http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/wind/bpa-enlists-calpine-to-support-wind-projects-in-the-pacific-northwest.html

Government agency Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has enlisted diversified energy company Calpine to support its wind power projects in the Pacific Northwest region of the US that will work alongside its hydroelectricity plant to provide flexible energy generation.

The BPA has entered into an agreement with Calpine to buy up to 75MW of potential power from its natural gas-fired Hermiston power project, to provide flexibility to wind power projects in the region.
With the agreement, when wind generators produce more electricity than forecasted, BPA can request that Calpine quickly reduce Hermiston’s output to accommodate the renewable wind power.
Calpine will then buy the excess power on BPA’s system to fulfill its existing Hermiston plant contracts.
‘The federal hydro system has historically provided the vast majority of within-hour reserves for wind power in the Pacific Northwest,’ said Elliot Mainzer, executive vice president of corporate strategy for BPA.
‘But as the amount of wind power increases, BPA has been looking at other sources to help reduce the balancing burden on the federal hydro system. This pilot project fits very nicely into BPA’s overall strategy of using non-federal power supplies to help support wind.’
Calpine’s vice president of power trading for the California region, Jeff Woodall, said, ‘By providing this flexibility product from our Hermiston plant, we help BPA optimise use of its hydroelectric generation system, integrate wind power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Pacific Northwest.’