AWEA Statement on Competitive Electricity Markets Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                        Contact:           

December 17, 2007                                          Christine
Real de Azua at (202) 383-2508

 

AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION STATEMENT

ON CALL FOR INVESTIGATION OF COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY MARKETS

 

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today issued the following
statement by AWEA Policy Director Rob Gramlich on plans by a group of
organizations to seek an investigation into pricing of electricity in
regions served by Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs):

 

"It is disappointing that the proponents of competitive wholesale
electricity markets a decade ago have misdirected their concerns over
high costs at competitive wholesale markets.  The principal and
unintended victim of this attack could be renewable energy because
Regional Transmission Organization markets can integrate far more energy
from variable power sources. The single market clearing price design is
the most transparent and efficient option for short term operation of
these markets.  

 

"The real problem is the lack of infrastructure that creates costly and
unpredictable congestion as well as a viewpoint held by some that price
signals alone lead to transmission infrastructure. On those points, we
believe we agree with most of the entities involved in this complaint
and hope to continue working with them to improve the nation's
transmission infrastructure."

 

(For a copy of the letter dated February 26, 2007, from AWEA and other
organizations to Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman
Joseph T. Kelliher, which  provides additional detail on this issue,
contact Christine Real de Azua at Christine@awea.org)

 

 

AWEA is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry.
The association's membership includes global leaders in wind power
development, wind turbine manufacturing, and energy, as well as a broad
range of component and service suppliers.  More information on wind
energy is available at the AWEA web site:  www.awea.org
<http://www.awea.org/>  .  

 

 

 

Christine Real de Azua

Assistant Director of Communications 

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

Direct phone: (202) 383-2508

Email: Christine@awea.org

Web: www.awea.org

"Wind: Powering a Cleaner, Stronger America"