WIND V. HYDRO IN THE GREAT NW

BPA Decision Could Lead To Wind Power Curtailment In Northwest
Angela Beniwal, 18 May 2011 (North American Windpower)

"…[The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)] interim Environmental Redispatch policy, which will remain in place until March 30, 2012, [could result in the curtailment of wind power but only as a last resort, the agency says. It] first limits generation at coal, natural gas and other thermal power plants to keep the supply of power from exceeding demand.

"As a last resort, BPA's policy could temporarily limit wind energy generation connected to its power transmission system…[in favor of] free hydropower from federal dams on the Columbia River system…BPA says it will not reimburse wind producers for potential lost tax credits or other revenues if production is curtailed because that would shift costs to Northwest ratepayers who do not receive the wind power…"

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"The decision was prompted, according to BPA, by high seasonal river flows resulting from runoff from large snowpacks. The Northwest River Forecast Center predicts this year will bring the highest Columbia Basin runoff volume since 1999. The conditions could temporarily push generation of hydroelectric power beyond the region's limited spring electricity needs."

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"Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu earlier this month in which he expressed concern over BPA's curtailment plan…[saying it] would economically impact current facilities and could lead to the cancellation of future wind projects in the region…[creating] enormous uncertainty at a time when the Obama administration is promoting increased investments in renewable energy…[He added that increased] renewable energy in the U.S. has presented integration challenges that need to be addressed…

"BPA says it took several steps in order to avoid the need for the interim policy, including working with other agencies and utilities to maximize available reservoir space to manage river flows and control hydroelectric generation, and adjusting non-essential maintenance on transmission lines so that maximum capacity is available to carry large amounts of electric generation to distant markets from Canada to California…[It] will monitor river conditions and lift any limits on power generation as soon as they are no longer needed."