WASHINGTON - This morning, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order directing the Bonneville Power Administration-a federal agency responsible for the sale and transmission of wholesale electricity in eight Western states-to revise its transmission tariffs for wind generators in the region. The ruling was in response to a formal complaint filed with the FERC in June by a group of wind generators in the region that were forced to shut down turbines during times when high hydropower production on the Bonneville system outstripped electricity demand.
Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee and long-time advocate for open and competitive electrical transmission policies, praised the decision. Rep. Markey also sent a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE) encouraging the agency to address future barriers to integrating renewable energy into the grid. Rep. Markey had previously encouraged DOE to not give wind energy short shrift in the Northwest.
The letter from Rep. Markey to Secretary Chu can be found HERE.
Rep. Markey's previous letter to Secretary Chu about the issue can be found HERE and the Secretary's response HERE.
"With both the highest rates of renewable electricity production in the country and some of the lowest consumer rates, the Pacific Northwest is doing a lot right when it comes to energy," said Rep. Markey. "So when a problem occurs in the Northwest on these issues of integrating several forms of energy fairly, it's a fair assumption that the same thing is happening or will happen in other parts of the country."
"I encourage Bonneville and the Department of Energy to work closely with each other and with wind developers and other parties to develop mutually-agreeable policies that ensure open access to transmission and create a positive environment for clean energy investment."
In their order, FERC found that Bonneville's current policy provides unequal transmission service that leads to unfair treatment of some generating resources connected to Bonneville's transmission system, including wind generators. The FERC order directs Bonneville to file revisions that address these concerns within 90 days.
Recognizing that the Pacific Northwest is the first, but certainly not the last region to encounter barriers to integrating new renewable energy into a grid marked by aging infrastructure and policies, Congressman Markey today sent a letter to the Secreta
