Wind power advocates seek to boost transmission capabilities
The Denver Post --Dec. 1
With production of wind power growing rapidly, the industry's next challenge is to find ways to move the power to consumers.
Analysts say wind's enormous potential as a source for electricity is
hindered by the fact that the windiest locations tend to be far from population
centers.
Who builds new transmission lines and who pays for them -- questions with no
national consensus -- will be chief topics at the Denver conference, coordinated
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The conference begins at 10 a.m. at
the Adam's Mark hotel.
"The key thing is that FERC is trying to do something useful to see that
wind is integrated into the national electric grid," said Ron Lehr, a
Denver-based wind-energy attorney and consultant.
"They have a bunch of rules left over from the 1990s that are
(unfavorable) to wind," he said, "and they need to do some work to
open up the doors for wind.
"They're willing to do that; they're open to it."
Colorado regulators have been wary of FERC's efforts to impose national
standards on the interstate flow of electricity through high-voltage
transmission lines -- a move that most wind advocates say would enhance the
development of more wind power.
Colorado, the nation's eighth-largest producer of wind power, is expected to
become a bigger player after voter approval last month of a renewable-power
mandate for state utilities.
Xcel Energy is soliciting bids for several new wind-power projects as part of
its long- range energy plan.
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