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Energy in the News
Synopsis: In an article entitled “Wind surge poses a risk to salmon and reveals flaws in BPA's power-regulating system” the July 5, 2008 issue of the Oregonian reported an environmental close-call that exposed a major flaw in the BPA’s (Bonneville Power Administration) current mechanism for handling wind power. BPA uses its hydropower system to offset the intermittent nature of wind generated electricity. On Monday, June 30, due to unpredicted wind speeds an unexpected surge of wind power “blasted through the system.” “BPA, responsible for adjusting hydro generation to accommodate the wind, realized by evening that it could no longer handle the sustained surge without spilling flows to dangerous levels.” The danger was to migrating juvenile salmon, for which “too much water can prove lethal”. Though environmental disaster was averted, the event revealed flaws in BPA’s current power regulating system. Short of greater predictability in wind speeds, the author implies, a better mechanism is needed for handling wind power. This situation reveals another problem in relying on the combination of wind generated electricity and run of river peaking hydro to supply electricity needs in the Northwest.
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