Generator interconnection technical conference scheduled

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has scheduled a technical conference to generator interconnection issues, including interconnection of energy storage.

The case has its origins in a 2015 petition to the Commission by the American Wind Energy Association, seeking a rulemaking to revise certain provisions of the Commission's pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (“GIP”) and pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (“GIA”).

AWEA is a national trade association representing a broad range of entities with a common interest in encouraging the expansion and facilitation of wind energy resources in the United States. Its members include wind energy facility developers, owners and operators, construction contractors, turbine manufacturers, component suppliers, financiers, researchers, utilities, marketers, customers, and their advocates.

In that petition, the trade group argued:

the time is ripe for the Commission to make certain regulatory and policy changes to interconnection procedures in order to remedy unduly discriminatory and unreasonable barriers to generator market access that inhibit the development of electric generation to meet the growing needs of electricity customers, and to facilitate the current dramatic transformation of the electric generation system (driven, in part, by Federal and State policies) in a timely, reliable and cost-effective manner.

AWEA's petition called for a variety of reforms to the interconnection procedures and agreement, particularly aimed at improving "(a) certainty in the study/restudy process; (b) transparency in the interconnection process; (c) certainty of network upgrade costs; and (d) accountability in the interconnection process."  After many comments were submitted on the rulemaking petition, AWEA asked the Commission to hold a technical conference as a forum for "open discussion" among interested parties.

The Commission has now issued notice of a technical conference to be held on May 13.  According to the notice:

The purpose of this conference is to discuss select issues related to a petition for rulemaking submitted by the American Wind Energy Association (Docket No. RM15-21-000). In addition, the conference will explore other generator interconnection issues, including interconnection of energy storage.

The notice also states that discussions at the conference may involve issues raised in other proceedings pending before the Commission, including without limitation 8 sets of specifically listed cases:

• E.ON Climate & Renewables North America LLC, Pioneer Trail Wind Farm, LLC, Settlers Trail Wind Farm, LLC v. Northern Indiana Public Service Company, Docket No. EL14-66-002;

• Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Docket No. ER14-671-000;

• Internal MISO Generators v. Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., Docket No. EL15-99-000;

• Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER16-675-000;

• California Independent System Operator Corporation, Docket No. ER16-693-000;

• ISO New England, Inc., Docket No. ER16-946-000;

• Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER16-1120-000; and

• Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER16-1211-000. 

The conference will be held on May 13 at Commission headquarters in Washington, DC.

July 26, 2010 - Energy department blogs; Senate energy bill

First, today's picture (from several days ago): the view from the Maine island of Islesford (Little Cranberry Island), across the town field:




Blogging is hot these days, so hot in fact that the U.S. Department of Energy has unveiled its own blog: "Energy Blog". (Perhaps a contest could be held to suggest a more distinctive name?)

Those of us looking for a Senate energy bill are expecting to see more details today. While it seems nearly certain that this draft won't include a renewable portfolio standard (or as federal types seem to prefer, a renewable energy standard), a broad coalition sent a letter to Senator Reid on Friday asking for a national renewable minimum standard (hosted at the American Wind Energy Association's blog). The letter was signed by diverse parties such as:

• labor representatives (Blue Green Alliance, United Steelworkers, Utility Workers Union of America)
• environmentalists (Environment America, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Pew Environment Group)
• renewable energy groups (American Wind Energy Association, Biomass Power Association, Energy Recovery Council, National Hydropower Association, RES Alliance for Jobs), and
• utilities (AES Corporation, NextEra Energy Resources, Inc., Xcel Energy)

The United Kingdom has set ambitious renewable energy targets: to hit a 30% renewable portfolio standard by 2020, the UK will need to install 27 more gigawatts of renewables, half of which they want to come from offshore wind.  How much will it cost?  According to a new report, too much: accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers says that the United Kingdom will fall £10 billion short of the £75 billion it will need to develop its offshore wind resource up to the level of the renewable energy targets.  To meet that target, the UK will need to add 1.1 GW of new capacity per year -- but in 2009, only half of that was rolled out.  Critics point to a severe lack of pre-construction finance.  Could a different mix of resources -- perhaps one picked not in advance based on specific technologies, but competing on their economics -- result in a lower cost exposure to the British ratepayer?

As the Senate has dropped its current consideration of a climate bill, Senator John Kerry has apparently predicted "an ice-free Arctic" in "five or 10 years."