Cape Wind opponents, supporters will weigh in on power deal
Boston Globe|July 9, 2010
Robert Rio, senior vice president at Associated Industries of Massachusetts Inc., said he expects the organization to "add a perspective that is very important to determining the outcome of the proceeding...This is now more transparent, as transparent as it could be." Rio said the group is looking to fully understand the costs of Cape Wind power "and see if this is the best way to use ratepayer money."
Robert Rio, senior vice president at Associated Industries of Massachusetts Inc., said he expects the organization to "add a perspective that is very important to determining the outcome of the proceeding...This is now more transparent, as transparent as it could be." Rio said the group is looking to fully understand the costs of Cape Wind power "and see if this is the best way to use ratepayer money."
Some of the most vocal critics of the proposed contract to sell power from the Cape Wind energy project -- including retail giant Wal-Mart and one of the state's largest trade groups -- will be allowed to weigh in as the state decides whether to approve the deal.
The Department of Public Utilities has granted so-called "intervenor" status to both supporters and opponents of the controversial wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound, including Wal-Mart Stores East and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, who have both criticized the price of Cape Wind power as being too expensive for consumers.
Proponents of Cape Wind, including advocacy groups Union of Concerned Scientists and the Conservation Law Foundation, were also granted …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]Some of the most vocal critics of the proposed contract to sell power from the Cape Wind energy project -- including retail giant Wal-Mart and one of the state's largest trade groups -- will be allowed to weigh in as the state decides whether to approve the deal.
The Department of Public Utilities has granted so-called "intervenor" status to both supporters and opponents of the controversial wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound, including Wal-Mart Stores East and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, who have both criticized the price of Cape Wind power as being too expensive for consumers.
Proponents of Cape Wind, including advocacy groups Union of Concerned Scientists and the Conservation Law Foundation, were also granted intervenor status.
The state decision today means the approved parties will be participants in deliberations, with the power to request information, question witnesses, and submit testimony.
The final decision on whether to approve the contract, in which the utility National Grid promises to buy electricity generated by Cape Wind, will rest with the state Department of Public Utilities.
"We hope the DPU can conduct an orderly and focused proceeding that results in a decision consistent with the Green Communities Act," said Cape Wind spokesman Mark Rodgers, referring to two-year-old state legislation that requires utilities to buy some of their power from renewable energy producers.
Robert Rio, senior vice president at Associated Industries of Massachusetts Inc., said he expects the organization to "add a perspective that is very important to determining the outcome of the proceeding...This is now more transparent, as transparent as it could be."
Rio said the group is looking to fully understand the costs of Cape Wind power "and see if this is the best way to use ratepayer money."
National Grid has agreed to buy electricity from Cape Wind for a starting price of 20.7 cents a kilowatt hour, beginning in 2013, and to raise that rate annually by 3.5 percent for the life of the 15-year contract. That's well above the rate it now charges customers for the power it sells.
Although the premium price will raise electric customer bills, the utility expects the effect to be modest because only a fraction of the power National Grid sells will come from Cape Wind.