U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud: The strength of our economy depends on renewable energy

Representative Mike Michaud declared that the strength of our economy depends on investments in renewable energy almost two years ago. The exact date was May 14, 2009 and the exact occasion was a statement he released congratulating the University of Maine on "a job well done" in constructing and commissioning its industrial size wind turbine.

 

A copy of Rep. Michaud's statement is available by clicking on the green link below.

 

In less than one month, on May 14, 2011, we will mark the two year anniversary of this experiment.

 

What is Congressman Michaud saying now? What does he think of this experiment now that we have had two years to observe it? Or was his statement a simple drive by statement with no intentions of ever following up?

 

This turbine was originally slated to cost $1.5 million, but somewhere along the way the cost jumped to $2 million. During its first 23 months it has broken down on at least two occasions. In fact, it has not worked since February 18, i.e., the last two months. So maintenance costs are sure to add substantially to the $2 million cost. The once $1.5 million turbine is now headed towards a cumulative cost of $3 million.

 

During the 23 months, the turbine has turned in an overall capacity factor of 11%, a truly miserable number, but not unexpected. The reality is that such a capacity factor or close to it, is what most of the industrial wind complexes in Maine produce. The big difference here is that UMPI publishes its performance figures and the commercial wind companies hide them, telling the public (who funds their truly massive subsidies - their lifeblood) that it is none of their business.

 

The press was very interested in publicizing UMPI's wind turbine commissioning as well as virtually all of the wind industry's false promises. But then there is very little follow up.

 

Whether Congressman Michaud will follow up and register his disappointment and decide to revisit and reassess all of the wind industry's false promises remains to be seen. But don't wait for him to just do this, as politicians make promises and issue statements and often never look back.  Therefore, it's up to YOU to ask him to reassess. He's your representative, he works for you and these funds are your money.

 

Might not there have been more pressing needs within the state university system for what is now on its way to becoming a $3 million feelgood foolishness? With all due respect, how is flushing our tax dollars down the toilet of useless renewables going to help our economy Congressman?

 

sentiments-from-congressman-michaud.pdf

 

 

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Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting – Three Part Series: A CRITICAL LOOK AT MAINE’S WIND ACT

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(excerpts) From Part 1 – On Maine’s Wind Law “Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine if the law’s goals were met." . – Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, August 2010 https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/From Part 2 – On Wind and Oil Yet using wind energy doesn’t lower dependence on imported foreign oil. That’s because the majority of imported oil in Maine is used for heating and transportation. And switching our dependence from foreign oil to Maine-produced electricity isn’t likely to happen very soon, says Bartlett. “Right now, people can’t switch to electric cars and heating – if they did, we’d be in trouble.” So was one of the fundamental premises of the task force false, or at least misleading?" https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-swept-task-force-set-the-rules/From Part 3 – On Wind-Required New Transmission Lines Finally, the building of enormous, high-voltage transmission lines that the regional electricity system operator says are required to move substantial amounts of wind power to markets south of Maine was never even discussed by the task force – an omission that Mills said will come to haunt the state.“If you try to put 2,500 or 3,000 megawatts in northern or eastern Maine – oh, my god, try to build the transmission!” said Mills. “It’s not just the towers, it’s the lines – that’s when I begin to think that the goal is a little farfetched.” https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/flaws-in-bill-like-skating-with-dull-skates/

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Hannah Pingree on the Maine expedited wind law

Hannah Pingree - Director of Maine's Office of Innovation and the Future

"Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine."

https://pinetreewatch.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/

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