Action Alert!

Support BPA Policy for Managing the System for High Wind and High Water

While helping to meet state energy goals, the recent addition of a large amount of new wind generation in the region has had an impact on the normal operations of our electrical system. Wind is not a consistent generation source as it fluctuates with wind conditions. While many Northwest public power utilities are building or contracting for wind power, managing this “intermittent” resource can be challenging.

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) recently issued an interim policy to outline how it will respond under certain conditions to protect the reliability of the region’s electric system and meet salmon recovery obligations. This policy, called “Environmental Redispatch”, provides for operations during extraordinary circumstances when high wind generation and high water conditions occur during periods of light demand for electricity. If not addressed quickly, these high water and high wind events can lead to an overgeneration of electricity that threatens grid stability. Regulations for water quality, and to protect endangered salmon, limit the ability of BPA to simply spill extra water over dams rather than run the water through generators.

BPA’s policy calls for a number of steps including curtailment of other generation sources like coal and natural gas. As a measure of last resort, BPA will curtail wind generation. All generation curtailed will be replaced with clean, renewable hydropower at no cost.

Some wind companies oppose BPA’s interim policy because they may lose tax credits and other revenues when their wind turbines do not actively generate power, even though they receive free replacement hydropower. Bonneville will not reimburse wind generators for lost tax credits in the event of overgeneration because this would unfairly shift those costs onto ratepayers of utilities who purchase power from BPA.

Wind industry advocates are seeking to generate opposition to the interim policy in Congress and the Administration. If the policy is overturned or modified to require BPA to reimburse wind generators for lost tax credits, these costs will picked up by customers of Northwest consumer-owned utilities, raising your electricity costs.

Please send a letter by e-mail to your two U.S. Senators, your U.S. Representative, Energy Secretary Stephen Chu and Special Assistant Paige Fitzgerald.

Letters in your own words are best, but this sample letter can be copied and pasted into your email screen.

Dear :

I am writing in support of the Bonneville Power Administration’s policy to reduce non-hydropower generation in the event high wind and high water conditions lead to overgeneration of electricity. This policy is an equitable solution, reducing non-hydropower generation only as a measure of last resort, and is necessary to maintain system reliability, protect endangered salmon and steelhead and prevent cost shifts to electricity consumers like me.

Wind industry advocates claim that this policy is discriminatory because it allows for wind generation to be curtailed. I disagree with this claim. Under this policy, wind generation is the LAST to be curtailed. It occurs only after thermal generation has been curtailed, and then it is replaced at no cost with clean, renewable hydropower. All other workable near-term solutions are being pursued.

Please support BPA’s interim policy and encourage all parties to work together on longer-term solutions.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Address

City, State and Zip

Telephone

Email

Click here to find your U.S. Representative.

Click here to find your two U.S. Senators.

Click here to send an email to Secretary Chu and Special Assistant Fitzgerald.