New Brunswick Chided for Low Wind Price

The Alliance for Community Energy has criticized the New Brunswick government’s financial projections for hypothetical power projects. A government document released last week gives the most optimistic outlook for the capacity at which wind farms would operate, as well as low-balling how much wind farms cost to put up. 10 cents per kilowatt-hour the province has offered proponents for power – with annual increases pegged to inflation – is not enough, considering what he views is the government’s overly idealistic vision. The Alliance for Community Energy is a group of about 50 people who recently formed the network of municipalities, woodlot owners, farmers, energy co-operatives, renewable energy companies and environmental groups – some of whom are interested in small-scale wind. The province’s policy is to pay the same price – 10 cents per kilowatt hour – for every renewable energy project, whether it’s a wind farm, hydroelectric facility or biomass operation…Energy Minister Jack Keir and Environment Minister Rick Miles joined together to push the button to start the flow of the electricity at the Crane Mountain Landfill. Saint John Energy is buying the electricity for the same price as the electricity from NB Power, who was the utility’s sole supplier until now…The Tennessee Valley Authority will close nine of its oldest coal firing units in its effort to save money on environmental upgrades and lower its carbon emissions. The idling is expected to be completed by 2015 and will include two units at the John Sevier Fossil Plant in northeastern Tennessee, six units at Widows Creek Fossil Plant in northeastern Alabama and one unit at the Shawnee Fossil Plant near Paducah, Ky. TVA will make up the difference with a gas plant in John Sevier, with the upcoming nuclear Bellefonte plant east of Scottsboro and a possible biomass plant at Shawnee.