Bode at Windpower 2011: BPA “allowing the status quo to continue”

“It’s a violation of contract. It’s allowing the status quo to continue and doing so at the expense of an industry that is just now scaling up to size,” said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), regarding Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA’s) decision to temporarily limit output from non-hydropower resources.

Bode addressed BPA’s actions during a press conference at the Windpower 2011 Conference and Exhibition in Anaheim, Calif. on May 23. High seasonal river flows and hydroelectric generation in the Pacific Northwest led BPA to issue an interim decision on May 13 to address what it called a “potentially imminent need” to temporarily limit wind generation and other sources.

“We’ve been begging Bonneville to take action and move forward,” Bode said. “Now when they’re in trouble, they shut down the only other renewable sector besides hydro and they let the coal keep burning.”

BPA, however, says it is limiting the output of all non-hydroelectric energy, including fossil-fuel and other thermal generation and wind energy, according to a BPA press release. BPA says the action was required to protect salmon and steelhead, maintain the reliability of the power grid and avoid shifting costs to BPA’s customers.

Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana, who also participated in the press conference, said that BPA has been short-sided regarding its decision to limit wind power. “What they don’t have is transmission capacity to get the electricity to market. If we don’t move now, five and ten years from now, it’s going to be much greater as we come out of this recession.”

While BPA is under AWEA’s scrutiny, the state of California is receiving AWEA’s high praises for the continued success of its goal to have 33 percent of its electric generation from renewable sources by 2020. Bode said that since Senate Bill 2X was signed into law, interest in California wind portfolios has exploded.

“It’s like the floodgates have opened,” Bode said.

The wind industry now supports 15 wind-related manufacturing facilities in California. In addition, 4,000 to 5,000 permanent workers help maintain and operate the 3,177 MW of wind power already online in California, equaling 3 to 5 percent of the state’s generation, depending on peaking needs.

Bode also applauded the role that wind energy played during the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan. None of the wind turbines in Japan were impacted by the disasters, Bode said, evidence to the quality of the product. However, wind generation was limited at times due to transmission issues.

“Japan’s story really told the story for a need for diversification. Renewable resources should be a part of every portfolio.”