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| ⚫ | '''Atlantic Wind Connection''' is an ] proposed by Trans-Elect that would be constructed starting in 2013 off the ] to service off-shore wind generators. ], the investment firm Good Energies, and ]ese trading firm ], are the major investors in the planned $5 billion dollar project which would deliver power ashore in ], ], ] and ] using a {{convert|350|mi}} cable as a backbone that could be used by wind power systems built miles off of the ] coast. Initially the system could be used to transport electricity from southern Virginia, where it is cheap, to the New York City area, where it is comparatively expensive.<ref name = "NYT" > article by Matthew L. Wald in '']'' October 12, 2010, Accessed October 12, 2010</ref> | ||
| '''Atlantic Wind Connection''' is a planned ] to be built off the Atlantic Coast of the United States to service off-shore ]s. ] and | |||
| ⚫ | Good Energies, |
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| The project would take advantage of the fact that the ] slopes rather gradually in the Atlantic Ocean and that it would not be exposed to the freezing temperatures characteristic of the ]. The Atlantic Wind Connection would begin with a first phase that would connect southern New Jersey and ], with a cable placed in trenches on the seabed {{convert|20|mi}} offshore. Built at an estimated cost of $1.8 billion, phase one would begin construction in 2013 and could be ready to transmit power by 2016. The remaining southern connection to ] and an extension to northern New Jersey and the ] area would bring total construction costs to $5 billion and could be completed by 2021. The lead partners Google and Good Energies would each own 37.5% of the project, while Marubeni would have a 15% share. The system would be able to transmit 6,000 megawatts of power and would allow existing energy supplies in Virginia to be transmitted north, bypassing the congested energy grid that exists in the Northeast. Once the backbone is constructed, wind farms constructed well off the coast and almost invisible from the shore could be constructed and tap into the backbone. By constructing the cable beyond the {{convert|3|mi}} limit where state's wield authority, the system would be under the federal jurisdiction of the ].<ref name=NYT/> | |||
| The proposed system has been praised by environmentalists and federal regulators, but as a first of its kind project, poses significant risks of encountering unexpected technological challenges and cost overruns.<ref name = "NYT" ></ref> The ] on the ] in the area where the transmission line is projected to be built contains large areas of shallow water suitable for generation of ].<ref name = "NYT" ></ref> | |||
| The proposed system has been praised by environmentalists and federal regulators, with ], chairman of the ] (FERC) calling it "one of the most interesting transmission projects that I've ever seen walk through the door", saying that the system "provides a gathering point for offshore wind for multiple projects up and down the coast." Former FERC chairman ], who heads a group that represents power transmission system owners called the proposal "a necessary piece of what the Eastern governors have been talking about in terms of taking advantage of offshore wind" and noted that the system would help average out the variable output of wind farms. Google's director of its green business operations group, Richard L. Needham, called the project "an opportunity to kick-start this industry and, long term, provide a way for the mid-Atlantic states to meet their renewable energy goals." Melinda Pierce of the Sierra Club said that she had opposed other power line projects but would support the Atlantic Wind Connection, as "These kinds of audacious ideas might just be what we need to break through the wretched logjam".<ref name=NYT/> | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| However, as the first such project of this nature, it poses significant risks of encountering unexpected technological challenges, bureaucratic backlogs and cost overruns. Virginia politicians have opposed previous proposals that would send low-cost energy out of the state. Willett M. Kempton of the ] noted that existing federal incentive programs for wind energy are planned to end in 2012 and noted that costs for energy generated offshore would be 50% more expensive than costs for traditional power generation methods. ], the ] that covers the area and is the world's largest competitive wholesale ], would need to develop a formula to assess its customers for the costs associated with hooking up the new cables, increasing grid capacity and making the system more reliable.<ref name = "NYT" ></ref> | |||
| ==References== | |||
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Revision as of 16:00, 12 October 2010
Atlantic Wind Connection is an electrical transmission backbone proposed by Trans-Elect that would be constructed starting in 2013 off the East Coast of the United States to service off-shore wind generators. Google, the investment firm Good Energies, and Japanese trading firm Marubeni, are the major investors in the planned $5 billion dollar project which would deliver power ashore in southern Virginia, Delaware, southern New Jersey and northern New Jersey using a 350 miles (560 km) cable as a backbone that could be used by wind power systems built miles off of the Atlantic Ocean coast. Initially the system could be used to transport electricity from southern Virginia, where it is cheap, to the New York City area, where it is comparatively expensive.
The project would take advantage of the fact that the continental shelf slopes rather gradually in the Atlantic Ocean and that it would not be exposed to the freezing temperatures characteristic of the Great Lakes. The Atlantic Wind Connection would begin with a first phase that would connect southern New Jersey and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with a cable placed in trenches on the seabed 20 miles (32 km) offshore. Built at an estimated cost of $1.8 billion, phase one would begin construction in 2013 and could be ready to transmit power by 2016. The remaining southern connection to Norfolk, Virginia and an extension to northern New Jersey and the New York City area would bring total construction costs to $5 billion and could be completed by 2021. The lead partners Google and Good Energies would each own 37.5% of the project, while Marubeni would have a 15% share. The system would be able to transmit 6,000 megawatts of power and would allow existing energy supplies in Virginia to be transmitted north, bypassing the congested energy grid that exists in the Northeast. Once the backbone is constructed, wind farms constructed well off the coast and almost invisible from the shore could be constructed and tap into the backbone. By constructing the cable beyond the 3 miles (4.8 km) limit where state's wield authority, the system would be under the federal jurisdiction of the United States Department of the Interior.
The proposed system has been praised by environmentalists and federal regulators, with Jon Wellinghoff, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) calling it "one of the most interesting transmission projects that I've ever seen walk through the door", saying that the system "provides a gathering point for offshore wind for multiple projects up and down the coast." Former FERC chairman James J. Hoecker, who heads a group that represents power transmission system owners called the proposal "a necessary piece of what the Eastern governors have been talking about in terms of taking advantage of offshore wind" and noted that the system would help average out the variable output of wind farms. Google's director of its green business operations group, Richard L. Needham, called the project "an opportunity to kick-start this industry and, long term, provide a way for the mid-Atlantic states to meet their renewable energy goals." Melinda Pierce of the Sierra Club said that she had opposed other power line projects but would support the Atlantic Wind Connection, as "These kinds of audacious ideas might just be what we need to break through the wretched logjam".
However, as the first such project of this nature, it poses significant risks of encountering unexpected technological challenges, bureaucratic backlogs and cost overruns. Virginia politicians have opposed previous proposals that would send low-cost energy out of the state. Willett M. Kempton of the University of Delaware noted that existing federal incentive programs for wind energy are planned to end in 2012 and noted that costs for energy generated offshore would be 50% more expensive than costs for traditional power generation methods. PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that covers the area and is the world's largest competitive wholesale electricity market, would need to develop a formula to assess its customers for the costs associated with hooking up the new cables, increasing grid capacity and making the system more reliable.
References
- ^ "Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Praise, and Backing" article by Matthew L. Wald in The New York Times October 12, 2010, Accessed October 12, 2010