Well, This Was Good Planning -- Too Much Renewable Energy

Updates

May 15, 2011: It's official. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) may turn off the wind turbines as early as this weekend -- more to follow. Too much renewable electricity (hydroelectric and wind), and cost of electricity continues to go up (see original post).

Original Post

Because of the huge amount of water runoff (i.e., flooding) this year in the Pacific Northwest, and the number of new wind farms in Washington and Oregon, the electric grid can no longer handle all of the energy.

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which is responsible for managing the regional transmission system, has indicated that it will likely limit wind power to handle a surge in hydro-power production resulting from the melt-off of a large mountain snowpack this year. The regional transmission system apparently lacks the capacity to accommodate wind production and heavier than usual hydropower production at the same time.

The heavier-than-normal precipitation, caused by global warming, which the wind turbines were designed to prevent, was predicted by global warming advocates as far back as 2003.

Exceptionally good planning.

All this good news has not helped rate payers. As noted only days ago, BPA customers will see a double-digit rise (on a percentage basis) in their utility bills. Despite the fact that natural gas prices are headed lower due to all the snowfall.

Memo to self: File this under, "I can't make this stuff up."

Incidentally, I can't recall the last time I saw this four-letter word in Forbes Magazine:

Needless to say, wind investors are pissssssssed.