Baldacci Wind Task Force's Phil Bartlett mentioned as possible Mills PUC pick
Former state Sens. Phil Bartlett and Mark Dion mentioned as possible candidates alongside Faith Huntington, director of the commission’s electric and natural gas division, Rachel Goldwasser, executive director of the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners and Robert Stoddard, the CEO of a marine energy company.
There could be other candidates and it’s unclear if everyone named is still in the running. Huntington said Tuesday that she couldn’t comment, the others didn’t respond to messages sent since last week. Spokespeople for Mills didn’t respond to a request for comment on the list.
Last week, Mills spokeswoman Lindsay Crete said the governor was reviewing candidates and “intends to nominate an individual soon” who will uphold a “mission of ensuring that Maine citizens have access to safe and reliable utility services at just and reasonable rates.”
https://bangordailynews.com/2019/05/22/politics/daily-brief/amid-cm...
Baldacci's Wind Task Force
http://www.windtaskforce.org/page/the-expedited-wind-law
Weaver Wind may be required to freeze all bird and bat carcasses in plastic bags
ELLSWORTH — A 22-turbine, $147.5-million wind farm project is one step closer to breaking ground after receiving approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Friday.
More here:
https://www.ellsworthamerican.com/featured/dep-approves-weaver-wind...
Views: 314
Comment
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Comment by Willem Post on May 26, 2019 at 10:18am
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That is the same Baldacci Task Force that recommended VERY EXPENSIVE floating wind turbines.
Instead of firing the folks on the task force, they are being hired?
http://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/deep-water-floating-off...
Dear Mr. Greg Kesich, Editor Portland Press Herald
(Mr. Greg suggested I write an op-ed regarding the referenced PPH article, so here it is.)
This op-ed is in reference to an article on floating wind turbines off the coast of Maine in the Portland Press Herald, dated 20 May 2019.
https://www.pressherald.com/2019/05/20/our-view-blown-off-course-ma...
The article states, Statoil had proposed a $120 million demonstration project for two 6 MW Hywind turbines ($10,000/kW) off Boothbay Harbor, but that Governor Page had rejected it. As you recall, his main reason was the higher electricity prices Joe and Jane Worker/Ratepayer would have to pay for 20 years.
The article states, Statoil instead took its project to Scotland, where it has invested more than $200 million for five 6 MWHywind turbines. After some checking, the actual turnkey cost turned out to be $263 million.
Scotland got the turbines at $8,767/kW in 2017, but Maine would have gotten the same turbines at $10,000/kW.
The article states, “.....and given that country (Scotland) a head start on establishing itself as developer, manufacturer and exporter of offshore technology. Such potential was recognized by the wind energy task force, which was created in 2008 by Gov. John Baldacci and released its findings in December 2009.”
That statement is highly unrealistic. Norway has invested billions of dollars in infrastructures to develop specialized facilities and seagoing ships for shallow-water and deep-water wind turbines during the past 10 - 15 years. Norway has absolutely no intention of establishing Scotland and Maine as competitors.
The Scotland/UK actual contributions to the project were:
1) Scotland making some parts that were shipped to Norway for assembly
2) Scotland providing the site 18 miles from shore to minimize visual impacts from shore.
3) The UK providing a subsidy of 18.5 c/kWh, plus Statoil selling electricity at about 6.5 c/kWh on the wholesale market, for a total wholesale cost of 25 c/kWh for 20 years. This compares with New England wholesale prices averaging about 5 c/kWh since 2008.
4) The Scotland people paying higher prices/kWh for low-value, variable/intermittent electricity for 20 years that requires the services of other generators for peaking, filling in and balancing year-round. Statoil had to provide a 1.0 MWh li-ion battery system, at a capital cost of about $700,000, to help smooth the flow of the variable electricity from Hywind to minimize disturbances of the Scotland grid.
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Comment by Barbara Durkin on May 23, 2019 at 2:36pm
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Very short memories!
Entered into the docket of SunEdison Bankruptcy Filing, the largest in the US during 2016, with $16.1 billion in liabilities, is a statement by lead plaintiff for 1,000 shareholders who condemn First Wind CEO, EVP of SunEdison, as the cause of SunEdison’s failure-
https://cases.primeclerk.com/sunedison/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=NTAyODk...
SunEdison Shareholders Made Stunning Accusations In Court
Dec.14.16 | About: SunEdison, Inc. (SUNEQ
SunEdison ($16.1 billion of debt in Chapter 11) shareholders seek prosecution of First Wind Paul Gaynor for FRAUD
The letters from shareholders vary in purpose and quality, but among their requests are: calls to prosecutePaul Gaynor (former First Wind CEO), Larry Summers (Chief of National Economic Council), Rahm Emanual (former White House Chief of Staff), Steve Scharzman (CEO of Blackstone), and John Podesta (Lobbyist for Renewable Energy) of wide spread collusion, corruption, and fraud; as well as several pleas to reverse the Official Equity Committee denial.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4030452-sunedison-shareholders-made...
World’s largest renewable energy developer SunEdison has cut hundreds of jobs; faces class action lawsuits on behalf investors; “Boardroom Bloodletting”; and under restraining order issued by the New York court:
“Judge Ramos issued the TRO a day after Latin America Power shareholders sought an emergency hearing on the grounds that SunEdison “could suddenly and rapidly become insolvent” or move to dissipate assets before the New York court could act on their bid to attach $150 million of assets, court papers say.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-win-restraining-order-against...
SunEdison stock SUNE value plummeted 71.4% within three months following their acquisition of Boston-based First Wind. First Wind’s former CEO Paul Gaynor has departed SunEdison as EVP Americas & EMEA Region he sold to them for $2.4 billion.
Regulatory Capture, Revolving Doors and First Wind
NOTES:
*“Regulatory Capture” is a term attributed to Chicago School of Economics Professor George Joseph Stigler whose theory is that regulators eventually identify with and aspire to join the well-heeled people they regulate.
An example of “Regulatory Capture” also involves a “Revolving Door” where the Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at First Wind, Kurt Adams, had served as Chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission and former Chief Legal Counsel for ME Governor Balducci. Adams, according to Naomi Schalit of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, “…negotiated a pretty sweet deal for himself about a month before leaving the state's employ, with first-year compensation at the firm totaled $1.3 million, which included $315,000 in salary, $658,000 in stock, $29,000 in "other" compensation and $315,000 in "non-equity compensation." Source: ‘Revolving door the norm in D.C. but rare in Maine’ by the Editorial Board of the Sun Journal [4/23/10].
^EcoEléctrica to construct an LNG pipeline FERC 2014
http://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2014/061914/C-3.pdfFirst Wind Director is the former MA Executive Secretary of Energy and Environment under the Deval Patrick Administration and the Founding Chairman and BOD of MassCEC, Ian Bowles, who joined First Wind as Director after leaving office. Former MA energy secretary Ian Bowels became Director at Longroad.
Massachusetts green-regulations Advisor to MA energy chief Bowles, by Governor Deval Patrick’s appointment, was Paul Gaynor CEO of First Wind. Gaynor also served as MA Co-chair of “The Climate Protection Advisory Committee” under the Global Warming Solutions Act. First Wind CEO was named co-chair of the Mass Department of Environmental Protection Advisory Committee “Low Carbon Energy Supply Subcommittee.” Gaynor assisted the energy chief in the creation of state rules that require citizens to purchase and subsidize renewable energy in Gaynor’s marketplace as a renewable energy developer. The MA energy market was restructured approximately seven times under Bowle’s leadership.
SunEdison’s “executive level job” went to Alicia Barton, Bowle’s successor as former CEO of Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). Bowles former MA Executive Secretary of Energy and Environment. Bowles is Founding Chairman of MassCEC’s with mission is to collect ratepayer surcharges to fund private-sector renewable schemes. Bowles’ and his green- policy Advisor, were renewable energy entrepreneurs, investors and rule-makers.
As reported by GreenTech Media, SunEdison Executive Vice President Paul Gaynor has fallen victim to “SunEdison Boardroom Bloodletting”..
GreenTech Media Erci Westoff on January 26, 2016 reports Paul Gaynor has departed SunEdison.
‘Energy Jobs: SunEdison Boardroom Bloodletting Begins, Plus More CEO Moves’
According to UBS, Paul Gaynor (former First Wind CEO) has also departed, although this was not disclosed in the 8K filing. "Given Paul's former role as CEO of First Wind, we continue to perceive growing risk to execution on guided targets, particularly on wind backlog," reported UBS.
Jan 2015
Mottley Fool on February 16, 2016 headline informs:
SunEdison Inc Running Out of Survival Options
Bankruptcy could be around the corner if some court rulings don't go SunEdison Inc's way.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/02/16/sunedison-inc-running-out-of-survival-options.aspx
Hedge fund billionaire Leon Cooperman dropped two of Wall Street's horror show stocks
SunEdison's shares have collapsed more than 80% since July. Omega first initiated a position in the stock back in the fourth quarter of 2013.
http://www.businessinsider.com/omega-dumps-valeant-and-sunedison-20...
The Wall Street Journal.
‘Investors Win Restraining Order Against SunEdison’
“Order, related to Latin America Power lawsuit, temporarily restricts unusual moves with assets”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-win-restraining-order-against-sunedison-1455219775
'Why SunEdison (SUNE) Stock Continues to Plummet Today' http://www.thestreet.com/story/13457897/1/why-sunedison-sune-stock-...via
@thestreethttp://www.thestreet.com/story/13457897/1/why-sunedison-sune-stock-...
Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP (GPM) filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of investors that "alleges that SunEdison and certain corporate insiders made materially misleading misrepresentations and omissions regarding SunEdison's business practices and operations...":
SUNE, "corporate insiders made materially misleading misrepresentations and omissions",http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/iegallery
SunEdison Inc Stock Down on “Mounting Liquidity Fears”
SunEdison Inc. stock (NYSE:SUNE) has been highly volatile over the past six months. It slid down from $31 in July, to as low as $2.36 last week. On Tuesday, the stock fell another 10%. Other solar losers on Tuesday include SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) and Vivint Solar (NYSE:VSLR), with each losing 11.6% and 14.80%, respectively.
SunEdison Inc Stock Down on “Mounting Liquidity Fears” http://www.
SunEdison SUNE bought First Wind 1/15 for $2.4 billion making SunEdison "the world's largest renewable energy development company".
WHAT HAPPENED?
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Short memories?
First Wind bankruptcy filing identifies up to $10 billion in liabilities-And, this Maine jury verdict that names First Wind-EMEC Wins Verdict (2016)EASTERN MAINE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE WINS $13.6 MILLION JURY VERDICT
On Friday November 18th, a Bangor, Maine jury found, after a four day trial, that five wind power companies breached their contractual obligation to negotiate in good faith, and returned a $13.6 million verdict in favor of Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative (the “Cooperative”). The unanimous verdict against the defendants was reached after about two hours of deliberations.
On Friday November 18th, a Bangor, Maine jury found, after a four day trial, that five wind power companies breached their contractual obligation to negotiate in good faith, and returned a $13.6 million verdict in favor of Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative (the “Cooperative”). The unanimous verdict against the defendants was reached after about two hours of deliberations.”
cut, continue reading-‘Superior court justice upholds $13.6M verdict against wind power firms’
APRIL 18, 2017Maine Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy on Friday denied motions filed by First Wind Holdings LLC and its four subsidiaries in response to last fall's $13.6 million verdict in favor of the Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative.
In a news release announcing the decision, the cooperative's lead trial lawyer, Sigmund Schutz of the Preti Flaherty LLP law firm, said Murphy "upheld the jury's verdict that the defendants [First Wind] had acted in bad faith." Cut, continue reading-
http://m.mainebiz.biz/article/20170418/NEWS01/170419946/superior-co...
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Comment by Jim Wiegand on May 23, 2019 at 1:57pm
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Big deal,l they pretty much do this now. What you need a full disclosure with thresholds. These guidelines will help. I also have morethat will stop this ongoing USFWS and wind industry fraud.
"Post operational studies will not allow wind personnel, lease holders or anybody except researchers to move or handle any carcasses. Every carcass or wounded species found within a mile of the project site will be reported and this information will be made available to the public. In addition, all turbine sites during studies will be scanned for carcasses at least once daily and projected turbine mortality calculations for these large turbines will be based upon carcass drift out to 200 meters (400 ft turbines) from towers. For scientific accuracy and research integrity, 24 hour video/web cam surveillance with a view of roads and the clear areas around turbine towers will be used around turbines and be available to public. All scanning for carcasses will require all researchers to use a reasonable and ethical attempt to find carcasses. Scanning for large carcasses or even mid-sized carcasses the size of a cooper’s hawk, is relatively easy and this will be done twice daily depending on weather and will include cleared areas, semi clear areas and beyond."
Maine as Third World Country:
CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power
Click here to read how the Maine ratepayer has been sold down the river by the Angus King cabal.
Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting – Three Part Series: A CRITICAL LOOK AT MAINE’S WIND ACT
******** IF LINKS BELOW DON'T WORK, GOOGLE THEM*********
(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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