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Need for MSTI questioned

Missoula Independent|John Vincent|August 11, 2011
MontanaTransmission

These comments by Montana Public Service Commissioner, John Vincent, appeared following an article on the MSTI transmission line proposed in Montana to deliver wind to the California market.


I may be wrong, but I think Mike Cashell, Cameron Yourkowski and Chuck Magraw are minimizing developments that opt against the MSTI project.

First, I believe that a substantial amount of California's 25% out of state renewable portfolio allotment is already contracted for (taken). Secondly, California, Nevada and Arizona are "going solar" at almost breakneck speed. In just the last three days, two new solar projects have been announced that will produce a nameplate capacity of 1,050 MW's of electricity. Both incorporate storage technology which will dramatically increase their efficiency and response to real time demand. For comparison, Montana's installed nameplate wind capacity is a little over 400MW's. Third, there's dramatically …

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I may be wrong, but I think Mike Cashell, Cameron Yourkowski and Chuck Magraw are minimizing developments that opt against the MSTI project.

First, I believe that a substantial amount of California's 25% out of state renewable portfolio allotment is already contracted for (taken). Secondly, California, Nevada and Arizona are "going solar" at almost breakneck speed. In just the last three days, two new solar projects have been announced that will produce a nameplate capacity of 1,050 MW's of electricity. Both incorporate storage technology which will dramatically increase their efficiency and response to real time demand. For comparison, Montana's installed nameplate wind capacity is a little over 400MW's. Third, there's dramatically increased use and private utility subsidization of on site solar, primarily on large warehouses and other commercial and government buildings. Fourth, California companies are now installing and leasing on site residential solar PV systems at no upfront cost to the customer. Fifth, the costs of building high voltage, long distance transmission lines continues to rise, and they're already extremely expensive. Sixth, if California's 25% out of state renewable energy standard DOES leave room for importing out of state renewables, there's both substantial wind and solar potential in states closer to the MSTI target market than Montana, which makes electricity from these areas less expensive. Note that NWE has stated only the buyers of MSTI power will pay for that power in their rates, which, of course, includes the costs of building the project. Finally, and this is only conjecture on my part, if NWE energy hasn't secured contract buyers for MSTI power by now, how likely is it that they will in the future, given the above?

Maybe as dependence on coal fired generation of electricity(very slowly) goes down, Montana wind power can find it's way onto the grid by utilizing existing transmission corridors. Our wind is a valuable resource, it's just that other parts of the country have their own valuable alternative energy resources that are a lot closer to demand. centers.

Lastly, it should be noted that Montana wind, like all wind, is not an "on demand" resource. Wind is variable. On average, 400 nameplate MW's of Montana wind actually produces (over time) about 135MW's. Because of this "capacity factor," wind power must be "backed up" by other power sources and, in Montana, that means primarily, if not exclusively, coal.
You can do the math, but this means a 500 MW transmission line built to export Montana wind power will be carrying, on average, 65% to 70% coal fired electricity.

One more once; Energy efficiency and conservation to save energy costs 7 to 9 times LESS
than building ANY KIND of new generation/transmission. Given that our county (from generation to end use) wastes about 70% of the energy we generate, one could conclude that efficiency and conservation would be a road well taken. If combined with alternative generation, we COULD really make a difference in the future of our planet.

Mr. Vincent serves on the Montana Public Service Commissioner.


Source:http://missoulanews.bigskypre…

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