The proposed Vermont Green Line route.
Three organizations have filed a proposal to diversify New England’s energy supply by 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 renewables to help fuel the region’s future growth.
Invenergy, one of the largest U.S. independent owner and operators of renewable energy, plans to deliver its renewables to the ISO New England bulk transmission system through the Vermont Green Line. This system is a proposed 60-mile, 400-MW electric transmission cable system that links Beekmantown, New York with New Haven, Vermont via a cable buried along public roadways and submerged beneath the waters of Lake Champlain.
The Vermont Green Line is being developed by Anbaric and National Grid, which originally joined forces for this project in 2014. Hydro-Québec, North America’s largest generator of hydropower, will help supplement these deliveries to ensure that a firm block of renewable energy is delivered around the clock.
To date, Invenergy and its affiliates have developed more than 10,300 MW of renewable projects and now propose to build a new wind-generation facility to add to the Green Line project: the Bull Run Energy Center. This new wind site is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Plattsburgh, New York, and could deliver up to 400 MW to the grid.
The wind power would be supplemented with hydropower and supplied over the existing transmission grid by Hydro-Québec.
“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 VP of Development, Kevin Parzyck. “Combining wind generation with firming hydro will positively transform energy supply in the region.”
According to a study released last fall, the Vermont Green Line is expected to save New England energy customers $500 million per year.
“This project offers a multitude of wins for the region, the states that issued the RFP and the project host states,” said Stan Blazewicz, VP 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.”
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