Wind Power Cut in Favor of Hydropower?

[Meredith Simonds]

"Wind power companies facing a springtime shutdown to accommodate a surge of hydropower in the Northwest say the region's main power manager has a conflict of interest, using authority over transmission lines to protect its business interests...."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110517/ap_on_re_us/us_wind_power_halt

[TheGreenOne]

Why is it good to shut off sources of power, especially when it's essentially free?

[Sydney]

Because they can't handle all the excess free power! If they would upgrade the entire grid they could use all the energy they are producing.