Air quality warnings, Record power useage

Region sets a new historic record for electricity demand Tuesday
Unhealthy air quality warnings throughout state

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ccording to a Press Release from ISO New England on this afternoon's historic electric demand and unhealthy air quality warnings, a new and historic record was set for electricity demand throughout the region.

At the same time Cape Wind farm in Yarmouth announced that the proposed wind farm would be producing up to 280 megawatts of electricity from clean wind power if it were up and running. This was according to wind measurements taken every ten minutes from Cape Wind’s Scientific Data Tower on Nantucket Sound.

ISO New England announces new record demand this afternoon

At 3PM today, the website of the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE) was reporting New England electric demand of 27,363 megawatts, setting an all-time high.  Reuters reports today that ISO-NE expects the region to run a supply deficit during the day today of 200 megawatts but that rolling blackouts can be avoided by importing more power from Canada.

New England's electricity use set a new all-time record today, according to ISO New England Inc., the operator of the region's bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets. Preliminary data collected by the ISO shows that electricity use reached 27,374 megawatts (MW), surpassing the previously established record of 26,885 MW, which was set on July 27, 2005.

 While electricity use continues to grow, supply has remained stagnant. Between 2004 and 2006, peak demand grew from just over 24,000 MW to more than 27,000 MW, while power supplies increased minimally. Without new resources, New England will face an increased reliance on emergency actions to balance supply and demand as early as 2007.

"Maintaining a reliable power system in the face of growing electricity demand requires comprehensive regional solutions that include investment in new, diverse sources of electricity, improvements to the transmission system, and additional demand response and energy efficiency throughout the region," ISO's Whitley said.

ISO New England, an independent, not-for-profit corporation, helps promote the health of New England's economy and protect the well-being of its people by ensuring the constant availability of electricity, today and for future generations. ISO New England meets this obligation in three ways: by reliably operating New England's 32,000-megawatt bulk electric power generation and transmission system, by overseeing and ensuring the fair administration of the region's $10 billion wholesale electricity markets, and by managing comprehensive regional electric power planning.

Boston was 97º Tuesday, 1 degree short of record

“Cape Wind would be making a meaningful contribution of clean energy today helping to ensure electric reliability in New England while also reducing air pollution and improving air quality,” stated Cape Wind Communications Director Mark Rodgers.  “The sooner Cape Wind is approved and built, the sooner it can start delivering these benefits to the public,” Rodgers added.

Cape Wind’s Scientific Data Tower previously reported strong wind conditions during the two previous record electric demand days in New England, on July 19, 2005, and on August 14, 2002.  Electric demand is growing at 2% per year in New England and there are few new sources of electricity in the permitting pipeline in New England aside from Cape Wind.  Officials at ISO-NE have warned of the possibility of regional rolling blackouts if new sources of electric supply are not built.

On May 10, 2005, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) approved Cape Wind’s application because the project would provide needed new electricity supply, reduce electricity costs and provide air quality benefits to New England.  Specifically, the EFSB report stated: “The Siting Board therefore finds there is a need for the capacity provided by the wind farm beginning in 2007 for reliability purposes.” (p.147) “Overall, the Siting Board concludes that the air quality benefits of the wind farm are significant, and important for Massachusetts and New England.” (p. 189)

• Scorching heat sent Bay Staters scurrying into air-conditioned homes yesterday, driving electricity use to record highs.  Read the Standard-Times coverage of this story here.
• Temperatures in Boston reached 97 degrees, one degree short of the record for July 18, set in 1982. Read the CNC coverage here.