Report forecasts more NW wind power
Eastern Washington's landscape likely will see many more turbines and power plants built to harness the desert's gusty winds, a new report forecast Wednesday.
But although wind power can play a large role in the Northwest, it will never be a consistent solution to regional needs, according to the 71-page report from a group of energy industry leaders.
The Bonneville Power Administration and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council commissioned the group more than six months ago to develop the Northwest Wind Integration Action Plan.
The report is upbeat about wind power, noting it could generate enough electricity to power three cities the size of Seattle by 2024 -- about 6,000 megawatts.
But wind's unpredictability will limit its potential and make it unlikely ever to become the sole or primary energy source for a power system that counts on reliability, the group found.
"Those of us who live east of the Cascades know that wind power is no longer a new curiosity," said Tom Karier, a Washington member of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and co-chairman of the 21-member study committee. "But wind is a variable resource and addressing that is a primary part of the plan."
Despite the limitations, interest in wind power has grown as concerns increased about carbon emissions and natural gas costs. Wind is free and environmentally friendly, but it's not easy to capture or cheap to transmit in the form of power.
The report estimated wind power could increase a consumer's monthly power bill by $3 to $10, depending on how much is generated.
Today, wind produces about 2 percent of BPA's power and is expected to reach 5 percent by 2009.
"We do have this explosion of wind power development in the Northwest," said BPA Administrator Steve Wright. "It clearly is no longer a pilot program. It's a big resource, and it's something we have to figure out how to deal with."
The steering committee had five key conclusions: The Northwest power system can integrate 6,000 megawatts by 2024; wind by itself will not be a reliable electricity source; controllable resources such as hydropower will be needed to ensure consistency; the region needs to take legislative action to control costs; and the region should invest in its transmission system.
Continue reading this article from the Tri-City Herald:
Report forecasts more wind power
