Leading Wind Developer Joins Transmission Experts To Deliver Clean Energy For New England

Experienced group submits plans today to CT, MA and RI
Jan 28, 2016 10:30 AM ET
Campaign: Energy Efficiency

WAKEFIELD/WALTHAM, MA, January 28, 2016/ 3BL Media/ – New England’s clean energy future received a big boost today as three experienced organizations filed a proposal to diversify the region’s energy supply, adding clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal, dubbed “The Wind and Hydro Response,” is designed to fit the request by Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts for more clean energy to help fuel the region’s future growth.

Invenergy, the largest independent owner and operator of renewables, is a US-based company with significant industry leading experience building wind energy facilities. The company will deliver its renewable energy to the ISO New England bulk transmission system through the Vermont Green Line. Hydro-Québec, North America’s largest generator of hydropower, will supplement these deliveries to ensure that a firm block of clean, renewable energy is delivered around the clock.

The Vermont Green Line is being developed by Anbaric and National Grid, which joined forces in 2014 to develop transmission lines to bring renewable energy into New England. Their alliance created the Vermont Green Line, a proposed 60-mile, 400 megawatt electric transmission cable system designed to link Beekmantown, New York with New Haven, Vermont via a cable to be buried along public roadways and submerged beneath the waters of Lake Champlain.

Invenergy and its affiliated companies have developed more than 10,300 MW of projects that are in operation, in construction, or under contract, including wind, solar, and natural gas-fueled power generation projects and energy storage facilities both in the U.S. and abroad, and now proposes to build a new wind generation facility for this project— the Bull Run Energy Center. The company has developed and commissioned 64 wind farms across the United States and in Canada and Europe, totalling over 5,444 MW, and another 1,265 MW of wind projects is either under contract or under construction. This new wind project, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Plattsburgh, NY, could deliver up to 400 MW.

The wind energy would be supplemented with hydropower supplied over the existing transmission grid by Hydro-Québec. The company will supply “The Wind and Hydro Response” up to 400 MW of new, verified hydropower generated by its Québec hydropower stations. The Vermont Green Line will deliver enough clean electricity to power 400,000 homes and is expected to save New England energy customers $500 million, according to a study released last fall.

“Invenergy works to solve the energy challenges that face our communities and we are proud to work with Hydro-Québec, Anbaric and National Grid on this exciting opportunity in New England,” said Invenergy’s Vice President of Development, Kevin Parzyck. “Combining wind generation with firming hydro will positively transform energy supply in the region."

“Our collaborative effort advances New England’s transition to clean energy,” said Edward Krapels, CEO of Anbaric. “We believe that our combined track record of success will prove to be a clear differentiator as we submit our response to the Clean Energy Request for Proposals from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” Krapels added.

“This project offers a multitude of wins for the region, the states that issued the RFP and the project host states,” said Stan Blazewicz, Vice President of Business Development at National Grid. “The region will benefit from the addition of a significant amount of new, clean energy; electricity customers will see lower prices, and the host communities will gain additional revenues and economic development opportunities.” He added, “We look forward to delivering these benefits and helping New England transition to a clean, secure energy future.”

About Invenergy: Invenergy drives innovation in energy. Invenergy provides power generation and storage solutions at scale around the world to create a cleaner energy future. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities in the Americas and Europe. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe. Invenergy and its affiliated companies have developed more than 10,300 MW of projects that are in operation, in construction, or under contract, including wind, solar, and natural gas-fueled power generation projects and energy storage facilities. For more information, please visit www.invenergyllc.com.

About Anbaric:

Anbaric, headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts, has a track record of leadership in developing competitively selected High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission projects in New York. Anbaric’s corporate mission is to develop innovative, large electric infrastructure projects. As a developer, Anbaric invests in projects that will have long life spans, the foremost being electric transmission assets. Anbaric is also developing a series of large microgrids, known too as distributed energy systems. For more information, please visit www.anbaric.com.

About National Grid:

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. In Britain, National Grid runs the systems that deliver gas and electricity across the country. In the Northeast U.S., National Grid connects more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources. National Grid has articulated a strategy called Connect21 to respond to rising customer expectations and opportunities for innovation in the U.S. It aims to transform our pre-digital 20th-century energy infrastructure to meet the needs of an increasingly robust and agile 21stcentury digital economy with a range of data-driven, value-added services. Connect21 outlines the ways National Grid will make smart, significant investments in our networks to allow customers increased flexibility, speed, and choice. For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, or our Connecting website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube, Like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.

CONTACT:

Kate Lagreca

Northwind Strategies for THE WIND AND HYDRO RESPONSE

267-884-6988

kate@northwindstrategies.com