WIND TO BUILD ITS OWN WIRES

…Chicago-based energy company plans 2 more wind farms in Great Falls, Mont., area
April 12, 2010 (AP via ABC News)

"…Invenergy Wind Development LLC spokesman Mark Jacobson said the company expects to begin construction on new wind farms near Belt and Cut Bank [in Montana] in two to five years…[and] has agreed to help Tonbridge Power Co. of Toronto develop a 100-mile transmission line called the Green Line between Great Falls and a major [nearby] east-west transmission line…

"Under the agreement, Invenergy will invest in the early development of the line and pay Tonbridge to ship 350 megawatts of power. Invenergy will receive transmission credits to repay its investment."

Invenergy built the Judith Gap project in south central Montana. (click to enlarge)

"Jacobson would not say how much Invenergy will contribute to toward the development, but Tonbridge CEO Robert van Beers called Invenergy's commitment a ‘tremendous boost’ to the project [which will allow it to proceed]…"

The Green Line will be a southern extension of the Montana Alberta Tie Line. (click to enlarge)

"Invenergy is the second anchor shipper Tonbridge has lined up for the Green Line, behind Gaelectric of Ireland…Invenergy and Gaelectric have reserved a combined 850 megawatts on the line. Gaelectric has previously said its 500 megawatts worth of wind energy will come from [Montana] projects planned [farther] east…

"The Green Line would be a southern extension of Tonbridge's Montana Alberta Tie Line, a transmission project that will connect the electrical grids of the United States and Canada…"