Posts Tagged ‘Energy Master Plan’

MMS issues lease for met towers off NJ Coast

Written by Mike Pisauro on June 28th, 2009 in Federal, Ocean, Renewable Energy, Wind | No Comments »

Last week, MMS announced they would be issuing leases to the three proposed wind farm developers so that they could begin the process of installing their meteorological towers. Bluewater Wind NJ Energy, Fishermen’s Energy of New Jersey, and Deepwater Wind will all be placing met towers off the coast of NJ. These towers are a necessary first step to the eventual development of shore wind. Once the met towers are in place, they will be recording data for at least 12 months or mid to late 2010.

Back in October 2008 the State issued its Energy Master Plan. The Plan sets a goal of having 1000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2012. I have always thought that time table was very aggressive and was unlikely to occur. Assuming the developers do not begin the NEPA process at the same time as they collect the data from the met towers, that process will begin late 2010 or early 2011. The NEPA process of obtaining information, analyzing the information, etc will take a significant period of time. For example, the Cape Wind project, which began around 2001, took almost three years from the very beginning of the NEPA process to the issuance of the draft EIS. It then took another four+ for MMS to issue its final EIS on the project.

Now, a lot has changed from the time Cape Wind started their project. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed. The State of New Jersey has convened a Blue Ribbon Panel on Wind; evaluated the issues and set forth its recommendations. MMS has interim rules for renewable energy developed on the OCS. The nation as a whole has hopefully progressed towards acceptance of wind generation. (I question how far we have progressed on this score). Also, the State is in the process of doing performing their own biological studies off the coast of NJ. All of these things may help move the process along so that the planning of these projects is not a decade long process. The NJ developers will have a framework to follow that Cape Wind did not.

Hopefully, the fact that there is a legal framework in place will shorten the legal wrangling over the project. I do believe that there will be many lawsuits challenging these projects. Local, county and some legislators have expressed concern over off shore wind development. Local property owners will certainly band together to challenge these projects. There may also be an environmental group or two who may challenge the projects in Court.

In short I believe after the NEPA process has been engaged and the lawsuits resolved one or more of the proposed wind projects will go forward. What I am fairly certain of is that no project will be in the water and generating electricity by the end of 2012. The State will have to adjust their energy master plan to account for the revised time table.

MMS releases final rule for offshore renewable energy's leasing

Written by Mike Pisauro on April 22nd, 2009 in Federal, Global Warming, Ocean, Renewable Energy, Wind | No Comments »

On Earth Day, MMS released for publication the final rule on offshore renewable energy leasing of the outer continental shelf.  The 579 rule.  You can find the rule (here) and the much much shorter press release (here).  This is good news for New Jersey.  Once the rule takes affect after 60 days, the three proposed wind farms can begin the leasing process.  Assuming the environmental impact statements show that the harm to the ocean environment is minimal or none then NJ can get just a little closer to its goal under its energy master plan.

Hopefully, I will get a chance to reveiw the final rule and I will post my thoughts.

Happy Earth Day!

Tidal Power coming to NJ

Written by Mike Pisauro on January 11th, 2009 in Clean Up, Ocean, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized, Wave & Tidal | No Comments »

Tidal power is coming to NJ.  On Dec. 17, 2008, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted a preliminary permit to Natural Currents Energy Services (NCES).  The company proposes to install two in stream tidal turbines, in the Manasquan River, to generate approximately 150,000 to 300,000 KW hours of electricity per year.  The electricity would be used to power the Kingsbridge Marina and Kingsbridge Financial Groups buildings in Point Pleasant, NJ.  NCES notes that any excess would be sold back to the grid per NJ’s net metering laws.

The preliminary permit is the first step in a multistep process before permission is granted to install and operate the turbines.  The issuance of a preliminary permit only allows NCES to the study the environmental impacts of the proposed project and will provide priority for NCES’ application for permits to install and operate the project.   The preliminary permit does not allow NCES to actual install the turbines and operate them.  Once the studies are complete than an applicant to apply for a FERC license.

NCES is proposing to study the site’s geology, navigation and local marine ecology during the preliminary permit period.  The study will look at the proposed project’s impact on fish and marine animals between January to December 2009.  For example, NCES is proposing to study the impact of fish passing through the turbines between May and August 2009.   As part of the permit application process various Federal and State agency filed comments to the application.  According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the proposed project location is habitat for eighteen federally managed species.  Some of these species are: winter flounder, windowpane, Atlantic butterfish, summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, alewife and blueback herring.  NMFS is concerned that the proposed studies are not designed to give adequate data on the impacts of the turbines on the fish populations as it is scheduled for times where some fish are not present.   Therefore, NMFS is suggesting the studies continue for a full year.

Now that the permit has been issued, NCES has 45 days to submit a schedule. They must also submit reports every six months on the project.  Hopefully, FERC and the other interested agencies insure that the applicant crafts the studies to be meaningful and not merely to minimize any possible negative results.  Once all the data is collected then during the licensing process it can be determined whether tidal turbines make sense for this location.

If the site is appropriate it will help NJ meet its class 1 renewable goals of 22.5%.  Wave and tidal generators are classified as Class 1 renewable energy.  It is interesting that while this permit had been filed during NJ’s energy master plan process, there is barely any mention of wave or tidal energy as part of the recently issued EMP.   What role should tidal power have or can have in NJ?  Also, should NJ encourage these kind of projects in the State and if so how?

NJ is #2 in solar and seeking to increase

Written by Mike Pisauro on December 14th, 2008 in Renewable Energy, Solar | 1 Comment »

As I have previously noted the State of New Jersey has finalized its long over due Energy Master Plan (here).  As part of that plan, the State is looking to increase the State’s use of renewable energy from 22.5% by 2020 to 30% by 2020.  This is called the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard or RPS.   The RPS is split into Class 1 and Class 2 renewables.  Class 1 renewable is solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, wave, tidal, landfill gas, fuel cells, anaerobic digestion.   Under current regulations 20% of our electricity is required to come from Class 1 renewables by 2020.

The State as part of its RPS the State carves out 2.12% of the total renewable energy for solar installation.  This means that of the 20% of Class 1 renewable, 2.12% must come from solar energy.  The carve out is credited on making New Jersey the second highest State for solar generation behind California.

The Energy Master Plan proposes to increase the use of solar from 2.12% to a total of 2,120 GWh of solar.  The State is changing from percentage to actual amounts because if the State is successful in reducing energy consumption than the overall amount of solar energy under the old percentages would be lower.

In essence the EMP is a reaffirmation of the State’s commitment to renewable energy.  While this is good news and even though the State has stated a commitment to solar and renewable energy and the State has the second highest level of solar installation, 2008 was not a good year for solar.  Below is a graph from New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program on solar installations from 2001 to the end of June 2008.  (website)

2001 to June 2008 Solar Installation

2001 to June 2008 Solar Installation

There was a significant drop off in the installation of solar energy this year.  This may be the result of the freezing of the State’s rebate program.  The State stopped accepting new rebate applications for all but government entities for 2008.  Maybe as PSE&G’s loan program takes hold the numbers will reserve themselves.  What is clear is that if the State is serious on achieving increased adoption of solar energy it must makes sure the incentives are in place to achieve its goal.

People support renewable energy

Written by Mike Pisauro on December 2nd, 2008 in Renewable Energy | No Comments »

I saw a recent entry on the Environmental Law Prof. Blog regarding renewable energy (link).  The blog discusses a report from the World Public Opinion. org.  According to the WPO a majority of people support renewable energy  including a requirement that utilities generate renewable energy.  This is good news as it means that there is support for Renewable Portfolio Standards.  New Jersey has a very progressive RPS and is looking to improve upon that with its Energy Master Plan.  As I wrote earlier, NJ is seeking to increase its RPS from 22.5% by 2020 to 30% by 2020.  (link).  Hopefully, this report also provides some support for a Federal RPS, which President-elect Obama has indicated that he supports.

Energy Master Plan

Written by Mike Pisauro on October 21st, 2008 in Renewable Energy | 1 Comment »

Tomorrow the final verison of the energy master plan will be presented to the public.  The energy master plan is the State’s blueprint to energy production and usage.  The State is required to produce an energy master plan every three years.  The current plan is several years in the making and twelve years or so (I think) overdue.  We will see what the final plan looks like, but the draft plan was lacking in many respects.  Once I have had a chance to look it at I will try to give a review.