According to the June 15-2011 PUC approved Wind Purchase Power Agreement between MECO and Sempra’s “Auwahi Wind Energy LLC” (AWE)
- MECO has reserved the right to NOT disclose their “avoided costs” of not burning fossil fuels
- NO mention in the agreement of passing on MECO’s energy cost savings to the rate-payers (and the tax-payers who are giving Sempra a 30% federal tax credit)
- Allows MECO owned 69 KV lines to be above ground
- For Auwahi to get the federal tax credits, it must be operational by Dec-31-2012
- There will be a battery component to even out the variable wind energy
- Auwahi has yet to select which of 3 wind turbines or which of 2 batteries it will use
- Final EIS is anticipated to be approved by November 2011
- Special Use Permit, Special Management Area Permit, and Final Habitat Conservation Plan are anticipated to be issued by December 2011
- Incidental Take Permit is expected to be issued by January 2012
- If those permits are NOT received by March 1, 2012, Auwahi can walk away
- Purchase price for MECO is $ 0.203 / KWH, escalating at 1.5% annually
- Auwahi will be an approximately 21MW wind farm: This means that if Auwahi produces 9MW of electricity each day for 365 days, it will receive $16,000,000 annual revenue from MECO in 2013
- The purchase price does NOT vary as fuel costs fluctuate.