Wind Power News: Connecticut
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
New England governors urge ISO-NE to focus on affordablility
Connecticut Governor Dannell Malloy, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, and Vermont Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement related to ISO New England and affordable electricity. ISO-NE is charged with maintaining electric supply and reliability in New England. New England, as a region, has the highest electric rates in the nation (though not the highest electric bills, largely because of efficiency). Maine Governor Governor Paul LePage did not sign the . . . Complete story »
DC Circuit upholds ISO-NE MOPR exemption
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday denied a petition by NextEra Energy and other industry players to review FERC orders allowing ISO-NE to exempt a limited volume of state-sponsored renewable resources from its capacity market’s minimum offer price rule. A three-judge panel concluded that the commission “engaged in reasoned decision-making to find that the renewable exemption to the minimum offer price rule results in a just and reasonable rate” and that “FERC did not abuse its discretion by . . . Complete story »
Electric rates will rise due to wind power
I can’t believe that no one has commented on the estimated 150 percent increase in electricity rates if and when Deep Water builds their wind farm and starts supplying their juice to the state. The current Eversource rate per Kw hour is 9.078 cents. The DW rate to Block Island is 24.4 cents per Kw h, plus a 3.5 percent annual bump for 20 years; plus the delivery charge. Connecticut chose not to reveal proposed rates or even average prices . . . Complete story »
Scientists, offshore wind developer look to minimize marine life impacts
Despite lacking ears, oysters respond to noise. “We don’t think of underwater noise as an issue … but most marine life – if not all marine life – listens to the world around it in one way or another,” said Aaron Rice, a researcher at Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology. As part of the lab’s bioacoustics program, Rice’s research dives into the sounds animals make, helping scientists pinpoint habitats and behavior patterns. He also examines how human-made sounds impact sea critters, whether . . . Complete story »
Malloy leaves New London twisting in the wind
Gov. Dannel Malloy, always ready to reach into his trusty bonding bag of tricks, managed to pull out $15 million worth of goodies for Deepwater Wind, the rich hedge-fund controlled company to which the state has granted permission to sell its expensive wind power to Connecticut ratepayers. Before even making Deepwater the winning bidder for the state’s commitment to buy offshore wind, Malloy announced he would provide $15 million in borrowed state bond money for improvements to State Pier in . . . Complete story »
Connecticut taps Deepwater Wind for offshore project
Hartford – State regulators on Wednesday tapped Block Island Wind Farm developer Deepwater Wind to bring offshore wind power to Connecticut. One of three firms that submitted bids to the state in April, the Providence developer says it will invest at least $15 million into the Connecticut Port Authority for infrastructure upgrades that officials say could help State Pier become a hotbed of offshore wind activity. “We have an obligation to our children and grandchildren to invest in energy projects that . . . Complete story »
Skeptical about wind power economics
David Collins’ column “Pros and cons of $15 million dollar investment at State Pier to accommodate offshore wind projects” (June 1), was slanted toward skepticism and Benjamin Kail’s article “Region’s leaders pitch New London to offshore wind suppliers” (June 4), was slanted toward the optimism. We would be well advised to heed Dave Collins’ skepticism. I’m skeptical about any wind project. I’ve written to The Day in the past. I only wish that reporter Kail had asked Mayor Passero if . . . Complete story »
New London, state leaders push offshore wind development as Mass., R.I. projects move forward
Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Wednesday tapped two offshore wind developers who also remain in the hunt to provide offshore wind power to Connecticut, where local officials and energy companies are pushing for a new hub of manufacturing in a growing industry. Massachusetts picked New Bedford-based Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and United Illuminating-parent company Avangrid, to develop the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. In Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the state . . . Complete story »
Cold snap tested reliability of region’s power grid and arguments against fossil fuels
As Maine and New England shivered through last winter’s historic cold spell, the region’s electric system faced an unprecedented prospect: rolling blackouts. Several troubling circumstances were converging. Natural gas was scarce and pricey. A power line failure sidelined one of New England’s largest power plants. Solar panels were covered with snow and wind turbines were buffeted by storms. The combination forced grid operators to ramp up 1960s-era technology to keep the lights on. For the first time, they strategically juggled . . . Complete story »
Proposed wind farms off of New London worry local fishermen
Fishermen were quick to react to the possibility of another wind farm off the New England coast. Last week, Ørsted and Eversource announced a joint venture and has submitted a bid to build Connecticut’s first offshore wind farm, in response to the state’s request for proposals for offshore wind energy generation. The approximately 200-megawatt project – Constitution Wind – would be the first of its kind to serve the state of Connecticut and would be located in federal waters 65 . . . Complete story »
