It ain't over till it's over, Dominion...

By: bruce roemmelt
Published On: 6/17/2008 11:10:13 AM

500kv_redsky553x

The SCC is not rolling over for Dominion on the 500 kv powerline - yet. Got this PEC missive upon my return from a conference in Boston.

Dominion & PJM Ordered to Run New Tests
Dear bruce,
A victory of sorts occurred on Wednesday (yay!) –newly available information has caused the State Corporation Commission to reopen the transmission line evidentiary record and to require additional studies from Dominion and PJM.
Hearing Examiner Alexander Skirpan, Jr. has requested the new studies be provided by June 18th. We will then have a chance to review the studies and perhaps run our own tests before heading back to Richmond for a hearing on June 30th.
PJM Auctions Provide New Generation and Demand Response
The Hearing Examiner’s order was brought about by the results of PJM’s recent Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) auction. The auction, part of PJM’s new market structure, collected bids for generation and demand response for the 2011/2012 time frame. The auction brought in over 4,200 megawatts of new generation and demand response. The results of this auction are particularly important, because Dominion has been threatening blackouts in the summer of 2011 if their 3000-megawatt transmission line is not built.
The hearing on the 30th will be open to the public, please let me know if you are interested in attending. Also, please consider making an online donation to help fund our continued efforts before the SCC. Piedmont Environmental Council is proud to have received Charity Navigator’s highest rating.

The full text of the hearing examiner’s ruling is here. So this has the potential to be good news. Demand management and local generation (Ala Jim Bacon’s production centric system) can do it. If we continue the fight we just might win…

b


Comments



it was nice to see the SCC HE jump on this... (floodguy - 6/20/2008 12:56:58 PM)
...however, capacity and reliability are two separate factors.  Increased orders for capacity at a moments notice during peak demand, can't be met w/o increased transmission.  If you recall the DOE's 2005 Congestion Study, both factors are vital to keeping the east coast energized.  Without decreased congestion, electric power prices will continue to skyrocket, and the potential for rolling blackouts grows.  

Its seems apparent to me that a regional energy plan is more in sync with reality, over states and a national plan, as differences in energy usages, available resources and impediments to the power grid and industry, are unique by region.  

Transmission needs are regional and we have quasi-governmental authority presiding over it.  Why can't be power generation and the implimentation of energy efficiency and conservation platforms be managed similarly?  Regional power grids are all interconnected but with power generation and EEC differing b/n state, imbalances can be create such that transmission can be made more of a solution over other, potentially cheaper and less damaging non-transmission solution.