News Roundup
News Roundup for March 30
LAKE ERIE WINDS
Sen. Sherrod Brown
Ohio officials want to put Lake Erie at the forefront of offshore wind power development. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Gov. Ted Strickland were among those trumpeting the state’s plans to cut taxes and offer other incentives to spur wind projects on Lake Erie at a March 29 event. Lake Erie turbines could be producing power by 2012 if all goes according to plan. Brown also has introduced legislation in Congress that would speed up the permitting process for offshore wind projects and create incentives for states to promote development.
HYDRO UNDERSTANDING
The departments of Energy and Interior, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, have announced they will cooperate more closely on the development of environmentally sustainable hydropower. The three agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding that they say represents a new approach to hydropower development—one that can increase the production of clean, renewable power while enhancing the viability of ecosystems and avoiding or reducing adverse effects on the environment. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says clean energy must include “new technologies and new strategies for increasing hydropower generation in an environmentally sustainable manner.’’
SMART-GRID PILOT
General Electric has begun a smart meter pilot program at a Michigan utility that will incorporate WiMAX wireless technology. The pilot at Consumers Energy in Michigan is said to be among the first of its kind in the nation. GE worked with Intel to develop a WiMAX chip that is embedded in the meters. The pilot will aim to demonstrate how real-time wireless communications between home and utility can improve efficiency and reliability of electric transmission.
MONTANA WIND BOOM
Montana is getting ready for a burst of growth in grid and wind projects. With transmission projects totaling 6,000 megawatts and wind projects totaling more than 5,000 MW in the works, state officials say Montana is on its way to reaching Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s goal of exporting 20,000 MW of wind in 20 years. Montana’s wind goals have taken a big step forward with Irish wind developer Gaelectric paying the Bonneville Power Administration to reserve a priority position on BPA’s interstate transmission system. Gaelectric has leased 280,000 acres of land in Montana for wind development.
—Based on news and wire reports
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