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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

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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