WIND SITING REGULATIONS AND
GUIDELINES IN NORTHEAST
A BRIEF UPDATE
Deborah Donovan
Northeast Wind Resource Center
April 30, 2015
THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S
WIND ENERGY REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS
• Purpose: support
well-informed, factbased decisions
regarding wind
projects
– Provide accurate,
credible information
– Deliver this
information to
stakeholders
– Work with decisionmakers to ensure they
have the tools to make
informed decisions
• DOE announced awards to 6
centers in March
• Three-year grants with
declining funding
– Each RRC’s budget is
$250,000/year
– DOE pays 80% in year one; 65%
in year two; 50% in year three
• Grants administered through
the National Renewable
Energy Lab (NREL)
• Extensive reporting
requirements to NREL/DOE
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NORTHEAST WIND RESOURCE CENTER
OUR FOCUS
• New England and New
York for land-based wind
• New England, New York,
and New Jersey for
offshore wind
• Opportunity for people in
Pennsylvania to receive
and share information
• The work is divided
between landbased wind and
offshore wind
– Different
information needs
and different
approaches
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Land-Based Wind (LBW)
Development in Northeast
• State RPS programs -> increase demand for new renewables.
• 2015 is likely to bring RPS program expansions/extensions and new
programs (proposed legislation in VT).
• The expected expansion of the NY RPS will drive regional demand up to
3,000 MW, including demand for wind.
– NY REV Large Scale Renewable options paper coming out June 1 2015.
• Grid-scale land-based wind will be the primary source of in-region RPS
compliance in the near term.
• MA, CT, and RI have initiated a regional effort on RE procurement above
and beyond RPS targets. Current plan is to get regulatory approval of
contracts in 2016.
• New England governors issued six-state Energy Action Plan; outlined
regional cooperation strategies on DG, clean energy generation and
transmission procurement.
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LBW Development in Northeast (continued)
• The region’s policy makers are considering additional infrastructure and
generation supply that could either support RE growth or preclude it,
depending on the choices made.
• The outcomes of ongoing regional decisions about infrastructure and
generation procurement will determine which technologies and fuels serve
the region’s needs.
• LBW can reduce the need for additional NG pipeline infrastructure.
• Appropriately-sited LBW needed to assure economic and political viability
of state RPS programs and other clean energy goals.
• The recent termination of Cape Wind and several other smaller other LBW
projects leaves a gap in New England pipeline.
• This gap places additional pressure on LBW to deliver the MW needed to
meet states’ goals.
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LBW Development in Northeast (continued)
• Based on SEA research,* the current pipeline of wind in New
England is as follows:
– More than 3500 MW of projects under development and not yet
permitted
• More than 95% of this is in northern New England (VT, NH, ME), which has
been the center of recent legal challenges
• About 1500 MW is dependent on the construction of new transmission
– About 100 MW permitted but not yet under construction – still at risk
of appeals
– Almost 250 MW under construction – probably “safe” from additional
legal troubles
* Includes
both public and confidential sources
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CONNECTICUT
Regulatory
Local /
Other
CT ended a 3 year moratorium by issuing guidelines in April
2014:
o Visual impact analysis
o Noise evaluation
oFlicker assessment
o Ice drop/throw
o Blade Shear
Colebrook survived appeals in Superior and Supreme Courts (6
turbines of 1.6 MW each)
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MAINE
Regulatory
•ME updated its permitting process and reorganized its wind permitting process in
2013
•DEP Approves Hancock Wind's Amendment Application
•Land Use Planning Commission Staff recommends approval of Weaver Wind
Project (23-turbine, 75.9-MW Weaver Wind project in Hancock County)
Numerous bills about energy siting, unlikely to progress out of committee this
session
Legislative
Local /
Other
•Supreme Court upholds BEP's decision to grant Passadumkeag permit
•Friends of Maine's Mountains withdraws appeal against Bingham Wind
•Lawsuit opposing Oakfield Wind Project
•Town of Orland narrowly notes against establishing a 180-day moratorium
•Dixfield Selectmen extend moratorium for 180 days
•Eolian proposes Waldo Community Wind Project; voters reject new ordinance
•Eastbrook votes to allow taller turbines for Weaver Wind Project
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MASSACHUSETTS
Regulatory
Local / Other
•Docket 13-165: Investigation by the Department of Public Utilities on its own
Motion into Best Practices for the Siting of Land-Based Wind Energy Facilities.
•Intent was to review siting guidelines in anticipation of developing proposed
guidelines, several attempts to pass wind siting legislation have failed
•Little action so far, none anticipated.
•Buckland Bylaw prohibits Large Wind Installations
•Kingston Board of Health issued an Order for Abatement of Nuisance towards
Kingston Wind Independence.
•Falmouth to Challenge MA Court of Appeals’ Ruling Regarding Local Zoning Bylaw
Violation Related to Wind 1
•Mass DEP Issues Consent Order to Hoosac Wind Project, Requires Serrated Edges
Installed on Turbines by July 1, 2015
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
Regulatory
Local / Other
•NH SEC is currently finalizing new guidelines revisions after legislation required
reorganization of the SEC itself
•The SEC (under Docket 2014-04) is developing rules and criteria for the siting of
energy facilities
Site 205 and 300 Initial Proposal Package
Site 100 and Site 201.01 – 204.05 Initial Proposal Package
•Communities proposed wind-restrictive rules in opposition to EDPR's Spruce
Ridge Wind Farm
•Debate continues about SEC jurisdiction over Antrim Wind project permitting
process
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RHODE ISLAND
Regulatory
RI had extensive stakeholder process and issued guidelines in 2012, they do not
have the force of regulation or law.
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VERMONT
Regulatory
VT PSB opened investigation into sound standards, no requirement that they be
issued; no recent activity on project.
•HB 276 - An act relating to greater weight to municipal and regional plans in the
siting of electric generation facilities
•Action on energy siting bills unlikely in 2015 session
Legislative
Local / Other
•Vermonters for Clean Environment lost challenge of Deerfield Wind Permitting
Process
•Northeastern Vermont Development Association Executive Committee Votes to
Oppose Utility-Scale Wind Projects
•Town of Windham modifies Town Plan to preclude large scale wind
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THANK YOU
www.northeastwind.org
Deborah Donovan
ddonovan@seadvantage.com
(508) 665-5859
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