Planning ahead for wind energy boom in the USA

Developers have brought 1,100 MW of wind for interconnection study to the Mid-Atlantic states' PJM (Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland) regional transmission organization, and identified 5,000 MW of potential near-term development, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Consumer and environmental advocates joined with AWEA's Eastern Representative, Mike Jacobs, at a recent PJM Board of Directors meeting to urge the organization to plan for wind power's growth.

AWEA assisted public interest advocates in presenting the need for wind power integration and transmission planning. Voluntary purchases of wind, Renewables Portfolio Standards adopted or proposed in Mid-Atlantic states, and high natural gas prices have raised the importance of wind power for these consumer advocates.

PJM Board members individually responded to this promotion of wind power, according to Jacobs, by commenting on the need to educate stakeholders on the advances in technology and performance made by the wind industry, and the potential for wind in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Board focused on the need for advance planning for expanding wind power, Jacobs said.

Wind projects totaling 1,500 MW in Northern Illinois that have applied for interconnection studies from Commonwealth Edison will now be included in the PJM Generator Interconnection queue. Already known in the PJM queue is 1,100 MW of new wind projects in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and New Jersey.

The efforts of advocates to place wind on the agenda reflect PJM's modest progress on this issue, Jacobs said. In contrast, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) is studying transmission for wind power increases above 10% penetration, with an on-going investigation of best practices and system interactions, funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

AWEA communicates with the PJM Board as a member of the Public Interest and Environmental Users Group (PIEUG). The PIEUG includes representatives of state consumer and environmental offices from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, and District of Columbia governments and advocates from PennFuture, NRDC, and the Environment and Law Policy Center. This year's Annual Board meeting with PJM members marked the beginning of the inclusion of Commonwealth Edison and part of northern Illinois within PJM.