Rob Howland
posted
Jun 27, 2012
Dear Editor:
Recent claims that the Grandpa's Knob wind project would not meet a
need on the electric system and that integrating wind power into
the Vermont electric grid somehow does not reduce fossil fuel
pollution are simply not true.
The value of wind power is that it produces kilowatt-hours that
otherwise would be generated by fossil fuel. Vermont is
electrically integrated into the New England electric grid which is
controlled by the New England Independent System Operator or
"ISO-NE". Much of the electricity consumed in Vermont is
generated elsewhere in New England, and, according to ISO-NE data,
60% of the kilowatt-hours generated in New England are produced by
fossil fueled generators. More importantly for this discussion, in
New England electric generators burning fossil fuel operate nearly
100% of the time. ISO-NE manages the operations of these
electric generators on a moment to moment basis, and is constantly
adjusting power plant output to accommodate for changes in electric
usage. When the wind blows and electricity flows, ISO-NE
efficiently reduces the output or shuts down fossil generators,
providing a substantial reduction in fuel consumed.
In New England, nation-wide and around the world electric system
operators have long ago learned how to accommodate the addition of
wind power generation, which is variable due to the nature of the
wind. Variable does not mean "unreliable" and it does not mean that
there is no value to the large amounts of electricity generated by
modern wind turbines.
The 50 MW Grandpa's Knob wind project would produce
approximately 140,000,000 kilowatt-hours annually, more than the
electric use of 15,000 homes (the equivalent of more than one-half
the homes in Rutland County). Based upon information from the
US EPA, ISO-NE and the US Department of Energy, the Grandpa's Knob
wind project would annually displace 67,500 tons of CO₂ emissions
from fossil fuel generating stations which presently help to serve
Vermont's electric needs. Put another way, again using US EPA
data, it would be the equivalent of removing roughly 13,200
automobiles from the Rutland County roads.
Our planet's atmosphere does not care about rhetoric, it only
cares about what we do, or don't, put into it. The Grandpa's Knob
wind project would substantially reduce fossil fuel use and related
harmful emissions by producing large amounts of useful and clean
electricity.
Rob Howland, Pittsford, Vt. resident and consultant for Reunion
Power
Tagged:
Wind Power, Grandpa's Knob
