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New England Wind Forum

November 2013The New England Wind Forum Newsletter informs stakeholders of New England Wind EnergyEducation Project (NEWEEP) announcements, plus event, project, siting, and policy updates.

New England Grid-Scale Wind Project Development Update Long-Term Contracting Opportunities Poised to Enable Future New England Wind

Farms New England States Consider Wind Power Siting Legislative and Regulatory Changes Among Many Successes, Some Community Wind Projects Experience New Challenges New England's Wholesale Market Treatment of Wind Evolves as Penetration Increases

New England Grid-Scale Wind Project Development Update

Wind power development in New England experienced a lull in 2012, driven in large part by theuncertainty over the federal Production Tax Credit extension. The uncertainty was resolvedthrough a January extension and change to apply to projects commencing construction beforethe end of 2013. Wind development activity then picked up for projects seeking to respond to2013 long-term power purchase agreement opportunities (seerelated article). In addition to newwind farms beginning commercial operation, several other projects are progressing through thedevelopment process. Projects are continuing a general trend toward longer blades and higherhub heights, with new turbine designs providing improved economics. An evolving policyenvironment, including changes to wind turbine siting and operating requirements, has led tochallenges for some projects in the region. The policy changes are indicative of the strugglebetween state and local decision-makers, as well as concerns over health, sound, visual, andenvironmental impacts. These issues have changed the way developers interact with state andlocal stakeholders and the layouts of the projects. For a synopsis of recent development

activities and trends, read thefull articleon the New England Wind Forum website.

Long-Term Contracting Opportunities Poised to Enable Future NewEngland Wind FarmsFor commercial-scale wind farms, long-term power purchase agreements between windgenerators and creditworthy buyers provide the revenue certainty that allows renewable energyprojects to be financed. Long-term contracting for wind power in New England continues to bevital to the development and growth of wind energy in the region, particularly as up-frontinvestments in transmission interconnections and upgrades become more prevalent tointerconnect these plants. During 2013, important policies were developed and implemented tomake power purchase agreements available to stimulate the next wave of New England windpower development. Several New England states are currently implementing long-term

contracting policies for renewables, some of which explicitly address transmissionconsiderations. In addition, proposed regional procurement processes driven by the NewEngland States Committee on Electricity on behalf of the region's states may have a significanteffect on wind and transmission development in New England. To learn more, read the fullarticleon the New England Wind Forum website.

http://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_Grid-Scale_Wind_Project_Development_Update.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_Grid-Scale_Wind_Project_Development_Update.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_Grid-Scale_Wind_Project_Development_Update.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_Grid-Scale_Wind_Project_Development_Update.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Long-Term_Contracting_Opportunities_Poised_to_Enable_Future_New_England_Wind_Farms.pdf

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New England States Consider Wind Power Siting Legislative andRegulatory Changes

Across New England, the rapid growth of wind power over the past few years brings windprojects into closer proximity with neighbors, prompting some states and local communities to

re-evaluate appropriate siting. During the 2012-2013 session, state legislatures throughout theregion considered a variety of bills with varying levels of restriction to wind siting standards, aswell as statewide wind siting reforms. In addition, several major wind siting reforms areunderway across the region, aimed at providing improved information, appropriate standards,and greater confidence that operating experience will match predicted impacts. With variouslegislative and regulatory developments in progress, wind siting will continue to be a hot topic in2014. For a synopsis of recent legislative and regulatory activity, read the full articleon the NewEngland Wind Forum website.

Among Many Successes, Some Community Wind ProjectsExperience New Challenges

As can be seen on theUnited States Geological Survey windFarm site,the past several years

have seen numerous successful installations of community-scale, land-based, wind projectsacross New England, particularly in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Several New Englandcommunities, however, are dealing with tensions created by unanticipated complaints oversound or shadow flicker impacts, and fears over potentially related health impacts involvingcommunity wind projects operating in close proximity to residences. Overall, recent experienceswith community wind projects have spurred states to complement efforts encouraging projectswith increased support to communities as they consider the implications of siting and managingcommunity projects. For more information, read thefull articleon the New England Wind Forumwebsite.

New England's Wholesale Market Treatment of Wind Evolves asPenetration IncreasesDuring 2013, ISO New England (ISO-NE), the region's independent system operator, continuedto address issues that impact wind power's access to and participation in the regional powermarket. These issues cover the integration of variable resources; the forward capacity market;bidding rules in ISO's energy market; and transmission congestion, planning, and costallocation. Many of the topics are under active consideration, and depending on the outcome,have the potential to encourage or discourage wind development in New England. Read the fullarticleat the New England Wind Forum website.

http://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_States_Consider_Wind_Power_Siting_Legislative_and_Regulatory_Changes.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_States_Consider_Wind_Power_Siting_Legislative_and_Regulatory_Changes.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_States_Consider_Wind_Power_Siting_Legislative_and_Regulatory_Changes.pdfhttp://eerscmap.usgs.gov/windfarm/http://eerscmap.usgs.gov/windfarm/http://eerscmap.usgs.gov/windfarm/http://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Among_Many_Successes_Some_Community_Wind_Projects_Experience_New_Challenges.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Among_Many_Successes_Some_Community_Wind_Projects_Experience_New_Challenges.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Among_Many_Successes_Some_Community_Wind_Projects_Experience_New_Challenges.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_Englands_Wholesale_Market_Treatment_of_Wind_Evolves_as_Penetration_Increases.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_Englands_Wholesale_Market_Treatment_of_Wind_Evolves_as_Penetration_Increases.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_Englands_Wholesale_Market_Treatment_of_Wind_Evolves_as_Penetration_Increases.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_Englands_Wholesale_Market_Treatment_of_Wind_Evolves_as_Penetration_Increases.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_Englands_Wholesale_Market_Treatment_of_Wind_Evolves_as_Penetration_Increases.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_Englands_Wholesale_Market_Treatment_of_Wind_Evolves_as_Penetration_Increases.pdfhttp://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/Among_Many_Successes_Some_Community_Wind_Projects_Experience_New_Challenges.pdfhttp://eerscmap.usgs.gov/windfarm/http://www.seadvantage.com/Documents/NWRC_Library/pdfs/New_England_States_Consider_Wind_Power_Siting_Legislative_and_Regulatory_Changes.pdf