On the line is a contract to develop a forecasting model for the US Northwest, where wind development is going full bore but is running up against system limitations.
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which markets and transmits power in the region, has seen wind generation on its system skyrocket, nearly doubling in the last year to some 2.1 gigawatts. The BPA recently announced an 80% increase in a rate it charges wind generators to account for the costs of hydroelectric capacity it must hold in reserve to balance the system, since wind generation rises and falls unexpectedly.
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