the capacity for power generated in the Thumb.
Also filed under [
Michigan]
Where wind is curtailed, it can ruin a plant’s profitability. Where it is anticipated by forward-looking models such as the ones Moland uses to perform congestion studies at GL Garrard Hassan and those used by transmission planners, it can make a viable development non-viable.
Also filed under [
USA]
Power line eminent domain bill tied up in Senate
March 22, 2011 by Mike Dennison in Billings Gazette
March 22, 2011 by Mike Dennison in Billings Gazette
"In the end, the governor will decide if he wants this bill or not. ... It's not going to be a bargaining chip. This bill is going to live or die on its own."
Also filed under [
Montana]
Underwater electricity transmission system receives another approval
March 21, 2011 by Dan Heath in Press-Republican
March 21, 2011 by Dan Heath in Press-Republican
The power is to be supplied by hydro and wind generators in Canada.
The project held a public hearing before an administrative law judge in Plattsburgh in November. That judge is expected to make a recommendation to the Public Service Commission later this year.
Corker and his co-sponsors said new federal rules "would give FERC sweeping authority to broadly spread the associated costs to customers outside of the area immediately serviced by the new transmission lines."
Also filed under [
USA]
Senate committee hears testimony on eminent domain bill
March 4, 2011 by Karl Puckett in Great Falls Tribune
March 4, 2011 by Karl Puckett in Great Falls Tribune
"This is just a sweetheart deal for a Canadian company, and allows them to condemn Montana farmland for their own use - and that's just absolutely wrong," said Larry Martin, a farmer from Conrad who owns land in path of MATL.
Also filed under [
Montana]
According to Steve Lefton, director of Intertek Aptek who also spoke at the Wartsila conference, those base-load coal units developed decades ago were never designed to firm-up wind generation. They were made to run at full capacity. So when they are used as such, they create excess emissions.
As wind energy increases its market share, thermal plants can be expected to rev up and down more often. If coal is the main fuel source that is dispatched, it will decrease the emissions savings from wind.
Also filed under [
USA]
"CMP has not met its burden of proof in this case," PUC Commission Chairman Jack Cashman said in a written statement. "The utility has not shown to my satisfaction through comprehensive testing or analysis that construction of the Lewiston Loop project is the most cost-effective means of addressing power reliability needs in the Lewiston area."
Also filed under [
Maine]
PATH applications withdrawn in three states; opponents elated
March 1, 2011 by Ed Waters Jr. in Frederick News-Post
March 1, 2011 by Ed Waters Jr. in Frederick News-Post
PJM Interconnection, which coordinates and directs operations for electric power needs in 13 states and the District of Columbia, said Monday it is suspending the 275-mile, $2.1 billion Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline project from its 2011 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan.
"Recent dramatic swings in economic forecasts and evolving public policies, particularly with respect to renewable energy, are adding greater uncertainty to our planning studies."
The problem has largely been caused by the recent rapid growth in wind energy in China coupled with the extensive power grid upgrades that are needed to transmit wind energy to consumers. ...China plans to get 15 per cent of its energy from non fossil fuels by 2020, with wind power expected to contribute two per cent and solar one per cent.
Also filed under [
Asia]
The wind energy industry is playing a waiting game as turbines on wind farms throughout Texas will not have the ability to send the full capacity of their wind-power generation east for at least three years.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) explained that it is still in the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones process of approving certificates for proposed transmission lines. The CREZ transmission line network's earliest completion date is slated for 2013.
Also filed under [
Texas]
Power line controversy could impact Oswego and Jefferson county communities
February 26, 2011 by Jim Kenyon in CYN Central
February 26, 2011 by Jim Kenyon in CYN Central
Oswego County legislator Shawn Doyle opposes the Galloo Island wind project because he feels the power lines have become visibly close to the village of Pulaski.
He says, "While the wind farm would create a few jobs for Galloo Island the transmission lines could hurt tourism through Oswego County and affect jobs in that industry."
Also filed under [
New York]
Will Google's offshore wind transmission be slowed by regulatory red tape?
February 25, 2011 by Herman K. Trabish in Transmission and Distribution
February 25, 2011 by Herman K. Trabish in Transmission and Distribution
Also filed under [
USA]
A proposed two-year extension of Wyoming's moratorium on wind developers' eminent domain powers passed another legislative hurdle Wednesday.
By a voice vote, state senators passed House Bill 230 on first reading. If left unchanged, the legislation must pass two more Senate votes before heading to Gov. Matt Mead for his signature.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Wyoming]
The government's Long-Term Energy Plan calls for the spending of $2 billion on transmission grid upgrades, including three southwestern Ontario projects the plan says should be in place by 2017 to make room for new green energy projects.
The upgrades and new line west of London are to be completed by 2014, according to the plan.
Also filed under [
Canada]
Offshore wind transmission system raises red flag at state agencies
February 22, 2011 by Tom Johnson in Energy & Environment
February 22, 2011 by Tom Johnson in Energy & Environment
In asking to intervene in the case, the two agencies argued that the project, stretching from Virginia to New Jersey, could adversely affect the rates paid by consumers and also place much of the risk on the ratepayer instead of the developers.
The Atlantic Wind Connection is a 350-mile underwater transmission line, which aims to connect the spate of offshore wind farms being developed by New Jersey and other states.
Galloo Island Wind Farm's developer is lobbying state officials to push the New York Power Authority to give the project a contract for its power.
Attorneys for Upstate NY Power Corp. have talked to local officials and at least the chairmen, if not the members, of the state Assembly and Senate Energy Committees.
Wind farm power lines may run beneath the ground
February 19, 2011 by Alyson Cunningham in Delmarva Now
February 19, 2011 by Alyson Cunningham in Delmarva Now
Representatives from NRG Bluewater Wind met with town officials Friday to discuss plans to bring wind power to the town. ...NRG Founder/President Peter Mandelstam described how the cables will be about 6 feet under the sea floor, 15 feet under the beach.
Also filed under [
Delaware]
Bill threatens FERC's cost-allocation proposal
February 18, 2011 by Michael Bates in North American Windpower
February 18, 2011 by Michael Bates in North American Windpower
The Electric Transmission Customer Protection Act is intended to prevent FERC from applying cost-recovery mechanisms for interstate transmission projects beyond where the upgrades will have an immediate, direct benefit.
This position is at odds with a current proposed rule in FERC's docket that seeks to implement a methodology that spreads infrastructure costs regionally among a wide range of consumers.
Also filed under [
USA]
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