wind energy performance virginia
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8/3/2019 Wind Energy Performance Virginia
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Measuring the Performance of Wind Energy Projects
Assuring the Success of the
Commonwealth EnergyPolicy
The General Assembly has found that
energy is essential to the health, safety,
welfare and economy of the
Commonwealth and that state government
should facilitate the availability and
delivery of reliable and adequate supplies
of energy to industrial, commercial, and
residential users at reasonable costs. TheGeneral Assembly has also enumerated
energy objectives ( 67-101), set forth a
Commonwealth Energy Policy ( 67-102),
and directed development of a non-
regulatory Virginia Energy Plan ( 67-
201). Among the objectives addressed by
the Code is promotion of alternative
energy sources, which, compared to
traditional energy resources, may be less
polluting of the Commonwealth's air and
waters. Alternative energy includes
electricity generated through the use of
wind turbines.
Although the Commonwealth has no
experience with commercial-scale wind
energy projects, the General Assembly has
sought to promote the development of such
projects through expedited environmental
permitting by establishment of a Permit By
Rule administered by the Department of
Environmental Quality ( 10.1-1197.6). In
addition, the General Assembly has
directed the State Corporation Commission
to approve increased consumer electricity
rates for utilities that demonstrate
attainment of the Commonwealth's
Renewable Portfolio Standard ( 56-585.2). Fortunately,
the General Assembly has also recognized the need to
establish a procedure for measuring the implementation ofthe Commonwealth Energy Policy ( 67-100). It makes
sense to assure that the desired benefits of energy
production are obtained, that harm to the public interests
are minimized, and that future revisions of the Virginia
Energy Plan are informed by experience and data.
This new 61-turbine wind project occupies 12 miles ofridgeline near Elkins, WV. If this 98-megawatt project were
in Virginia it would qualify as a "small wind project" and
require minimal review despite its large footprint and
probable poor performance. Wind projects in this region
average only 13% of total generation capacity during critical
summertime peak demand periods. (PJM, 2010. Rules and
Procedures for Determination of Generating Capacity,
http://pjm.com/~/media/documents/manuals/m21.ashx)
http://pjm.com/~/media/documents/manuals/m21.ashxhttp://pjm.com/~/media/documents/manuals/m21.ashxhttp://pjm.com/~/media/documents/manuals/m21.ashx -
8/3/2019 Wind Energy Performance Virginia
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The 2010 Virginia Energy Plan estimates the costs of new
electricity generation sources, including wind generation
facilities. Based on data provided for new facilities entering
service in 2016, the cost of electricity generated with
onshore wind projects will be 49% greater than the cost of
electricity generated with conventional coal-fired power
plants and 25% greater than the cost of electricity generated
with nuclear power plants. (Virginia Department of Mines,
Minerals, and Energy 2010. The Virginia Energy Plan,
www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/VAEnergyPlan/VEP-2010.shtml)
The General Assembly may have been
well-intentioned in promoting wind energy
development in the mix of alternatives, but
new information about the efficacy of
commercial-scale wind energy generation
indicates that objective prediction and
verification of performance is warranted.
A 2007 report by the National Research
Council projected that U.S. onshore wind
power development through 2020 will achieve
no reduction in demand for electricity from
other sources, will provide no reduction in
sulfur and nitrogen emissions, and may offset
carbon dioxide emissions by only 1.2 to 4.5%
from the levels of emissions that would
otherwise occur from electricity generation.
The report further concluded that because thedensity of the onshore wind resource is less
for the Mid-Atlantic region states than for the
country as a whole, the benefits in terms of
electricity supply and emissions reductions
will be less than for the country as a whole.
(NRC, 2007. Environmental Impacts of Wind
Energy Projects, National Academy Press,
www.nap.edu/catalog/11935.html)
Although the National Research Council
predicted in 2007 that onshore wind energy
development may offset carbon emissions by
a small amount, a 2010 report by Bentek
Energy, LLC reached a different conclusion.
Research presented in the report suggests
that contrary to expectations and the
objectives of Colorado's Renewable Portfolio
Standard, wind energy development has
resulted in increased emissions of sulfur,
nitrogen, and carbon. This undesirable result
is attributed to the inefficient management of
coal-fired power plants that is required to
accommodate the variable and intermittent
electricity generation achieved by wind
turbine facilities. (Bentek Energy, LLC, 2010.
How Less Became More: Wind, Power, and
Unintended Consequences in the Colorado
Energy Market, www.bentekenergy.com)
Determination of both the projected and realized
performance of wind energy generation projects is
absolutely necessary in the proper administration of
state incentives and licensing.
Wind energy generation projects must be subject to SCC
licensing and the requirement to obtain a certificate of
convenience and necessity.
SCC approval of wind energy generation facilities
should further be conditioned upon provision of:
analysis that objectively calculates the costs andbenefits of proposed wind energy projects
annual reports that document the performance ofinstalled wind energy projects
These analyses and reports should be based on publically
reviewable data and methods that quantify effects on the
reliability of electricity service and costs to consumers,
electricity generation on an annual and monthly basis and
during peak demand periods, and reductions in air
pollution obtained through displacement of electricity
generation by traditional energy sources. Prior to issuance
of any licensing action under Title 56, the SCC must
verify that the data and calculations concerning these
costs and benefits are credible and accurate and that
proposed projects are necessary and in the public interest.
Finally, it is imperative that future periodic revisions of
the Virginia Energy Plan incorporate knowledge and
experience gained from existing wind energy projects
and that plan revisions be subject to public review and
comment.
http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/VAEnergyPlan/VEP-2010.shtmlhttp://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/VAEnergyPlan/VEP-2010.shtmlhttp://www.nap.edu/catalog/11935.htmlhttp://www.nap.edu/catalog/11935.htmlhttp://www.bentekenergy.com/search.aspx?search=how%20more%20became%20lesshttp://www.bentekenergy.com/search.aspx?search=how%20more%20became%20lesshttp://www.bentekenergy.com/search.aspx?search=how%20more%20became%20lesshttp://www.nap.edu/catalog/11935.htmlhttp://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/VAEnergyPlan/VEP-2010.shtml
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