Renewable Energy in the Northern Forest
September, 2012
Table 3 Renewable Electricity Generation by State, 2008 (GWh) Biomass Waste
-
Total Renewable 1,289.7
Renewable as % of Total In-State Generation 4.2%
131.6
8,515.4
49.8%
0.1
3.7
2,411.2
5.7%
-
10.3
2,808.2
12.3%
-
-
-
163.4
2.2%
415.1
-
10.2
1,918.2
28.1%
Conventional Hydroelectric 556.2
Landfill Gas/MSW 1 Biogenic 731.9
Other 2 Biomass -
Wood and Derived 3 Fuels 1.6
Maine
4,457.4
205.6
52.2
3,668.6
-
Massachusetts
1,155.8
1,127.5
1.5
122.6
New Hampshire
1,633.2
155.0
-
1,009.6
5.0
158.4
-
1,492.9
-
-
State Connecticut
Rhode Island Vermont
Solar Thermal /PV -
Wind
USDOE EIA August, 2010a
In order to meet the RPS goals of all New England states, given current demand-reduction efforts, the region will need to produce more than 43,000 GWh of renewable electricity by 2020, increasing the flow of renewable electricity by two-and-a-half times in just ten years (Garber 2010). If all renewable projects already in the ISO-NE transmission queue are actually built, the RPS requirements through 2020 would be met; however, projects with a queue position are frequently withdrawn for a variety of reasons. Over half the capacity and nearly half the expected generation for projects in the queue are from on-shore wind, which has significant siting challenges. Other sources face their own obstacles, from limited physical potential to costs to environmental concerns. Given uncertainty over the future of federal incentives and state and federal budget limitations, meeting our region’s stated renewable energy goals will be challenging. As Figure 10 illustrates, Massachusetts currently supplies only 10% of its Renewable Portfolio Standard target from in-state resources. Renewable power imported into Massachusetts from New York comes mostly from landfill gas and wind. Biomass also provides a significant portion of Massachusetts’ current RPS-compliant sources and most of that comes from Maine and New Hampshire. Recent proposed changes in Massachusetts’ RPS-acceptable biomass (adding efficiency and greenhouse gas provisions) could change this picture as current sources grandfathered under the older regulations lose eligibility over time. Figure 10 Renewable Energy Sources Under Massachusetts’ Renewable Portfolio Standard Types of Renewable Energy Certified
Sources of Massachusetts’ RPS Power by State
Source: Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources 2010
The Wilderness Society
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