Clean Line Sponsors Hen House for Utility Chickens

Here chickie, chickie, chick...

Clean Line Energy Partners and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy are "sponsoring" a "clean power summit" for southeastern states.  What a great way to herd all the southern utility chickens into the HVDC merchant transmission line hen house!

Still completely desperate for customers I see, Clean Line.  As if listening to Mario Harturdo for 45 minutes is going to result in enough transmission capacity contracts to save your project?  That's pretty pathetic.  And also amusing.

Nobody wants to contract for transmission capacity on an unbuilt transmission line that doesn't connect with any existing generators.  No generators, no transmission line, no customers!

While the vast majority of the presentations at the "summit" are about distributed generation, solar and building wind generators in the southeast, never fear, Clean Line and its environmental puppet will be making presentations touting the wonderfulness of long-distance HVDC transmission from the Midwest.  Sounds like a good time to step outside and get a cup of coffee, return some phone calls.

Here's what's timely and interesting for southeastern utilities:

• South Carolina’s Distributed Energy Resource Act
  
• Southeast Solar, Renewable Energy Policy and Rate Design Update
  
• Entergy New Orleans’ Self-Build Aggregated Rooftop Solar Project
  
• Management of Purchase Agreements for Both Power and RECs
  
• State Utility Commissioners’ Perspectives on Clean Power in the Southeast (renewable resources policies and development in the region)
  
• Distributed Solar at Florida Power & Light
  
• Case Study: Designing a Community Solar + Storage Project to Meet Customer Needs
  
• Community Solar: Where Are We Now?
  
• Ratemaking Challenges and Solutions with Renewable Energy
  
• New Hydropower at Existing Dams, Realizing the Full Potential of Existing Infrastructure
  
• Net Energy Metering Across Entergy’s Jurisdictions
  
• Renewable Energy Programs in the Tennessee Valley
  

All these topics focus on southeastern renewable resources... making the most of what's available locally.  And then there's Clean Line, and SACE, sticking out like a couple of sore thumbs.

• Utilizing HVDC Transmission to Enhance Renewable Energy Delivery in the Southeast
  High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is the most efficient technology to move large amounts of power over long distances. Utilizing HVDC, the Plains & Eastern Clean Line will provide southeastern states with access to some of the best wind energy resources in the country. Low-cost wind power delivered by this project is an essential measure to help southeastern states diversify their energy mix. This presentation will outline the measures by which Clean Line is conveying low-cost renewable energy from windy areas in the Plains States to areas with a demand for clean energy. It will also examine how Clean Line has navigated state and federal permitting processes to advance the project to construction.
  

Say what?  Construction?  Clean Line hasn't put one shovel anywhere near the ground yet.  And why is that?  Because Clean Line has no customers!  No customers, no eminent domain help from the U.S. DOE, and no project financing.  And, just so you know, Clean Line isn't an "essential measure" for any purpose.  Transmission lines that are "essential" would be supported by regional planning authorities.  Clean Line is not supported by any planning authority.  Clean Line is pure "build it and they will come" speculation.  Except Clean Line wants the chickens to come before they build it, and that's just not happening.

So, if the chickens aren't convinced by Mario Harturdo's presentation, there's still an opportunity to be guided to buy transmission capacity on an unbuilt transmission line to nowhere by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

• Key Considerations for Southern Wind Power    Wind power opportunities for customers in the south are expanding. North Carolina has installed its first utility-scale wind farm, highlighting the improvement of new turbine technology for in-region wind power. Utilities are beginning to focus on winter peak demand requirements, during times when power resources would provide substantial capacity. The changes in the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind power effectively gives a four-year window, after signing a power purchase agreement, to receive power. Major proposed high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission projects would connect exceptionally high value, low cost wind power resources to the southeast. How do these key considerations affect plans for renewable energy purchases in the next five years? What are the primary benefits, and challenges, to incorporating more wind power into the southeastern electricity mix? This segment will focus on recent changes and considerations for southern wind power and how to evaluate what opportunities exist.
  

Oh for the love of Woodsy Owl... the last thing a bunch of utility executives need is to be "taught" how to evaluate wind power purchases by an environmentalist.  SACE knows so much about utility renewable purchase agreements that it recently sponsored a petition asking the TVA to buy power from Clean Line Energy.  (Hint:  Clean Line does not sell power.  It is a wanna be transmission company.)  I hope Simon is planning to play loud music during his presentation to cover up all the laughter from the audience.

And for attending this glorified sales pitch, conference organizer EUCI wants you to pay $1195 in conference fees, per person, plus the cost of travel, room & board while you're whooping it up for 2 days in beautiful, warm Charleston, SC.

Sorta makes you wonder... if these "summits" have "sponsors" that are permitted to advertise their products with presentations during the "summit," why is there an additional fee to attend?  Is EUCI splitting the loot with its "sponsors?"

Heeeerrrre chickie, chick, chick...