Are there any plans to convert to environmental dispatch of generating units?
As far as Mr. Lamkin is aware there are no plans to convert to strict environmental dispatch, though such a plan has been suggested by regulators in the past. Purely economic dispatch is not absolutely accurate. For instance, if there are transmission constraints, sometimes the ISO will run a more expensive unit if it’s needed, even if it’s above the clearing price. Generators bid in the amount of power they’re going to put out, and they will inform ISO if their output will need to be constrained to comply with pollution limits. If Cape Wind were to feed power into the grid, would more polluting units in our region be used less to produce electricity? Which plant is backed down has to do with the prices they charge to produce electricity? In general, dirtier plants are more expensive to operate, so their power would be less likely to be in the mix purchased by ISO-NE if cleaner energy sources are available. Is demand for renewable energy coming from other regions, and is the Cape being
