Turbine shutdowns in polar vortex stoke Midwest debate

As residents of the Twin Cities awoke on Jan. 29, the first of three straight days of subzero temperatures, about half of the region`s electricity was coming from wind farms dotting the Upper Midwest.

Wind energy across the Midcontinent Independent System Operator`s northern region, stretching from Minnesota to Iowa, peaked that morning between 9 and 10 a.m. at 11,445 megawatts. Wind farms were churning out about half of the area`s total electric output, according to the grid operator`s hourly data...

...By the evening of Jan. 30, there was less than 550 MW on the MISO North grid, supplying just 2.5 percent of the region`s power. The temperature, which had bottomed out an hour earlier, had fallen to minus 21 F with a minus 31 F wind chill....

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Ken Notes: Wow 50% to 2.5% who knew?? This seems to suggest at least in the short term we will need to maintain some carbon support. I remain a supporter of co-gen natural gas as the best option currently available... You also have to admit we have a pretty robust system that kept us warm and in the light during this time. As much as many like to hate on power companies, they do an amazing job.