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Bonneville Power Administration may Turn Off Unneeded NW Wind Turbines when Power Plentiful by Associated Press The Republic, March 11, 2011

EUGENE, Ore. -- The Bonneville Power Administration is drafting a policy that would allow it to shut down investor-owned wind turbines in periods of excess electricity.

The Register Guard reports the Northwest power marketing agency has been working on the proposal since June, when electricity produced in the region exceeded demand, thanks to storms that filled hydropower reservoirs and kept windmills spinning.

Bonneville spokesman Doug Johnson says shutting down wind power is an option of last resort.

Environmentalists would prefer BPA spill more water over dams, which would help migrating fish.

Wind power is growing in the Northwest and in February it briefly exceeded 3,000 megawatts -- enough to power a major city.

A final decision on the new wind turbine policy is expected in April.

Information from: The Register-Guard

Related Pages:
Overgeneration Discussions Continue by Staff, BPA Journal, 1/11
BPA Develops New Wind Plan by Staff, BPA Journal, 1/11
Too Much Power in the Northwest? by Staff, The Oregonian, 1/2/11
Can Wind Power Both Portland and Seattle? by Associated Press, KATU, 12/26/10
New Energy Coming Online Faster than Idaho Utilities Can Handle by Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman, 12/19/10
Analyzing the 'California Effect' on the NW's Wind Power Boom by Dan Tilkin, KATU, 12/17/10