Deerfield Wind turbines up and operating, but renewables lagging in cold temps

READSBORO — The controversial Deerfield Wind project that took over 10 years and $7.5 million to complete is now generating power, but regional data shows that renewables are not producing as much energy in these cold winter months as some might have hoped.

The 15-turbine industrial wind plant located in the towns of Searsburg and Readsboro will produce enough renewable energy to power approximately 14,000 Vermont homes annually, according to officials at Avangrid Renewables, the project’s developer. Green Mountain Power has a 25-year contract to purchase the harvested renewable energy from the 30-megawatt facility.

Wikimedia Commons/Corey Coyle

EFFICIENT? During winter months, wind turbines such as those pictured in this file photo face intermittent production threats from snow and ice.

Spokespersons at ISO New England chose not to comment on the efficiency of the Deerfield Wind project, but the nonprofit responsible for overseeing the region’s electric power grid provides daily live charts that show renewables aren’t producing much energy in the cold weather when demand is high.

As of Friday, oil topped the list of energy sources at 38 percent, with nuclear and natural gas coming in next at 23 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Renewable sources made up only 12 percent of the active fuel mix, with wind energy providing nearly half that amount.

Paul Copleman, communications manager at Avangrid, told True North he’s not convinced turbines are less efficient in the cold, and said wind farms in northern parts of the U.S. generally produce more energy in the winter due to increased wind.

He added that if the turbines don’t produce efficiently, it wouldn’t come out of Vermonters’ wallets.

“Seasonal production doesn’t cost Vermonters money,” Copleman said. “We own the project and bear the risk if we don’t produce, and Green Mountain Power has agreed to a fixed cost to buy the power for its customers.”

Lisa Linowes, executive director of The WindAction Group, disagrees.

“In this period where we have this polar air that’s sitting on top of us, the winds tend to die way down and (the turbines) don’t operate that well under these conditions,” she said.

Linowes said the cost and terms of agreement shared between the two companies cause her to think Vermont ratepayers aren’t getting the best deal possible on energy.

According to Linowes, Green Mountain Power signed a contract with Avangrid at an “enormous price” of $88 per megawatt hour, or 8.8 cents per kilowatt hour — significantly higher than what Massachusetts and Connecticut are paying, and far above the market rate of 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour.

“If the energy is very low, if it goes negative, who’s going to pick up the price? Deerfield is always going to get its 8.8 cents per kilowatt hour they (Green Mountain Power) are committed to paying,” Linowes said. “It’s a terrible contract. … I don’t think Vermonters realize how much they are paying for this energy.”

Briana Bocelli is a freelance writer for True North Reports. She lives in the Northeast Kingdom and is a senior at Castleton University.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Harvey McDaniel and Wikimedia Commons/Corey Coyle

5 thoughts on “Deerfield Wind turbines up and operating, but renewables lagging in cold temps

  1. These are the Neighbors from Hell, and a bad deal! No mention of the various tax incentives and deals that we pay through taxes for these monstrosities!

  2. . . . and it comes to productive renewables – there is nothing more productive than snow covered solar panels !

  3. Briana,

    Correction: $7.5 million, should read $75 million
    30 MW x 2.5 million/MW = $75 million

    The CF is about 0.33
    Annual production = 30 x 8766 x 0.33 = 867,834 MWh/y
    GMP pays to out-of-state multi-millionaires = 867,834 x 8.8 c/kWh = $7,636,939/y; that money LEAVES Vermont.
    GMP could have bought that electricity for 867,834 x 5 c/kWh, NE average wholesale since 2009 = $4,339,170/y

    If GMP sells RECs for 3 c/kWh, then the 8.8 c/kWh becomes 5.5 c/kWh, i.e., a minor extra cost for rate payers.

    However, the multi-millionaires will be gorging on subsidies and Investment Tax Credits during the first 6 years, which means the ECONOMIC cost to the US economy is at about 14.5 to 15 c/kWh.

    Here is a list of subsidies:

    1. Federal and state ITCs; upfront giveaways to offset any taxes.
    2. Federal and state taxes not paid due to rapid depreciation write-offs during there first 6 years
    3. Federal and state taxes not paid due to loan interest deducted from taxable profits.
    4. School portion of property taxes not paid; households have to pay more.
    5. State sales taxes not paid on some system components.
    6. In addition, the electricity is purchased at 8.8 c/kWh, but could have been bought at NE midday wholesale at 5 c/kWh.

    All is explained in this URL.
    http://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/subsidized-solar-systems-cause-chronic-budget-deficits-in-vermont

  4. Is that 8.8 cents per kWh for each and every kWh regardless of whether or not the power is needed on the grid. A giant Net Metered project! Just great! You know, my economics teacher taught me there are no good deals. Only better deals. We could have bought power cheaper elsewhere. 8.8 cents per kWh does hurt Vermonter’s wallets. There

  5. Another name for these offense mechanisms is avian osterizers. They indiscriminately mangle large birds of prey and any other low flying waterfowl.

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