Transmission infrastructure not in place for big turbine projects in NY

Posted 16 September 2016 at 9:08 am

Editor:

You are reading it here first, the Apex Lighthouse Wind Project should and likely will be denied.

Facts regarding existing dismal MWH wind output, unreliability, need for reliable backup, the outrageous cost to construct a 200 MW project then collect and motivate the electrons to move easterly 400 miles will become so overwhelming that even in NYS common sense and indisputable facts will eventually prevail.

With NY total wind nameplate of approximately 1,750 MW available, why does wind contribute so little now? Adding more wind MW won’t improve the results. The 1,750 MW in NY is scattered all over the state. This fact makes it difficult to feed into the grid on a consistent basis.

A properly located 1,750MW power generating facility with a dependable fuel source positioned on a few acres would feed directly into the grid.

I believe a contributing factor to the downfall of the Apex wind project will be no suitable transmission path to NYC. Table shows anemic wind MW output obtained from NYISO.

Available Actual Output Date / Time

1750MW 26MW 01/22/2016 10:30AM

1750MW 1141MW 01/26/2016 7:00AM

1750MW 464MW 03/27/2016 6:35AM

1750MW 117MW 04/18/2016 6:17AM

1750MW 401MW 05/31/2016 6:20AM

1750MW 855MW 06/20/2016 2:15PM

1750MW 68MW 08/11/2016 4:30PM Possible NY Peak Load Day

1750MW 616MW 08/12/2016 4:58PM Possible NY Peak Load Day

1750MW 36MW 08/27/2016 6:24AM

1750MW 118MW 09/01/2016 12:20PM

1750MW 9MW 09/02/2016 11:20AM

1750MW 0MW 09/04/2016 4:55PM Actual Zero MW

Adding more wind MW scattered around NYS without new and upgraded low and high voltage transmission lines will exacerbate transmission constraints and accelerate the demise of big wind.

Sincerely

Gregory G. Woodrich

Williamsville