WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — ISO-NE planners last week outlined the scope of a needs analysis that will determine whether the RTO will approve transmission upgrades to accommodate wind development in the Keene Road area in Maine.
An economic study found that the area could qualify for market efficiency transmission upgrades (METUs) — projects designed to reduce the total production cost to supply system load.
At Wednesday’s Planning Advisory Committee meeting, planners said the needs assessment will simulate production costs with the Keene Road export limit modeled at the existing 165-MW limit and three higher limits that top out at 255 MW.
The modeling will provide results for 2020, the projected in-service date for the upgrades, as well as 2025 and 2030. In addition to production costs, the simulations will predict metrics such as congestion, emissions and LMPs at several locations.
Draft results are expected to be brought to the PAC for stakeholder discussion by November, with final results posted in December. If the results show the upgrades qualify as METUs, the RTO could decide to issue a competitive solicitation.
A draft study in 2015 found that increasing the export limit to 225 MW could save $1.4 million to $5.7 million in production costs annually by allowing additional wind development in the area and displacing more expensive hydropower. (See “Draft Study Shows Greater Wind Penetration Benefits,” ISO-NE Planning Advisory Committee Briefs.)
– William Opalka