Last week, feds in the legislative branch began talking about overriding state authority to review and approve new long-distance power line rights-of-way. In effect, they said that new long distance electricity distribution lines would be built, no matter who, at a local level, objected. They felt justified in such a draconian policy given that they see no other way to quickly develop adequate distribution capacity to accommodate the deployment of federally-subsidized and soon-to-be mandated (see Senate Bill S.433, presently in committee) wind energy farms. I complained about it, but that doesn't change the fact that these policies are good for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and development of local renewable energy resources.
Now add to the feds' position on new power lines the fact that the recent federal economic stimulus package allocated $3.25 billion of borrowing authority specifically for the Bonneville Power Administration's reconstruction of its regional electricity distribution system. This is a good thing even if I don't agree with how it came about. Let me explain why.
The overhaul is needed because the existing BPA distribution system is tapped out. With huge wind farms coming online in the eastern Columbia River Gorge, square in the heart of the BPA service area, BPA expects to see a doubling of local wind power generation capacity this year. According to its forecast, in 2010, it will be able to cover 30% of the area's peak demand with electricity generated from the wind.
That sounds great, but it is actually a problem. Wind energy, unfortunately, is wildly variable and surprisingly unpredictable. Grid operators, like BPA, must be constantly ready to add or shed either load or on-demand generation capacity (such as hydro or natural gas). With 30% of generation coming from wind, BPA just won't be able to keep the system balanced. It must be able to share the burden of balancing (or "integration", as they call it) with a larger service area. That requires better distribution infrastructure.
This is such a large problem that BPA is now asking wind farm operators to "spill" wind during peak generation periods. The alternative would be to push the grid's voltage and frequency outside of the acceptable ranges, possibly causing problems for electricity end-users.
So, with federal money in hand and federal legislators ready to kick some local NIMBY butt, the BPA is poised for some major infrastructure overhaulin', starting real soon now. Seeing as how one of my favorite jogging routes runs through BPA's Transmission Business campus in Vancouver, Washington, I'll be keeping my eyes out for the line crews.
Now add to the feds' position on new power lines the fact that the recent federal economic stimulus package allocated $3.25 billion of borrowing authority specifically for the Bonneville Power Administration's reconstruction of its regional electricity distribution system. This is a good thing even if I don't agree with how it came about. Let me explain why.
The overhaul is needed because the existing BPA distribution system is tapped out. With huge wind farms coming online in the eastern Columbia River Gorge, square in the heart of the BPA service area, BPA expects to see a doubling of local wind power generation capacity this year. According to its forecast, in 2010, it will be able to cover 30% of the area's peak demand with electricity generated from the wind.
That sounds great, but it is actually a problem. Wind energy, unfortunately, is wildly variable and surprisingly unpredictable. Grid operators, like BPA, must be constantly ready to add or shed either load or on-demand generation capacity (such as hydro or natural gas). With 30% of generation coming from wind, BPA just won't be able to keep the system balanced. It must be able to share the burden of balancing (or "integration", as they call it) with a larger service area. That requires better distribution infrastructure.
This is such a large problem that BPA is now asking wind farm operators to "spill" wind during peak generation periods. The alternative would be to push the grid's voltage and frequency outside of the acceptable ranges, possibly causing problems for electricity end-users.
So, with federal money in hand and federal legislators ready to kick some local NIMBY butt, the BPA is poised for some major infrastructure overhaulin', starting real soon now. Seeing as how one of my favorite jogging routes runs through BPA's Transmission Business campus in Vancouver, Washington, I'll be keeping my eyes out for the line crews.
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