Wind Farm Politics includes articles about how Washington views wind energy projects and farms, court cases, how your representatives vote and more.
Windfall movie showing
This Sunday at 2:00pm Danbury Community Center will have a showing of the movie ‘Windfall.’ This video is well worth the time, and it is a great opportunity for us to support the folks in Danbury. If you are available on Sunday I hope to see you there!! It is a GREAT way to avoid the black flies for the afternoon.
Storyline:
Wind power… It’s green… It’s good… It reduces our dependency on foreign oil… That’s what the people of Meredith, in upstate New York first thought when a wind developer looked to supplement this farm town’s failing economy with a farm of their own — that of 40 industrial wind turbines. Attracted at first to the financial incentives, residents grow increasingly alarmed as they discover side effects they never dreamed of, as well as the potential for disturbing financial scams. With wind development growing rapidly at 39% annually in the US, WINDFALL is an eye-opener for anyone concerned about the future of renewable energy.
Windmills – wind turbines - are not so green. (more…)
HB-2 Amendment Hearing – Wed April 3
Wind Watch Action Alert - Important House Floor Hearing this Wednesday – April 3, 2013
WE NEED YOU help us spread the word to all NH District Representatives. Please encourage your friends throughout the state to contact their district representatives and tell them…..
“Elective Wind Projects are of a significant concern in many areas of the state and that their district could be next. Please vote ‘ought to pass’ on the SB-99 and HB-2 as this is a state-wide issue and will severely impact our tourism economy, our businesses, property values and livelihoods.”
To find your district representative click here: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/wml.aspx
OUR GOAL is to have 2-3 constituents from EVERY district (400 districts in NH) CALL or EMAIL their Representative before the vote on HB-2 on WEDNESDAY
Rep. Neal Kurk has an amendment (HB-2) to be added on the House floor this Wednesday that will read something like:
“Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, there are here by established moratoriums on the constructions of wind turbine plants and electric transmission line projects in the state of New Hampshire until July 1, 2014. The site evaluation committee, established in RSA 162-H:3, shall issue no certificates for wind turbine plants or electric transmission line projects under RSA 162-H while such moratoriums are in effect.”
Dr Luce Presentation Slide Show
Dr Luce presentation slide show is not the best quality recording but the message is incredible. Dr. Luce spoke with us last month.
He was the guy that made wind energy happen in New Mexico. He came here to promote wind projects, but as a physist he quickly saw the wind resource just wasn’t here unless we went offshore. He recommends solar power fo New England.
In VT if 1% of already established farmers fields became solar rays it would supply the entire energy need of VT. With no ridgeline destruction!!!!
Production Tax Credit Wind
In the news, quietly nagging, is the question of whether or not the Production Tax Credit will expire now that the deadline has passed. Without the Production Tax Credit wind projects may not stand a chance at new start ups. Congress and wind power are not a good match right now as the expiration date has already passed.
These are not only the politics of wind power but about one more debt added to the heap we can’t seem to come up from already. The expiration of the credit would certainly be good news for millions who have already figured out that the financial implications are high and we are being bled dry by greedy corporations who know how to take but not give back.
Here are a few excerpts from the Huffington Post regarding the possible expiration of the Product Tax Credit that has been in place since 1992. Decide for yourself. This author wonders where YOUR children will get the money to pay back all this debt when companies like Iberdrola Renewables has their credit are heading for the Spanish hills.
Republican opposition to renewable energy tax breaks has been galvanized by anger over a failed solar project backed by the Obama administration. Republicans referred to that project, a start-up company called Solyndra, several times in the letter.
“The Obama administration has poured billions into subsidizing its favored green energy sources,” reads the letter dated Sept. 21 from House Republicans to Boehner, also a Republican. “Twenty years of subsidizing wind is more than enough.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/john-boehner-wind-production-tax-credit_n_1910687.html
And…
The so-called production tax credit has made wind and solar installations more financially appealing for investors, encouraging new projects. But with each passing day absent movement in Congress toward renewing the credit, investors grow more skittish about pouring money into wind and solar installations, fearful that they will not be able to secure a return on their capital, as the tax credits have traditionally reduced the cost of new projects by one-third. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/wind-power-tax-credit-expiration_n_2220635.html
Wind Turbine Effects on Birds and Bats Hearing 2
Wind Turbine Effects on Birds and Bats, among other concerns, were debated at the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Oversight Hearing on “Gone with the Wind: Impacts of Wind Turbines on Birds and Bats” Tuesday, May 1, 2007 10:00 AM
The following is part of the testimony of Dr. Michael Fry, Ph.D., Director, Birds and Pesticides, American Bird Conservancy of the Fish and Wild Life Service
It should be noted that Dr Fry is for wind power but stresses the importance that is being overlooked in being overly zealous; the wildlife effects. (more…)
Wind Turbine Effects on Birds and Bats Hearing
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Oversight Hearing on “Gone with the Wind: Impacts of Wind Turbines on Birds and Bats” Tuesday, May 1, 2007 10:00 AM
The following is part of the testimony of Mr. Michael Daulton, Director of Conservation Policy, National Audubon Society
It should be noted that Mr Daulton is for wind power but stresses the importance that is being overlooked in being overly zealous; the wildlife effects.
Planned Expansion of Largely Unregulated Wind Power Raises Conservation Concerns (more…)
NH Electricity Cost
The NH electricity cost is 5 cents above the average in other US states. We export more than 1/2 our electricity generated and yet we pay 50% more per kilowatt hour. How does that even make sense?
See for yourself in the NH electricity profile chart below:
State Electricity Profiles
Data for 2010 | Release Date: January 30, 2012 | Next Release: January 2013 |
Archived State Electricity Profiles
Iberdrola Hardscrabble Lawsuit
Iberdrola Hardscrabble lawsuit medical issues that plaintiffs complained of:
- Diane Abele – frequent headaches from lack of sleep and constant stress
- Holly Ashley – difficulty sleeping
- William Ashley – difficulty sleeping
- Wendy Bramer’s teenage son Adam Bramer – experienced dizziness and sinus problems. Also has an adult daughter with seizure disorders who can no longer visit her parents in their home because of the flicker and the noise.
- Linda Brauer – severe difficulty sleeping due to noise (more…)
Hardscrabble Wind Farm News
Hardscrabble Wind Farm news continues to be in the spotlight. It seems that locals are unjustly having liens placed on their lands while Saunders Concrete and Iberdrola duke it out.
Read about it in the full article but as you do, consider as to whether it is something you might find yourself in the middle of one day, in your own backyard.
Residents targeted by subcontractor who wants to be paid for work
Concrete company places nearly $2M lien on wind project property (more…)
True Costs of Wind Energy and Low Value of Wind Electricity
Schleede-High-Cost-Low-Value-Electricity-from-Wind
Probably the most common wind energy question that I receive from analysts, reporters, and interested citizens deals with the cost of electricity from wind. The frequency of the question is understandable since estimates provided by the wind industry, federal and state agencies and contractors, and the media understate the true cost and ignore the fact that electricity from wind is very low in value.
