Public Meeting NH Wind Watch Alexandria Town Hall Saturday Sept 28, 13

[Jazzbo]

There is a good view of Spruce Ridge from a hill top at nearby Cardigan Orchards of Alexandria. Go pick some apples and see the proposed site before they trash it.

 

[Vermonster]

It was announced yesterday that a long term power purchase agreement (including RECs) has been signed for Wild Meadows (and 5 other unbuilt projects in Maine). The price is reportedly <8 cents KWH, which makes the power highly competitive with coal and gas.

More here:
http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=2f7c6a31-ea3c-4417-82e3-4ca938d3d31e
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...wer-sources/g3RBhfV440kJwC6UyVCjhI/story.html
(if you hit a paywall on the Globe link, open the link in a new private/incognito browser window)

Unsure whether ability to sell power at 8c/KWH (net of RECs) will mean more development or less.

VT

 

[Vermonster]

From the Globe article:

"Northeast Utilities, National Grid, and Unitil are seeking an expedited review by state regulators so the wind farms can qualify for federal production tax credits before the incentives expire at the end of year. The tax credit is a factor in the prices."

The tax credit is the REC. It is worth 2.3 cents per KWH (I think). The federal production tax credit needs to be re-authorized annually. That has happened for the past several years and I am sure there is no way the current administration will willingly allow them to not be renewed for 2014.

Folks who are hoping these large industrial wind installations will go away if the can just hold out until 2014 are fooling themselves in my opinion.

Wind power is likely here to stay--but that doesn't mean we have to make poor siting decisions and cede control. Maine is already headed that direction with the Streamlined Review areas. If residents of NH don't want the same thing to happen in that state, they should make their voices heard as the study required by SB99 moves forward: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130613/NEWS05/130619699

 

[sunfish]

New developments on the Wind Farm front:

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20140223/NEWS05/140229803