Maine electrical energy regulators have authorized a brand new method to make sure Central Maine Energy‘s transmission and distribution system can meet future demand within the Topsham and Brunswick space.
As an alternative of a buildout that’s fully depending on extra sturdy and costly new strains, CMP can even use lower-cost, grid-scale battery storage and power effectivity measures to cut back “peak masses” on the system.
Andrew Landry of the state public advocate’s workplace helped negotiate the first-time effort below a 2019 state regulation that requires consideration of what are referred to as “non-wire options” when huge transmission upgrades are proposed.
“There’s a danger that you simply’re going to construct a system that’s able to serving a peak load 24 hours a day twelve months a yr when actually it might solely be a number of hours a yr that we’d like that further capability,” Landry mentioned.
Landry mentioned the CMP undertaking will save customers $8.5 million over its 40-year lifespan. And, he mentioned, it’s an indicator of how the electrical energy grid may meet the dual challenges posed by an onslaught of latest renewable energy sources and authorities targets for “helpful electrification” of the financial system.
The administrator of New England’s transmission system issued a brand new report Tuesday projecting that the brand new England grid must double in dimension over the subsequent 20 years with a purpose to serve the decarbonization targets.
This text seems by means of a media partnership with Maine Public.
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