Edward N. Krapels was recently published in the Electricity Journal.  Click on the link to view his article, The Terrible Trio Impeding Transmission Development: Siting, Cost Allocation, and Interconnection Animus.

“If we have national carbon standards and policies in
place, then we can decarbonize our electric system
efficiently in the years ahead by implementing a set of
simple guidelines. The desire for master planning is
appealing, as long as it’s master planning and not a
Master Plan.”

The States of New England have set Renewable Energy Goals for the 2020′s.  But, given the projects currently in the ISO-NE Queue, the states may not meet their goals, forcing them to pay an Alternative Compliance Payment.  Read our current white paper Meeting New England Renewables Targets to find out more.

The Massachusetts DOER (Department of Energy Resources) commissioned a study by the Analysis Group about possibilities and suggestions for an offshore transmission network.  The report was based off of the Draft Ocean Energy Management Plan that MA has been developing, and includes a number of different suggestions of how to develop the infrastructure necessary to facilitate the development of Offshore Wind in the next 10 to 15 years in order to meet MA’s RPS goals.

To download the full report, go to: http://www.analysisgroup.com/article.aspx?id=9372

Image from “Strategic Options for Investment in Transmission in Support of Offshore Wind Development in Massachusetts”, The Analysis Group, December 2009

Remarks by Mason Willrich, Senior Advisor, MIT Energy Innovation Project, to the Energy Daily Transmission Conference

September 30, 2009

Electricity Transmission Policy for America: Enabling a Smart Grid, End-to-End

I must begin with a disclaimer.  In making these remarks, I am expressing my personal views and opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization with which I am affiliated.  It is a pleasure for me to have this opportunity to present my views about what I believe to be the most important issue facing America’s electric power industry – the need for changes to public policies governing our high voltage electric transmission grids or networks in order to accelerate innovation and progress towards a smart grid, end-to-end. 

Scott Hempling, the National Regulatory Research Institute’s Executive Director, wrote a wonderful piece on what he calls the “Interconnection Animus”. A link to the article on the NRRI’s website is listed below.

http://www.nrri2.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=203&Itemid=38

A recent article on Venturebeat.com forecast the rising value of microgrid players in the electric industry. Check out this reference to Viridity in the piece:

“One of the most promising players to watch in the space is Viridity Energy, provider of a technology platform that allows microgrids to run demand response programs — rerouting and rebalancing power loads to decrease disruptions and maintain grid health while paying consumers for the energy that they conserve. Viridity CEO Audrey Zibelman, formerly COO at PJM Interconnect, one of the largest grid management companies in the world, will be featured at GreenBeat 2009, VentureBeat’s seminal executive conference on the Smart Grid.”

Full article: http://green.venturebeat.com/2009/10/29/microgrids-a-21b-market-in-the-making/

Competition, Innovation, Incremental Projects are Keys to Transmission for Renewables

Eric Lindeman

Anbaric Holding CEO Edward Krapels is familiar with the difficulties of siting transmission lines. A developer of innovative U.S. transmission projects, his company has focused on alternative ways to install power lines, particularly with sub-sea and sub-river projects. Krapels says Anbaric’s installation methods are minimally disruptive and present compelling net environmental benefits when they connect renewable energy sources.

To continue reading, click the link below.

http://www.theenergydaily.com/ced/people/executive_q_and_a/Competition-Innovation-Incremental-Projects-Are-Keys-To-Transmission-For-Renewables_3233.html

Ed Krapels was quoted in the New York Times this morning about the importance of Transmission siting authority for the connection of Renewables onto the Grid.

Click Here to read the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/10/01/01climatewire-us-prepares-more-regulatory-moves-in-case-cl-90466.html

By Ed Krapels

In many parts of the United States, renewable electricity development is either stuck or going along at a snail’s pace because the transmission needed to get large-scale wind and solar energy to market is not getting built. When even as resourceful a man as Boone Pickens says he’s going to have to store his wind turbines in his garage because of transmission constraints (and that IS in Texas, of all places), we know we’re in trouble.

Almost everywhere, building transmission projects to connect renewables to the Grid is the issue. The Waxman-Markey bill that passed the House in May, and draft legislation from the Senate, constitute the first meaningful legislative solution in years. We expect a Bill out of Washington by the end of the year that creates a national Renewable Portfolio Standard of 15 to 20 percent of national electricity supply. This federal legislation essentially consolidates renewable requirement that New England has adopted in recent years.

From September 8th through 11th, Ed and Ben Krapels visited three different European Renewable Energy Projects aimed at bringing energy generated by wind onto the power grid.

Here are some more photos from our trip.