Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2010
CONTACT
Debra Preitkis-Jones
202-870-0270
debra@awea.org
AWEA applauds FERC's approval of midwest transmission cost allocation proposal
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today approved a proposal by the grid operator in the Midwest, the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), that creates a new regime for paying for transmission that will help develop needed transmission infrastructure, improving reliability, reducing homeowners' and businesses' electric bills, fostering economic development, and providing consumers with access to wind energy.
The new cost allocation policy creates a new category of transmission projects called Multi-Value Projects (MVPs). The MVP concept is based on the recognition of the numerous, widely shared benefits provided by enhanced transmission infrastructure and, accordingly, spreads the costs for these lines across the MISO footprint. This policy will help develop needed transmission infrastructure and provide access to wind energy, which would enhance states' ability in that region to achieve their renewable energy requirements and create new jobs.
The order today also approved a cost allocation approach with respect to network upgrades (facilities that interconnect a generator to the bulk power system), under which generator interconnection customers would bear virtually all of their costs. This part of the decision, akin to the obviously unworkable policy of charging the next driver entering a crowded highway the entire cost of adding a new lane to reduce congestion, might thwart some of the gains that will be achieved by the MVP policy, since it fails to recognize that the costs for such facilities should be shared by all their beneficiaries and potentially places disproportionate costs on generators.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today issued the following statement from AWEA's Senior Vice-President for Public Policy Rob Gramlich on the decision:
"We applaud the Commission's decision to approve the MISO proposal with respect to Multi-Value Projects, as it represents a significant improvement over the existing cost allocation proposal. We look forward to working with the Midwest ISO to move candidate MVP lines into the Midwest ISO Transmission Expansion Plan 2011 (MTEP '11) to ensure that interconnection costs for wind development are reasonable. With this policy in place, the Midwest is ready to step up to the plate and support wind development and unlock the associated manufacturing and supply chain jobs throughout the region. The proposed mechanism would spread the costs of new transmission infrastructure to the beneficiaries, allowing the region to build a robust transmission grid that will bring reliability and economic benefits as well as supporting state, regional and national policy goals. This policy is a tremendous victory for the region's consumers, environment, and economy."
AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind industry, with 1,200 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world's largest wind power trade show, the WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition, which takes place next in Chicago, May 5-8, 2013. AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger America. Look up information on wind energy at the AWEA website. Find insight on industry issues at AWEA's blog Into the Wind. Join AWEA on Facebook. Follow AWEA on Twitter.
