The Bonneville Power Administration today proposed paying wind energy developers for reducing output to help balance the electricity supply during high river flows.
If BPA decides to proceed with the compensation proposal, it would seek to split the cost equally between customers including electrical cooperatives and public utilities like Idaho Falls Power, and wind developers.
BPA is releasing its proposal for public review now so the agency can meet a March 6 deadline for filing the proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The BPA markets about one-third of the electricity consumed in the region. It sells the power produced from 31 federally owned dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries and owns and operates 15,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines.
Wind generation in the Pacific Northwest has grown from around 500 megawatts in 2006 to more than 6,000 megawatts today. When integrated with hydro or gas power that’s more than twice the capacity of the four lower Snake River dams that have been at the center of the salmon debate for the past decade.
It’s enough power for more than two cities the size of Seattle or two states of Idaho, at least when the wind is blowing.
The proposal comes in response to a FERC ruling that BPA discriminated against wind developers when it ordered shutdowns last spring during high river flows. BPA ordered the shutdowns, it said, to meet state laws aimed at protecting migrating salmon, which critics say is unnecessary.
“This is an important step toward resolving a Northwest issue in a way that works for the Northwest,” said BPA Administrator Steve Wright. “We’re focused on seeking solutions based on regional input that maintain reliability, protect fish and support renewable energy while equitably sharing costs.”
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Wait until we need all of both.
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VOICES is the only realy part of the Statesman LEFT. Guess McClatchy has finally killed the paper.
Save Idaho Salmon!
Bypass the hydro turbines, run the wind turbines at high water and high winds.
Save your breath.
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VOICES is the only realy part of the Statesman LEFT. Guess McClatchy has finally killed the paper.
the rest of the story
hydro power is about $.02/kwh, wind power is $.07/kwh under government required purpa contracts. So we are going to shut down cheaper/reliable hydro to further subsidize the wind developers with unreliable intermittent power who got government tax incentives to build their projects, and now we pay them more to not run. Wind is a great resource, but costly and unreliable.
idahomtnrider,
Very well said. The BPA is predominantly government funded, so cost is of no consideration to them, 'cause they don't have to worry about it. We all pay for it....Sunny...
Wind without batteries is worthless
A utility needs power that is dependable and since power cannot be stored it must be produced the instant it is demanded by customers. Since wind is unreliable utilities must have backup generation ready (notice the natural gas plant being built on I84 near New Plymouth).
Solar beats wind in Idaho. The peak demand is hot summer days when farmers irrigate, air conditioners hum, AND solar is at maximum production.
Those hot days are caused by high pressure sitting on the valley. When high pressure is over the valley, we have little to no wind.
So...wind power is most reliable in the winter when we don't need the power because hydro can cover the base load yet we should be required to purchase more expensive wind power? Someone help me understand...
Are they gonna build more cellphone towers with it?
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It's still clunky and the writing is horrible as usual
Harness Voices and the wind will be even and continuous.
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It's still clunky and the writing is horrible as usual
This is what happens when
This is what happens when the public's money is used to enable private business "success" by government meddling. These wind farms are only financially feasible with a combination of various tax credits, tax exemptions, and mandated higher rates paid by customers. The problem with creating a money hog of an industry is if you try to stop feeding that hog, it squeals pretty loudly.
I understand the need for government support of fledgling industries that make sense for the country long term but the problem seems to be the government cannot be trusted to make reasonable decisions anymore, possibly from the massive amount of political influence by corporations and lobbyists.
You should be rosy about all those ships we built...
and loaned Britain.
I think we "subsidized" World War II...
Are you happy now Joe, now that you aren't a Nazi?
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It's still clunky and the writing is horrible as usual
Great--
Another tax-funded entity to get paid more for doing less..
They might be right!
It they legalize Stone you'll want to keep pot water AWAY from the reservoirs.
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It's still clunky and the writing is horrible as usual