New York state would greatly benefit from a five-fold jump in wind energy

“Wind power is a vital component of New York State’s renewable energy strategy,” Stephen Whitley, NYISO president, said in a press release issued Thursday. “This study provides a much clearer picture of the benefits consumers can see as a result of continued wind development.”

Called “Growing Wind: NYISO 2010 Wind Generation Study,” the report analysed increasing wind power in the state from the existing 1,275 megawatts (MW) to 8,000 MW by 2018. Currently, the press release said, there are more than 7,000 MW of proposed wind turbines projects that have been submitted to NYISO for potential interconnection to the state grid.

The study by NYISO, a non-profit corporation that operates the state’s bulk electricity grid and administers New York’s competitive wholesale electricity markets, also found “that any operational requirements associated with integrating sufficient wind farm generation could be addressed.”

That, along with transmission upgrades, would help New York reach its goal of having 30% of the state’s electricity supplied by wind power and other renewable resources by 2015.

“The primary finding of the study is that wind turbines generation can supply reliable clean energy at a very low cost of production to the New York power grid,” the study concluded.

“This energy results in significant savings in overall system production costs, reductions in ‘greenhouse’ gasses such as CO2 and other emissions such as NOx and SO2 as well an overall reduction in wholesale electricity prices.”

The 102-page study added that NYISO’s system would allow for up to 8,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity “without any adverse reliability impacts.” New York adapted a Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2004.

www.nyiso.com/public/webdocs/newsroom/press_releases/2010/GROWING_WIND_-_Final_Report_of_the_NYISO_2010_Wind_Generation_Study.pdf

By Chris Rose, blog.ewea.org