Friday, June 06, 2008

Is a Wind Power Agreement in the Works?

The News Journal reports that Senator Tony DeLuca has been talking with Bluewater Wind and Delmarva Power on a compromise plan that would bring the Delaware Municipal Electrical Corporation in as a buyer, possibly reduce the amount of power Delmarva would buy, and set the stage for other buyers to come on board down the road, without making the deal contingent on those new customers.
The key question is whether Delmarva Power will be willing to agree to a compromise. The print version of the News Journal article hints that Delmarva Power may be motivated to say yes:
The end of the session is a useful tool to pressure the parties to come to a conclusion, said Sen. Steve Amick, R-Glasgow. There's the threat of lawmakers bringing the matter to vote if Delmarva won't strike a deal.
I'm told that this isn't an idle threat. If the talks yield an agreement, then HCR 38 could be amended, or a new resolution introduced. But if Delmarva Power balks, then senators could just throw their hands up in the air and bring HCR 38 for a vote.
Many wind power advocates have thought Tony DeLuca to be opposed to the Bluewater proposal. I've been telling proponents to assume that any senator who has not publicly voiced opposition to the project is in play. As the Senate Majority leader, Tony DeLuca is in a position to bring the matter to the floor. I would expect the issue to be resolved sooner rather than later.

5 Comments:

Blogger Nancy Willing said...

A big breath of relief!
This is making a lot of sense. The main burden that has been put on DP&L's end of the agreement can be lightened by bringing in other buyers. Good work DEMs!

7:12 AM, June 09, 2008  
Blogger Tom Noyes said...

Keep in mind that Delmarva Power hasn't signed the deal yet.

As a Delmarva Power customer, I don't see wind power as a burden; I like the price stability. Delmarva Power may see it as a burden, in the sense that it leaves fewer dollars on the table with which to buy electricity from fossil fuels.

8:40 AM, June 09, 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Or.....

is this the ultimate delaying tactic?

Due to a lack of detail being released, whereas a solution could be true, the scarcity of details reminds one of all the other Delmarva posturing, also habitually scarce on the details.....

Unfortunately, the quantity of the windpower being produced and sold to Delmarva, has a direct bearing on how low our prices will be discounted by the advent of cheaper, cleaner, and employee friendly offshore wind.......

Cutting back on that amount will not lower our rates as much as we could have done as was formulated by the PSC..

10:11 AM, June 09, 2008  
Blogger Nancy Willing said...

One thing is for sure and that it that DP&L have been lying their collective asses off through this entire process.
I don't think that DeLuca would use up his capital to 'fake out' the public with an obvious delay on this issue. I think his committing to finding a compromise is the real deal. There is so much good to come of BWW here in DE, I am jumping up and down about it~!!
Besides, DeLuca is hoping for a Carney bump if this gets pulled off. Brilliant!

10:52 AM, June 09, 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Surprisingly, the best thing for uw would be for Delmarva not to agree to DeLuca's compromise.

The Senate would pass HCR38 over Delmarva's objections. Future legislatures could then be free to re-regulate the production of energy, further removing the "profit" factor from what we pay monthly.

We would then see a much better reduction in our power bills.

Delmarva is metaphorically on the lip of a cliff, bent over backwards, and only the deftest move.....can save them.

3:23 PM, June 09, 2008  

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