Featured Blog Posts - Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine2024-03-28T16:22:14Zhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blog/feed?promoted=1&xn_auth=noMaine Senate approves bill for Aroostook County transmission linetag:www.windtaskforce.org,2023-06-10:4401701:BlogPost:2544152023-06-10T18:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p>Maine Public | By Kevin Miller<br></br> Published June 9, 2023 at 6:44 AM EDT</p>
<p></p>
<div class="ArtP-articleContainer"><div class="ArtP-articleBody"><p>A proposed transmission line connecting Aroostook County to the New England power grid has passed another hurdle at the State House.</p>
<p>The Maine Senate voted 24-9 on Thursday to give preliminary approval to a bill authorizing construction of a 1,200-megawatt transmission line. The $2 billion project would carry electricity from a…</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>Maine Public | By Kevin Miller<br/> Published June 9, 2023 at 6:44 AM EDT</p>
<p></p>
<div class="ArtP-articleContainer"><div class="ArtP-articleBody"><p>A proposed transmission line connecting Aroostook County to the New England power grid has passed another hurdle at the State House.</p>
<p>The Maine Senate voted 24-9 on Thursday to give preliminary approval to a bill authorizing construction of a 1,200-megawatt transmission line. The $2 billion project would carry electricity from a massive wind farm proposed for commercial timberlands near Oakfield. Maine ratepayers are expected to pick up about $1 billion of the cost, although supporters say the glut of low-cost wind energy will ultimately lower electricity rates.</p>
<div class="Enh"></div>
<p>Those supporters include Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash, who says his home county has been waiting for decades for a cost-effective way to feed renewable energy into the New England grid.</p>
<p>"This just makes good sense: if it's less money than ratepayers are paying, the people in Maine are going to be providing this energy, the people in Maine are going to be building these facilities and the transmission line, having that opportunity, bringing people to Maine and bringing people to Aroostook County," he says.</p>
<p>But several senators opposed the bill because they developers have yet to disclose the precise route of the transmission line or the rate that would be paid for the wind power.</p>
<p>The bill faces additional votes in the House and Senate. And both the northern Maine transmission line and the so-called King Pine wind farm project require additional regulatory approvals.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-06-09/maine-senate-approves-bill-for-aroostook-county-transmission-line">https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-06-09/maine-senate-approves-bill-for-aroostook-county-transmission-line</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Here is the bill: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0395&item=1&snum=131">http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0395&item=1&snum=131</a></p>
<p> </p>
<div>Here is the amended version: <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0395&item=2&snum=131">http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0395&item=2&snum=131</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Here is Thursday’s roll call: <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/rollcall.asp?ID=280086852&chamber=S&serialnumber=260">https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/rollcall.asp?ID=280086852&chamber=S&serialnumber=260</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><strong>The VOTE</strong></span></div>
<div><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11673861274?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11673861274?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">************************************* </span></p>
<p><br/> <span style="font-size: 8pt;">Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.</span></p>
</div>
</div>Today a monumental ideological victory in Vermont State House !tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2022-05-10:4401701:BlogPost:2397252022-05-10T17:30:00.000ZMonique Aniel Thurstonhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/moniqueaniel
<p></p>
<p>Congratulations to Governor Scott who cares about his constituent's future and well- being !</p>
<p>Shame to those democratic legislators who voted to override the Governor's veto !</p>
<p>An immense bravo to democrats Nelson Brownell and Thomas Bock who courageously defied the pathological ideological drivel from the Vermont enviro/businesses/activists conglomerate who tried so desperately to sink their teeth in Vermont's backs . </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<p>"The Vermont House today…</p>
<p></p>
<p>Congratulations to Governor Scott who cares about his constituent's future and well- being !</p>
<p>Shame to those democratic legislators who voted to override the Governor's veto !</p>
<p>An immense bravo to democrats Nelson Brownell and Thomas Bock who courageously defied the pathological ideological drivel from the Vermont enviro/businesses/activists conglomerate who tried so desperately to sink their teeth in Vermont's backs . </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<p>"The Vermont House today sustained Gov. Phil Scott’s vetoes of the Clean Heat Standard and the City of Burlington’s charter change requiring landlords show ‘just cause’ for evicting tenants.</p>
<p>The vote for both was 99-51 – one short of the 100 needed to override the veto. </p>
<p>Democrats Nelson Brownell of Pownal and Thomas Bock of Chester voted to sustain the Clean Heat Standard veto.</p>
<p>“A policy this life-changing needs to be developed in collaboration and cooperation,” Rep. Sally Achey (R-Middleton Springs), a member of the House Energy and Technology Committee that developed the bill, said after the vote. For example, few lawmakers recognized that the IT challenge alone of monitoring and managing a thermal heat credit system among many small businesses. "</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://vermontdailychronicle.com/veto-victory-house-sustains-veto-of-burlington-just-cause-evictions/">https://vermontdailychronicle.com/veto-victory-house-sustains-veto-of-burlington-just-cause-evictions/</a></p>
<p></p>THE UNTOLD STORY OF RECORD HILL WINDtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2011-02-24:4401701:BlogPost:86092011-02-24T14:17:44.000ZSteve Thurstonhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/SteveThurston
<p>The following has been submitted to the Sun Journal for consideration on their opinion page. The details have been provided to several reporters over the past months but none of them have chosen to write about it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Eileen Adams' story in the Sun Journal (<a href="http://www.sunjournal.com/river-valley/story/989580" target="_blank">Record Hill looking for federal guarantee on its loan</a> - 2/22/11) about the Record Hill Wind federal loan guarantee application omitted some…</p>
<p>The following has been submitted to the Sun Journal for consideration on their opinion page. The details have been provided to several reporters over the past months but none of them have chosen to write about it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Eileen Adams' story in the Sun Journal (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sunjournal.com/river-valley/story/989580">Record Hill looking for federal guarantee on its loan</a> - 2/22/11) about the Record Hill Wind federal loan guarantee application omitted some important details about the evolution of this project, and how RHW principals Angus King and Rob Gardiner have represented this project to the DEP and the people of Roxbury. <br/><br/>DEP rules require that evidence of financial capacity to construct and operate must be demonstrated in the application. By signing the DEP application the applicant swears that the information submitted is true. However, one of the conditions of the loan guarantee program is that without the guarantee the project could not be built. If the project cannot be built without the loan guarantee it stands to reason that no adequate financing for the project exists. Therefore, it appears that RHW misrepresented its financial capacity to the DEP. <br/><br/>So why did the DEP issue a permit for this project and why have miles of heavily blasted roads been built across fragile mountain slopes in Roxbury? The draft permit issued by the DEP contained a standard condition stating that evidence of financing must be demonstrated prior to the commencement of construction. Mysteriously, when the final permit was issued 5 days later, the word "construction" had been changed to "operation". When I asked the DEP why this standard condition was changed I received no response, but copies of emails in the case file indicate the project coordinator, in response to my inquiry, asked Record Hill Wind to update its financial capacity. In his email response to the DEP Rob Gardiner referred to the improper condition with the mysteriously changed word, indicating he was relying on it to move the project forward and that while financing was not yet arranged, it would be in place before operation of the project commenced. <br/><br/>The DEP then informed Gardiner that there was a drafting error in the final permit and that financial capacity must be shown prior to construction as required by law. In response, King and Gardiner submitted a letter from Northern Trust Bank stating that Bayroot, the majority partner and landowner in the Record Hill Wind project, had sufficient funds on deposit to build the project, but cautioned that the funds were not committed to this project and could be withdrawn at any time, which clearly did not satisfy the financial capacity requirements of the DEP rules. Nevertheless DEP accepted this letter as evidence of financial capacity. When appellants challenged this letter in their appeal of the permit, King and Gardiner agreed to a stipulation to voluntarily shut down construction, and provide additional evidence of financial capacity prior to resuming construction - which has not yet occurred. <br/><br/>The Law Court is currently deliberating on the appeal of the permit for this project, and the applicant’s financial capacity is one of the issues under appeal. Unfortunately, the Court is not aware of the loan guarantee application because this fact was not admissible during the proceeding, which was limited to the record established in the earlier appeal of the DEP permit to the BEP. <br/><br/>The citizens of Roxbury deserve some answers to the questions raised by the DEP permitting process and the failure of King and Gardiner to demonstrate the ability to finance their project. Roxbury narrowly voted, 87 to 81, to change its comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance to allow wind turbines on the ridges based on the promises of King and Gardiner that they had the financial ability to pay their full share of property taxes, rather than seek a TIF agreement as most wind developers do, and to provide 500 kilowatts of “free electricity” every month to every residence in the town. Now it has become obvious that these were speculative gestures, empty promises, lacking the financial commitments needed to fulfill them. <br/><br/>King and Gardiner’s difficulties in obtaining financing for their project, and the desperation exhibited by their application for a taxpayer funded federal loan guarantee, are ample evidence that the people of Roxbury have been tricked into giving away their mountain tops, and the tranquil beauty of their town, to a pair of smooth talking hucksters. <br/><br/>Steve Thurston</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>First Wind - Wind Lobbyist's Acoustics Expert Witness Tells Panel Health Concerns are "All Made-up and Make Believe"tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2013-04-25:4401701:BlogPost:478032013-04-25T13:30:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<div id="articleHeader"><div id="headTools"><h1>Lobbyist for wind power apologizes to Vt. panel</h1>
<div class="utility"><div class="cf" id="byline">By DAVE GRAM</div>
<div class="cf" id="dateline">Associated Press <span class="listPipe">/</span> April 24, 2013</div>
<div id="tools"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="articleGraphs"><div><div class="firstGraph"></div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A lobbyist for an industry…</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="articleHeader"><div id="headTools"><h1>Lobbyist for wind power apologizes to Vt. panel</h1>
<div class="utility"><div id="byline" class="cf">By DAVE GRAM</div>
<div id="dateline" class="cf">Associated Press <span class="listPipe">/</span> April 24, 2013</div>
<div id="tools"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="articleGraphs"><div><div class="firstGraph"></div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A lobbyist for an industry group supporting wind power apologized to a Vermont Senate committee on Wednesday after a witness she brought in called health concerns connected with wind power ‘‘hoo-hah,’’ nonsense and propaganda.</p>
</div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>Gabrielle Stebbins, executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont, called the remarks of acoustics expert Geoff Levanthall unhelpful and offered an apology to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee after Leventhall testified at the hearing by phone from England.</p>
</div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>‘‘There’s no scientific evidence behind what they (critics of wind power) say,’’ Leventhall said. ‘‘It’s all made-up, make-believe, trying to find something to object to, and trying to find something that will be difficult to disprove. It’s a technique, a propaganda technique, and they've been very, very effective.’’</p>
</div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>Afterward, Stebbins said she regretted Leventhall’s comments. ‘‘I don’t think that’s helpful for the debate and, for the record, I do apologize for that.’’</p>
</div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>Stebbins’ comments came at the end of the hearing in which two Vermont doctors — one of them critical of a wind power project near his home in Ira and of the industry generally — testified about what they said were ill health effects connected with wind power among people living near the turbines.</p>
</div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>Leventhall did describe for the committee low-frequency, inaudible ‘‘infrasound,’’ that some blame on problems connected with wind turbines but that he said have less of an impact on people than sounds generated within the body, like the heartbeat.</p>
</div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>The committee also heard from Luann Therrien, a Sheffield resident who said she and her husband have suffered severe sleep loss leading to depression since 16 turbines operated by <span style="color: #ff0000;" class="font-size-5"><strong>First Wind</strong></span> began operating within about two miles of their home, with the closest being about a half mile away.</p>
</div>
<div class="articlePluckHidden"><p>‘‘We did not oppose the project, not until it was up and running and creating noise,’’ Therrien said. ‘‘I have constant ringing in my ears that can be very distracting. My husband has been feeling so bad that he is currently unable to work. His doctor has pulled him from his job.’’</p>
<p></p>
<p>Please continue reading the rest of the article at:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/2013/04/24/lobbyist-apologizes-senate-committee/1juJHMUFn8D5QhXqWNKo6M/story.html" target="_blank">http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/2013/04/24/lobbyist-apologizes-senate-committee/1juJHMUFn8D5QhXqWNKo6M/story.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="color: #999999;" class="font-size-1">Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.</span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>Maine - "Welcome Home taxpayers, ratepayers and other horribly misinformed victims of the ongoing green heist"tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2021-03-03:4401701:BlogPost:2139142021-03-03T12:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p>Rust never sleeps. Nor do the compromised, the greedy, the dishonest, the arrogant and the ignorant.</p>
<h1><span>Undersea cable survey marks milestone in Maine’s offshore wind quest</span></h1>
<p></p>
<p><span>...............</span> Aqua Ventus has been in contact with fishing interests this winter to brief them on the path and work schedule. It intentionally chose to work in March, despite the greater potential for bad weather, because there are no conflicts with recreational boaters and…</p>
<p>Rust never sleeps. Nor do the compromised, the greedy, the dishonest, the arrogant and the ignorant.</p>
<h1><span>Undersea cable survey marks milestone in Maine’s offshore wind quest</span></h1>
<p></p>
<p><span>...............</span> Aqua Ventus has been in contact with fishing interests this winter to brief them on the path and work schedule. It intentionally chose to work in March, despite the greater potential for bad weather, because there are no conflicts with recreational boaters and fewer lobstermen working traps.</p>
<p>The partnership has told fishermen that gear in the path of the survey vessels will need to be removed before work begins. It has published information listing the coordinates of cable and anchor survey locations. Any gear that becomes entangled during the survey will be turned over to the Maine Marine Patrol, the developers say.</p>
<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">************************************* </span></p>
<p><br/> <span style="font-size: 8pt;">Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2021/03/02/undersea-cable-survey-marks-milestone-in-maines-offshore-wind-quest/">https://www.pressherald.com/2021/03/02/undersea-cable-survey-marks-milestone-in-maines-offshore-wind-quest/</a></p>Avangrid wind "farm" fire burns more than 500 acres, threatens homes, wind farmtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2019-07-21:4401701:BlogPost:1713342019-07-21T23:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p><em>Avangrid Vice Chairman John Baldacci -- what's your plan for when a wind turbine blaze starts on a remote mountaintop in Maine?</em></p>
<p></p>
<h1 class="article-title p-name entry-title">‘Juniper Fire’ in Klickitat County burns more than 500 acres, threatens homes, wind farm</h1>
<p>The fire started Saturday afternoon near an area where fire was seen coming from a wind turbine nearly 300 feet off the ground, according to officials and local media. The turbine is part of a wind farm…</p>
<p><em>Avangrid Vice Chairman John Baldacci -- what's your plan for when a wind turbine blaze starts on a remote mountaintop in Maine?</em></p>
<p></p>
<h1 class="article-title p-name entry-title">‘Juniper Fire’ in Klickitat County burns more than 500 acres, threatens homes, wind farm</h1>
<p>The fire started Saturday afternoon near an area where fire was seen coming from a wind turbine nearly 300 feet off the ground, according to officials and local media. The turbine is part of a wind farm operated by Philadelphia-based <a href="https://www.avangridrenewables.com/wps/portal/aren/home/!ut/p/z1/hY5dC4IwFIZ_SxfeuiNbod2NCKNUEvqw3YTGmsZ0Mpf-_UYFEfRx7s55n_fhIIYyxJq8r0RuKtXk0u4HNjliL54vyAwSn2IK6QpvAj9JvTXBaP8PYDaGL0PB9tkdeRliEkBKcLQNw11oVU_gh2OJmJCqeLxLmwL7AjHNz1xz7V61PZfGtN3UAQeGYXCFUkJy96RqBz5VStUZlL2TqK0zuIxlH9HR6AaKZcLd/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/" target="_blank" class="content-link external" rel="noopener">Avangrid. </a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/juniper-fire-in-klickitat-county-burns-more-than-500-acres-threatens-homes-wind-farm/">https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/juniper-fire-in-klickitat-county-burns-more-than-500-acres-threatens-homes-wind-farm/</a></p>
<p></p>
<h1 class="headline"><span>Juniper Fire burning 500-acres south of Bickleton, Washington</span></h1>
<p><span>Crews will be working toward a 100’ containment line around the fire, and aggressively working on burning areas.</span></p>
<p>Just before 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon smoke was observed coming from the generator unit of a wind turbine south of Bickleton in rural Klickitat County. The fire engulfed the turbine 300 feet above the ground. Melted sections of the wind turbine fell to the ground igniting the fire. Aided by gusting winds, the fire spread to between 350 to 500 acres in steep canyon terrain.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/state-mobilization-called-in-for-juniper-fire-burning-in-klickitat/article_52ea69d2-ab81-11e9-b53c-47f912b0ab9a.html">https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/state-mobilization-called-in-for-juniper-fire-burning-in-klickitat/article_52ea69d2-ab81-11e9-b53c-47f912b0ab9a.html</a></p>Pingree and Golden renege on ending the wind PTC at the end of this yeartag:www.windtaskforce.org,2019-04-05:4401701:BlogPost:1648052019-04-05T15:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1774109978?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1774109978?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></p>
<p> <strong>Mars Hill</strong></p>
<p>Several years ago the wind industry pleaded "one last time" for an extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC). This was to be the last extension of this perennially renewing "temporary" giveaway:</p>
<p></p>
<p>Under…</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1774109978?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1774109978?profile=RESIZE_710x"/></a></p>
<p> <strong>Mars Hill</strong></p>
<p>Several years ago the wind industry pleaded "one last time" for an extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC). This was to be the last extension of this perennially renewing "temporary" giveaway:</p>
<p></p>
<p>Under <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-114publ113/html/PLAW-114publ113.htm">PATH</a> (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-113, Div. Q, 129 Stat. 2242), facilities that begin construction before January 1, 2017, are eligible to receive 100% of the PTC. After that, projects that start construction in 2017, 2018 and 2019 could receive 80%, 60% and 40% of the wind PTC respectively, after which the <a href="https://www.masterresource.org/production-tax-credit-ptc/wind-growth-after-ptc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PTC is eliminated</a>.</p>
<p></p>
<p>So here we are in the PTC's last year, and in a letter to the U.S. Ways & Means Committee, a number of representatives, including our own Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden appear to be attempting to renege on the planned sunset at the end of this year. You can read the letter here:</p>
<p><a href="https://stevens.house.gov/sites/stevens.house.gov/files/documents/Clean%20Energy%20Letter_Final.pdf">https://stevens.house.gov/sites/stevens.house.gov/files/documents/Clean%20Energy%20Letter_Final.pdf</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>A couple of screenshots provide excerpts below. Also included is contact information for Pingree and Golden.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1773740831?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1773740831?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1773743971?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1773743971?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-6"><strong>U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree</strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span id="ctl00_ctl13_ctl01_Text" class="middlecopy"><strong>Washington, DC Office </strong><br/> 2162 Rayburn House Office Building<br/> Washington DC 20515<br/> (202) 225-6116</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span id="ctl00_ctl13_ctl01_Text" class="middlecopy"><strong>Portland Office</strong><br/> 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 304<br/> Portland, ME 04101<br/> (207) 774-5019 </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="middlecopy"><span id="ctl00_ctl13_ctl01_Text" class="middlecopy"><strong>Waterville Office </strong><br/> 1 Silver Street<br/> Waterville, ME 04901<br/> (207) 873-5713</span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="middlecopy"><span class="middlecopy">EMAIL: <a href="https://pingree.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm">https://pingree.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm</a></span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="middlecopy"><span class="middlecopy"> </span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-6"><strong>U.S. Representative Jared Golden</strong></span></p>
<div class="panel-pane pane-entity-field pane-node-field-congress-address"><div class="pane-content"><div class="field field-name-field-congress-address field-type-addressfield field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="street-block"><div class="thoroughfare"><h3 class="field-content"><a href="https://golden.house.gov/contact/offices/washington-dc-office">Washington, DC Office</a></h3>
</div>
<div class="thoroughfare">1223 Longworth HOB</div>
</div>
<div class="addressfield-container-inline locality-block country-US"><span class="locality">Washington</span>, <span class="state">DC</span> <span class="postal-code">20515</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="panel-pane pane-entity-field pane-node-field-congress-office-details"><div class="pane-content"><div class="field field-name-field-congress-office-details field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>(202) 225-6306</p>
<p></p>
<div class="pane-content"><div class="view view-congress-offices view-id-congress_offices view-display-id-panel_pane_1 footer-office-location-tabs view-dom-id-7263fb7f874fddb5ead9463d666a2ecf"><div class="view-content"><div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"><h3 class="field-content"><a href="https://golden.house.gov/contact/offices/caribou-maine-office">Caribou, Maine Office</a></h3>
<div class="street-block"><div class="thoroughfare">7 Hatch Drive</div>
<div class="premise">Suite 230</div>
</div>
<div class="addressfield-container-inline locality-block country-US"><span class="locality">Caribou</span>, <span class="state">ME</span> <span class="postal-code">04736</span></div>
<p>(207) 492-6009</p>
</div>
<div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even views-row-last"><h3 class="field-content"><a href="https://golden.house.gov/contact/offices/lewiston-me">Lewiston, Maine Office</a></h3>
<div class="street-block"><div class="thoroughfare">179 Lisbon Street</div>
</div>
<div class="addressfield-container-inline locality-block country-US"><span class="locality">Lewiston</span>, <span class="state">ME</span> <span class="postal-code">04240</span></div>
<p>(207) 241-6767</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Email:</p>
<p><a href="https://golden.house.gov/contact">https://golden.house.gov/contact</a></p>PLEASE HELP OUR FRIENDS ON MONHEGAN ISLANDtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2018-02-12:4401701:BlogPost:1242722018-02-12T15:00:00.000ZPineo Girlhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/PineoGirl
<p>Our friends at Protect Monhegan have until February 14th to provide comments against the University of Maine's Aqua Ventus project. Comments may be made at this link:</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Comments/PublicComments.aspx?CaseNumber=2010-00235">https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Comments/PublicComments.aspx?CaseNumber=2010-00235</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>On shore or off shore it is business as usual for the wind industry...no matter who the…</p>
<p>Our friends at Protect Monhegan have until February 14th to provide comments against the University of Maine's Aqua Ventus project. Comments may be made at this link:</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Comments/PublicComments.aspx?CaseNumber=2010-00235">https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Comments/PublicComments.aspx?CaseNumber=2010-00235</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>On shore or off shore it is business as usual for the wind industry...no matter who the players are! There has been no environmental assessment whatsoever regarding the impact on marine life, birds, or the residents of Monhegan. The lobstermen have been offered $12,000 a year for ten years to support the project, pitting neighbors against neighbors, and now the 60 full time residents have been offered $6 million dollars to support the project, under the guise of community benefit. All this for a project that estimates the cost of this energy will be .36 cents a kilowatt hour...I think we all know what happens to projects like this... along with the promised funds! Another failed First Wind! This project needs to be stopped before it is begun!</p>
<p></p>
<p>To learn more about the Aqua Ventus project and the fight against it, please go to the Protect Monhegan Facebook page:</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMonhegan/">https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMonhegan/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>And Please take a few moments today to comment on this project to the Maine PUC.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>VERMONT WILL BE SAVED FROM INDUSTRIAL WIND!tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2016-11-12:4401701:BlogPost:840812016-11-12T16:34:03.000ZPineo Girlhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/PineoGirl
<p>Hallelujah! With a lot of help from our friends Steve and Monique Thurston, Republican Phil Scott, an anti wind candidate, was elected handily in Vermont! Congratulations all you Vermont woodchucks!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2016/11/08/resultsscott-sails-into-governors-seat/92782910/">http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2016/11/08/resultsscott-sails-into-governors-seat/92782910/</a></p>
<p>Hallelujah! With a lot of help from our friends Steve and Monique Thurston, Republican Phil Scott, an anti wind candidate, was elected handily in Vermont! Congratulations all you Vermont woodchucks!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2016/11/08/resultsscott-sails-into-governors-seat/92782910/">http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2016/11/08/resultsscott-sails-into-governors-seat/92782910/</a></p>The hideous truth about wind energy, this industry's research fraud and the hidden environmental destructiontag:www.windtaskforce.org,2016-10-27:4401701:BlogPost:835682016-10-27T17:00:00.000ZJim Wiegandhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/JimWiegand
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@jimwiegand/comments-on-icebreaker-6bb3bad6ff66#.mmb037f5r%C2%A0">https://medium.com/@jimwiegand/comments-on-icebreaker-6bb3bad6ff66#.mmb037f5r </a>; In these comments is the hideous truth about wind energy, this industry's research fraud and the environmental destruction being caused by wind energy. These comments were filed with <a href="http://Ohio.gov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ohio.gov</a> on 10/21 in response to the hundreds of 700 ft. turbines…</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@jimwiegand/comments-on-icebreaker-6bb3bad6ff66#.mmb037f5r%C2%A0">https://medium.com/@jimwiegand/comments-on-icebreaker-6bb3bad6ff66#.mmb037f5r </a>; In these comments is the hideous truth about wind energy, this industry's research fraud and the environmental destruction being caused by wind energy. These comments were filed with <a href="http://Ohio.gov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ohio.gov</a> on 10/21 in response to the hundreds of 700 ft. turbines planned for Lake Erie. <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561544333?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561544333?profile=original" class="align-full" width="616"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561544696?profile=original" target="_self"><strong><span class="font-size-4"> </span></strong></a></p>States Join Forces In Defense Of Clean Power Plantag:www.windtaskforce.org,2015-11-07:4401701:BlogPost:701452015-11-07T04:30:00.000ZEskutassishttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/JimLutz688
<p>Maine is one of the states, cities, counties, etc that have joined the "Clean Power Plan". Here is a quote from NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. </p>
<p><span>“The EPA’s Clean Power Plan is a critical step forward in responding to the threat of climate change. The rule is firmly grounded in science and the law,” states Schneiderman. “The rule incorporates successful strategies New York and other states have used to cut climate change pollution from power plants while maintaining…</span></p>
<p>Maine is one of the states, cities, counties, etc that have joined the "Clean Power Plan". Here is a quote from NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. </p>
<p><span>“The EPA’s Clean Power Plan is a critical step forward in responding to the threat of climate change. The rule is firmly grounded in science and the law,” states Schneiderman. “The rule incorporates successful strategies New York and other states have used to cut climate change pollution from power plants while maintaining electricity reliability, holding the line on utility bills and growing our economies. We are committed to aggressively defending the Clean Power Plan to ensure progress is made in confronting climate change.”</span></p>
<p><span>It states the science is settled, NOT, maintains electric reliability, NOT, holds the line on utility bills, NOT, and actively confronts Climate Change.</span></p>
<p><span>How can they keep spewing lies and propaganda and keep getting away with it? Only a politically compliant Progressive press that has totally ignored real science lets this happen. We are headed over the edge.</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.14791" target="_blank">http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.14791</a> </span></p>WIND TURBINES COULD CAUSE SLEEP LOSS ....tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2012-11-28:4401701:BlogPost:436302012-11-28T15:45:01.000ZMonique Aniel Thurstonhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/moniqueaniel
<p><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/27/health/industrial-wind-turbines-could-cause-sleep-loss-study-claims/?ref=regionstate">http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/27/health/industrial-wind-turbines-could-cause-sleep-loss-study-claims/?ref=regionstate</a></p>
<h1 class="storyHed headline">Industrial wind turbines could cause sleep loss, study claims…</h1>
<ul id="sharebarh">
</ul>
<p><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/27/health/industrial-wind-turbines-could-cause-sleep-loss-study-claims/?ref=regionstate">http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/27/health/industrial-wind-turbines-could-cause-sleep-loss-study-claims/?ref=regionstate</a></p>
<h1 class="storyHed headline">Industrial wind turbines could cause sleep loss, study claims</h1>
<ul id="sharebarh">
<li><a title="Print this" href="http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/27/health/industrial-wind-turbines-could-cause-sleep-loss-study-claims/print/"> </a></li>
</ul>
<div style="padding-top: 15px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" class="bdn-avatar"><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/author/nick-sambides-jr/" target="_blank"><img style="width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://bdnpull.bangorpublishing.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/SAMBIDES_NICK-2-JCR_1668202-75x75.jpg" width="50" height="50"/></a></div>
<div class="byline">By <a href="http://bangordailynews.com/author/nick-sambides-jr/">Nick Sambides Jr.</a>, BDN Staff</div>
<div class="datetime">Posted <span class="date">Nov. 27, 2012,</span> at <span class="time">7:15 p.m.</span></div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div class="entry"><div id="thePost"><div class="clear"></div>
<br />
<p>American and British researchers, including a radiologist from Fort Kent, have published what they claim is the first peer-reviewed study to conclude that people living near industrial wind sites could suffer significant sleep loss and other health problems.</p>
<p>Called “Effects of Industrial Wind Turbine Noise on Sleep and Health,” <a class="c4" href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noiseandhealth.org%2Farticle.asp%3Fissn%3D1463-1741%3Byear%3D2012%3Bvolume%3D14%3Bissue%3D60%3Bspage%3D237%3Bepage%3D243%3Baulast%3DNissenbaum&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNG0OUd5WVI9HDL4cl9CHmNUSLZLxg">the study</a> purports to show from data compiled via survey that people living 410 yards to 1,500 yards from the Mars Hill and Vinalhaven wind sites were sleepier during the day and had less sleep at night than people living 2.8 miles to slightly more than four miles away from the site.</p>
<p>“The levels of sleep disruption and the daytime consequences of increased sleepiness, together with the impairment of mental health … strongly suggest that the noise from IWTs [industrial wind turbines] results in similar health impacts as other causes of excessive environmental noise,” the study states. “The degree of effect on sleep and health from IWT noise seems to be greater than that of other sources of environmental noise, such as, road, rail and aircraft noise.”</p>
<p>Industrial wind advocates and entrepreneurs have held that a vast body of scientifically generated data show that wind sites produce no significant harm on people or nature, while those opposed to turbines have said low-level vibrations from them have caused a host of health problems.</p>
<p>Spokesmen for Fox Islands Wind LLC of Vinalhaven did not immediately return telephone and email messages seeking comment Tuesday. John Lamontagne, a spokesman for First Wind of Massachusetts, which owns the 28-turbine Mars Hill site, referred comment on the matter to a statement from the American Wind Energy Association.</p>
<p>A pro-wind group, the association called the peer-reviewed study “not scientifically defensible” and said</p>
<p>PLEASE READ THE REST OF THE STORY ON THE ABOVE LINK.</p>
<p>MONIQUE</p>
</div>
</div>
<p></p>INVESTIGATORS CONTACTED KING'S WIND COMPANY DAYS BEFORE REPORT RELEASEDtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2012-03-27:4401701:BlogPost:377322012-03-27T12:39:23.000ZMonique Aniel Thurstonhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/moniqueaniel
<p><a href="http://www.themainewire.com/">http://www.themainewire.com/</a></p>
<p>While U.S. Senate candidate Angus King was busy discussing the ethical benefits of selling his company, behind the scenes Independence Wind was becoming part of a congressional probe into inappropriate federal loan guarantees.Despite an increasingly tangled timeline, the former governor’s campaign maintains he had no knowledge of the probe.</p>
<p>Congressional investigators sent <a>an official letter</a> to…</p>
<p><a href="http://www.themainewire.com/">http://www.themainewire.com/</a></p>
<p>While U.S. Senate candidate Angus King was busy discussing the ethical benefits of selling his company, behind the scenes Independence Wind was becoming part of a congressional probe into inappropriate federal loan guarantees.Despite an increasingly tangled timeline, the former governor’s campaign maintains he had no knowledge of the probe.</p>
<p>Congressional investigators sent <a>an official letter</a> to King’s wind company, informing them of an expanded investigation into the recipients of a stimulus-funded Department of Energy loan program, from which King’s company received a $102 million loan guarantee. The letter, sent to King business partner Robert Gardiner, was dated March 14, two days before King and his campaign conducted multiple interviews discussing his decision to divest himself of holdings in the company, and six days before the King campaign claims the candidate was made aware of the investigation.</p>
<blockquote><p>“In light of Solyndra’s bankruptcy and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) apparent rush to approve billions of dollar in loan guarantees before the expiration of the 1705 loan guarantee program, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (the Committee) began an investigation of the entire DOE 1705 loan guarantee program. The Committee’s investigation reveals</p>
<p> </p>
<p>PLEASE CHECK LINK ABOVE FOR ENTIRE ARTICLE</p>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>The Untold Story of Record Hill Wind, continuedtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2012-03-22:4401701:BlogPost:373732012-03-22T02:30:00.000ZSteve Thurstonhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/SteveThurston
<p>In view of Angus King's intention to seek election to the US Senate, and in light of recent revelations about the lack of <span class="font-size-2">justification for the Federal</span> Loan Guarantee that Record Hill Wind sought and was granted, I am reposting (1) the following blog post as well as (2) my comment to the DOE during the public comment period on the loan application, and (3) the relevant section of the report titled,…</p>
<p>In view of Angus King's intention to seek election to the US Senate, and in light of recent revelations about the lack of <span class="font-size-2">justification for the Federal</span> Loan Guarantee that Record Hill Wind sought and was granted, I am reposting (1) the following blog post as well as (2) my comment to the DOE during the public comment period on the loan application, and (3) the relevant section of the report titled, <span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-2">"</span></span><span class="font-size-1"><span class="font-size-2"><font size="3"><font size="2">The Department of Energy's Disastrous Management of Loan Guarantee Programs" issued by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Darrell Issa (CA-49), Chairman. </font></font></span></span><br/>1.</p>
<p>Previous blog post from 2/24/11</p>
<p>Eileen Adams' story in the Sun Journal (<a href="http://www.sunjournal.com/river-valley/story/989580" target="_blank">Record Hill looking for federal guarantee on its loan</a> - 2/22/11) about the Record Hill Wind federal loan guarantee application omitted some important details about the evolution of this project, and how RHW principals Angus King and Rob Gardiner have represented this project to the DEP and the people of Roxbury.<br/> DEP rules require that evidence of financial capacity to construct and operate must be demonstrated in the application. By signing the DEP application the applicant swears that the information submitted is true. However, one of the conditions of the loan guarantee program is that without the guarantee the project could not be built. If the project cannot be built without the loan guarantee it stands to reason that no adequate financing for the project exists. Therefore, it appears that RHW misrepresented its financial capacity to the DEP.<br/> </p>
<p>So why did the DEP issue a permit for this project and why have miles of heavily blasted roads been built across fragile mountain slopes in Roxbury? The draft permit issued by the DEP contained a standard condition stating that evidence of financing must be demonstrated prior to the commencement of construction. Mysteriously, when the final permit was issued 5 days later, the word "construction" had been changed to "operation". When I asked the DEP why this standard condition was changed I received no response, but copies of emails in the case file indicate the project coordinator (Beth Callahan) in response to my inquiry, asked Record Hill Wind to update its financial capacity. In his email response to the DEP Rob Gardiner referred to the improper condition with the mysteriously changed word, indicating he was relying on it to move the project forward and that while financing was not yet arranged, it would be in place before operation of the project commenced.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The DEP then informed Gardiner that there was a drafting error in the final permit and that financial capacity must be shown prior to construction as required by law. In response, King and Gardiner submitted a letter from Northern Trust Bank stating that Bayroot, the majority partner and landowner in the Record Hill Wind project, had sufficient funds on deposit to build the project, but cautioned that the funds were not committed to this project and could be withdrawn at any time, which clearly did not satisfy the financial capacity requirements of the DEP rules. Nevertheless DEP accepted this letter as evidence of financial capacity. When appellants challenged this letter in their appeal of the permit, King and Gardiner agreed to a stipulation to voluntarily shut down construction, and provide additional evidence of financial capacity prior to resuming construction - which has not yet occurred.<br/>The Law Court is currently deliberating on the appeal of the permit for this project, and the applicant’s financial capacity is one of the issues under appeal. Unfortunately, the Court is not aware of the loan guarantee application because this fact was not admissible during the proceeding, which was limited to the record established in the earlier appeal of the DEP permit to the BEP. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The citizens of Roxbury deserve some answers to the questions raised by the DEP permitting process and the failure of King and Gardiner to demonstrate the ability to finance their project. Roxbury narrowly voted, 87 to 81, to change its comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance to allow wind turbines on the ridges based on the promises of King and Gardiner that they had the financial ability to pay their full share of property taxes, rather than seek a TIF agreement as most wind developers do, and to provide 500 kilowatts of “free electricity” every month to every residence in the town. Now it has become obvious that these were speculative gestures, empty promises, lacking, at the time, the financial commitments needed to fulfill them.<br/> King and Gardiner’s difficulties in obtaining financing for their project, and the desperation exhibited by their application for a taxpayer funded federal loan guarantee, are ample evidence that the people of Roxbury have been tricked into giving away their mountain tops, and the tranquil beauty of their town, to a pair of smooth talking hucksters.<br/> Steve Thurston</p>
<p><br/>2.</p>
<p>Following is my testimony on 3/31/11 to the DOE case manager regarding RHW's application for a Federal Loan Guarantee:</p>
<p>Dear Mr. Marhamati,</p>
<p>I am a 5th generation occupant of my family's property on Roxbury Pond. The proposal to put 22 turbines, all within line of sight to Roxbury Pond, on the ridge overlooking the pond, has been a source of outrage, anxiety, depression, and fear for many members of my family and many of the families who own property on Roxbury Pond. There was a nearly unanimous vote of the property owners' association to oppose this project in the permitting process. The spectre of wind projects destroying the viewshed, polluting the nighttime soundscape, devaluing our property and forever altering the mountain with blasted cuts and massive fills for access roads is a heavy burden for Roxbury Pond property owners to bear. However, if these are insufficient grounds for the DOE to reject the application, there are more important reasons that reach far beyond the concerns of the affected community. </p>
<p>The application of Record Hill Wind LLC for a DOE loan guarantee should be rejected because the applicant has provided evidence to the State of Maine that they do not need the loan guarantee to construct and operate the project since they have $127 million in the bank and the ability to self finance the project. In a filing with Maine Dept of Envioronmental Protection, Robert Gardiner, President of Record Hill Wind LLC provided required evidence that Record Hill Wind LLC had the financial capacity to construct the wind project. In the cover letter to James Cassida, Gardiner said, "Record Hill possesses sufficient funds to complete construction without any additional source of capital." As evidence of these funds Record Hill LLC provided documentation showing $127 million on deposit at Mascoma Bank of Lebanon NH. (See attached copy of DEP submission). </p>
<p>As a taxpayer I am appalled that the DOE would consider using my money to provide collateral for this project. Not only does RHW LLC have the money it needs to construct the project, by admission eliminating the need for the loan guarantee, it has partnered with the Yale Endowment Fund. US taxpayers should under no circumstances be asked to assume the investment risk for the Yale Endowment Fund, which reportedly has assets of more than $8 billion. </p>
<p>I also question the "load control" technology that forms the basis for RHW LLC to qualify for a loan guarantee in the first place. What evidence has been provided that allows DOE to conclude that there is anything groundbreaking about the turbine controller in these Siemens turbines? GE also boasts "load control" technology for its turbines. What is the difference between the two? Is it fair to ask the US taxpayer to subsidize the research and development efforts of either of these companies? Shouldn't their shareholders take the risk for the success of their products? </p>
<p>There are other technologies which are far more deserving of government support. Projects which involve electric storage technologies, reduce the cost of solar power, develop more efficient heating and cooling processes, improve the environental impacts of hydrofracking for natural gas, make coal more environmentally friendly, etc should have a higher priority than wind power. Wind projects, without a storage solution, are of little use to the electric grid. The Record Hill Wind project with an installed capacity of 50 MW, will only generate about 12.5 MW on average at a 25% capacity factor. This small amount of electricity may easily be absorbed by the grid without any effect whatsoever on grid operation, since the ISO-NE grid operates with a 125 MW tolerance for supply and demand imbalance. It is well understood that wind generation, because of its unpredictability and intermittent production, must be "followed" with sufficient spinning reserves to regulate the constantly changing output.<br/>The ISO-NE wind integration study is clear that accurate wind forecasts, grid scale storage, and massive and very expensive transmission construction are all necessary to allow wind generation to be effectively utilized. Since none of these necessary components of wind generation are in place, and likely won't be during the lifetime of any turbines now being constructed, it is premature at best to encourage wind power, especially in Maine and other places with high value landscapes. The cost to the taxpayer, to the residents of rural communties subjected to the impacts of wind turbines, and to future generations who will never have to opportunity to appreciate the unspoiled natural beauty of Maine's mountain landscapes far outweigh the perceived benefits of Maine's rush to wind power. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>For these reasons the Record Hill Wind LLC application for a US taxpayer backed federal loan guarantee should be denied.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Steve Thurston</p>
<p> </p>
<p>3. Following is the text of the Record Hill Wind section of the report of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform</p>
<p><a href="http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/FINAL-DOE-Loan-Guarantees-Report.pdf">http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/FINAL-DOE-Loan-Guarantees-Report.pdf</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Record Hill Wind: DOE Uses the First Solar Precedent to Speed Through Another Questionably "Innovative" Technology</p>
<p>DOE relied on the First Solar precedent to approve Record Hill Wind’s $102 million loan guarantee project as "innovative," despite the project using commercial technology. DOE knew that the Record Hill project did not use significantly innovative technology. The Standard & Poor’s credit rating for the project that DOE received clearly indicates the commercial (and non-innovative) nature of the project:</p>
<p>Record Hill has entered into a Turbine Supply Agreement for the shipment of 22 Siemens 93SWT[Siemens Wind Turbine] 2.3MW wind 64 turbines to be installed at the site.</p>
<p><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman">The SWT-2.3-93 turbine has been in operation in Europe since 2005, and the first turbines in the US were installed and began operations in 2006. Currently, there are a total 1,374 SWT-2.3-93 turbines operating worldwide</font></font></b><font size="3">….</font></p>
<p>…Due to harsh winter conditions in Maine, the project plans to install a cold weather package on all turbines, which will keep the turbines running in cold temperatures.</p>
<p><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman">Siemens’ cold weather packages are currently in use on turbines in Canada, Norway, and other cold areas</font></font></b><font size="3">, <span class="font-size-2">and have performed to expectations. Along with a cold weather package, the project expects to make use of Siemens proprietary Turbine Load Control (TLC) technology</span>…</font><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman">Given that the technology is software-based, however, and is not considered a fundamental component in the performance of the turbine</font></font></b><font size="3">, <span class="font-size-2">the TLC could be shuttered without damaging the turbine if it does not work properly. In this case, the turbines would continue to run similar to Siemens’ existing fleet</span>.</font><font size="1">314</font><font size="3"><span class="font-size-2">(emphasis added)</span></font></p>
<p>Much like First Solar’s "innovative" projects, the Record Hill Wind project attempted to categorize minor modifications to existing commercial technology as "innovativeness." DOE eventually agreed with Record Hill Wind’s questionable reasoning. On December 14, 2010, Todd Shrader of DOE sent an email to several DOE personnel with the subject line "Eligibility Intepretation (sic)" that read:</p>
<p>An eligibility issue arose during the technical evaluation of Ocotillo Express (FIPP—F1033). This project is utilizing Siemens SWG-2.3-101 wind turbine generators. It is claimed to be a commercial technology based on the wide spread use (including in this country) of the closely related Siemens SWG-2.3-93 turbines, which are essentially the same just with smaller blade lengths (101 feet vs. 93 feet). Without looking deeper into the design differences (which will occur at due diligence), I concur with the applicant that this is a commercial technology. However, for Record Hill, which is using SWG-2.3-93 turbines, it is claimed that this is a new and innovative technology, partially based on no use over 5 years in the US for these turbines. I also believe there were some differences in internal controls.</p>
<p><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman">However, the 101 and 93 units are essentially the same technology. Can the same technology be innovative under the Renewables Solicitation and Commercial under the FIPP’s solicitation?</font></font></b><font size="1">315</font><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman">(emphasis added)</font></font></b></p>
<p>Later in the day, Ruth Ku of DOE replied that the same question had occurred before with a different project and that the "project was asked whether it could obtain alternative financing in the private market…the project was able to get alternative financing (e.g., with John Hancock) and I think the recommendation was for it to move its application to FIPP…don’t know where Record Hill is in its process for it to be 65 Ruth Ku forwarded her email to Douglas Schultz, a Program Manager at DOE’s Loan Programs Office. Douglas Schultz replied, "Record hill is well into due diligence with [D]avid [S]chmitzer. No reason to transfer at all. In terms of precedent of innovative and not <b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman">look no further than first solar where there [sic] panels are both innovative and noninnovative given the inverter used</font></font></b><font size="3">."(emphasis added)</font></p>
<p>Ruth Ku agreed with Douglas Schultz but worried that submitting two project applications using the same technology as innovative and not innovative could cause a "policy issue for OMB." She wrote back to Douglas Schultz stating "[I]t cld [sic] be a policy issue for OMB if record hill followed Ocotillo. Think it’s probably less of an issue if record hill was first then Ocotillo."</p>
<p><font size="1">318</font> <font size="2">After scheming about how to get the two applications through OMB without problems</font><span class="font-size-2"><font size="2">, DOE allowed the Record Hill Wind project to continue as an "innovative" project.</font><font size="1">319</font></span><font size="2"><span class="font-size-2">DOE would eventually finalize a $102 million loan guarantee (guaranteed 100% by the federal government) in August 2011. (emphasis added)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2">------------------------------------------------------------------</font></p>
<p>314 <font size="2">Record Hill Wind, LLC., Standard & Poors Credit Report, July 1, 2011 (on file with author).</font></p>
<p>315 <font size="2">Email from Todd Shrader, U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Dec. 14, 2010 (on file with author).</font></p>
<p>316 <font size="2">Email from Ruth Ku, U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Dec. 14, 2010 (on file with author).</font></p>
<p>317 <font size="2">Email from Douglas Schultz, U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Dec. 14, 2010 (on file with author).</font></p>
<p>318 <font size="2">Email from Ruth Ku, U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Dec. 14, 2010 (on file with author).</font></p>
<p align="left">319 <font size="2">DOE did not finalize a loan guarantee for the Ocotillo Express project.</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Governor LePage Announces Energy Legislation, Aimed at Reducing Coststag:www.windtaskforce.org,2012-03-10:4401701:BlogPost:372472012-03-10T14:52:13.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<div class="posttitle"><h1 class="title-single"><a href="http://thevalleyvoice.org/2012/03/09/governor-lepage-announces-energy-legislation-aimed-at-reducing-costs-3912/53350/" rel="bookmark">Governor LePage Announces Energy Legislation, Aimed at Reducing Costs 3/9/12</a></h1>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="post-content singleEntry"><p><a class="fancybox" href="http://thevalleyvoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Paul-lepage-NEW1.jpg" rel="fancybox" title="Paul lepage NEW"><img align="right" alt="Paul lepage NEW" border="0" src="http://thevalleyvoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Paul-lepage-NEW_thumb1.jpg" title="Paul lepage NEW"></img></a> AUGUSTA –…</p>
</div>
<div class="posttitle"><h1 class="title-single"><a href="http://thevalleyvoice.org/2012/03/09/governor-lepage-announces-energy-legislation-aimed-at-reducing-costs-3912/53350/" rel="bookmark">Governor LePage Announces Energy Legislation, Aimed at Reducing Costs 3/9/12</a></h1>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="post-content singleEntry"><p><a href="http://thevalleyvoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Paul-lepage-NEW1.jpg" class="fancybox" rel="fancybox" title="Paul lepage NEW"><img title="Paul lepage NEW" src="http://thevalleyvoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Paul-lepage-NEW_thumb1.jpg" alt="Paul lepage NEW" align="right" border="0"/></a>AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage introduced legislation which focuses on reducing the cost of energy for Mainers today. This legislation will focus on providing Mainers more options for energy, and it also has an emphasis on reducing the costs for Maine ratepayers.</p>
<p>“One of the largest inhibitors, if not the biggest obstacle to job creation is Maine’s high energy costs,” said Governor LePage. “The number one focus of my administration is jobs, and if we want economic prosperity in Maine, we need to focus on reducing the cost of electricity and energy for Maine’s job creators,” continued the Governor.</p>
<p>The four pieces of legislation are:</p>
<p><strong>An Act to Lower the Price of Electricity for Maine Consumers:</strong> This bill would remove the 100 megawatt cap for qualifying renewable generation, specifically hydro power. Wind generation can already qualify if greater than 100 MW. This re-enforces the policy that long term contracts for electricity must place reducing electric prices as a top priority.</p>
<p><strong>An Act to Provide Transparency in Electricity Pricing for Maine Ratepayers:</strong> This bill requires the Maine Public Utilities Committee and the Office of the Public Advocate to submit budgets based on a “zero-based budget approach.” It also requires the MPUC and OPA websites to show the cost of various fees and charges on electricity, expressed as a total annual cost. Electric transmission and delivery utilities would also have to provide information on electric bills as to the various fees and charges on electric billsexpressed as total annual cost.</p>
<p><strong>An Act to Improve Efficiency Maine Trust Programs To Reduce Heating Costs and Provide Energy Efficient Heating Options for Maine’s Consumers:</strong> The existing voluntary contribution Renewable Resource Fund is expanded to also allow voluntary contributions to Energy Efficiency which can be used by the Efficiency Maine Trust for efficiency programs. The bill also establishes a home heating equipment rebate program of 5% for qualified systems using existing funds and provides new opportunities for consumers to access efficient alternative energy systems. Under this legislation, the Efficiency Maine Trust would submit a budget for approval by the Legislature.</p>
<p><strong>An Act To Change the Name of the Governors’ Office of Energy Independence and Security:</strong>The name of the office would change to the “Governor’s Energy Office,” and would utilize Efficiency Maine Trust funds to support the office, which would eliminate the position in the Office of the Public Advocate, and reduce the assessment on utilities, reducing the cost to Maine ratepayers.</p>
<p>“My energy policy will focus on all forms of energy, providing Mainers the freedom to choose which sources to buy from,” said Governor LePage. “I do not support Augusta being in the business of increasing costs of Maine people to pad the pockets of special interest groups. We need to empower Maine people to take control of their energy fate,” continued the Governor.</p>
<p>The goal of these legislative proposals is to focus on providing energy options for Maine people, reducing the cost, and bringing transparency to electricity bills.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://thevalleyvoice.org/2012/03/09/governor-lepage-announces-energy-legislation-aimed-at-reducing-costs-3912/53350/">http://thevalleyvoice.org/2012/03/09/governor-lepage-announces-energy-legislation-aimed-at-reducing-costs-3912/53350/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="color: #808080;" class="font-size-1">Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.</span></p>
</div>Massive Bird Kill and Suggestion That Recent Similar Major Kill at Stetson Has Been Hushed Uptag:www.windtaskforce.org,2011-10-30:4401701:BlogPost:304122011-10-30T07:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p>The person who directed me to this article wrote in her email that <em>"there was a similar major bird kill by the turbines at Stetson recently..but this has apparently been hushed up".</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I can't verify this so please regard accordingly while remembering "where there's smoke, there's fire".</p>
<h2 class="date-header"><span>thursday, october 27, 2011…</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The person who directed me to this article wrote in her email that <em>"there was a similar major bird kill by the turbines at Stetson recently..but this has apparently been hushed up".</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I can't verify this so please regard accordingly while remembering "where there's smoke, there's fire".</p>
<h2 class="date-header"><span>thursday, october 27, 2011</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"><a name="5050470228508302527"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackpoll-warbler-kill-at-wind-farm.html">Blackpoll Warbler kill at wind farm</a></h3>
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content"><p> </p>
<div class="separator"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWeGEryQj-0/TqnwzwohG8I/AAAAAAAAH_M/NPRX5MvFt5k/s1600/p15a.jpg"><img width="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWeGEryQj-0/TqnwzwohG8I/AAAAAAAAH_M/NPRX5MvFt5k/s320/p15a.jpg" height="320" border="0"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">AES Corporation's <a href="http://www.fsrengineering.com/sector_energy.htm">Laurel Mountain Wind Farm</a>, photo from <a href="http://wvhighlands.org/wv_voice/">West Virginia Highlands Conservancy</a> website.<br/> <br/>
The massive Laurel Mountain Wind Farm, near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elkins,_West_Virginia">Elkins, West Virginia</a> was just opened officially with a <a href="http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=111085">ribbon-cutting ceremony today</a>, but it's already making news in a most ungreenfriendly way. Word is leaking out regarding a massive kill of migratory songbirds that took place about two weeks ago at one of the turbine farm's installations. According to the <a href="http://www.wvdnr.gov/">West Virginia Department of Natural Resources</a>, 484 birds perished after striking a structure associated with this twelve mile string of 61 mountaintop turbines. Most of the birds were Blackpoll Warblers. Blackpolls are champions of long distance migration, breeding to the northern limits of the boreal forest in Canada, Alaska, and in the northeastern lower states, mostly in New England. Their migration is an epic journey that spans much of the Americas, with the birds ending up in South America where they overwinter.<br/>
<br/>
Not all the facts seem to be out yet - and I'm not sure why it took two weeks for this tragedy to come to light - but it appears that the birds were NOT killed by being pureed after flying into a spinning turbine. As the farm was just officially dedicated TODAY, I'm not sure that the turbines were even fired up and spinning two weeks ago.<br/>
<br/>
Apparently a bank of bright lights that are used to provide illumination at a substation were left on overnight during cloudy, low-visibility conditions. The birds became disoriented by the lights - a common occurrence with brightly lit structures - and perished after flying into the building. Even though it apparently was not the turbines themselves that caused this disaster, it should serve as a red flag. Large numbers of songbirds migrate along Allegheny and Appalachian mountain ridges, and clearly lots of birds pass through the Laurel Mountain turbine gauntlet. Future occurrences of this type should be avoidable by merely turning the lights off, at least during peak migratory periods. But it is a huge open question as to whether birds will still strike the spinning turbines at night. I hope that someone conducts diligent monitoring at this farm to determine whether this kill will prove to be an isolated incident, or if indeed we have another <a href="http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2005/10/69177?currentPage=all">Altamont Pass</a> on our hands.<br/>
<br/>
Industry, environmental groups, and politicians alike are rushing pell-mell into the supposedly "green" wind industry. Ohio is one of the front lines, as many a plan is afoot to site turbines along, and in, Lake Erie. And Lake Erie is one of THE major migratory corridors for birds in the Great Lakes region. I think that sites do exist where wind turbines probably will not cause much, if any, bird or bat mortality. But it is becoming increasingly demonstrable that some of the best locations for harvesting wind are also major migratory pathways for birds, and wind farms and birds mix about as well as oil and water.<br/>
<br/>
Poorly sited wind farms are akin to <a href="http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking">fracking</a> the air. The collateral damage to migratory animals can be unacceptable in terms of outright kills. But another factor that is seldom written about involves the terrestrial fragmentation that comes with the installation of these facilities (this includes fracking, too). Access roads must be carved into forests or Great Plains prairie, large footprints must be stamped out for the physical facilities, and towers and wires strung or buried to transmit the electricity. Individually, it is hard - maybe impossible - to prove ecological damage caused by a single turbine installation. But add them all up and we start to instigate death by a thousand cuts, at least for some species.</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content"></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content"><a href="http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackpoll-warbler-kill-at-wind-farm.html">http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackpoll-warbler-kill-at-wind-farm.html</a></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content"></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content"><h1 class="title"><strong><span class="font-size-2">******************************* </span></strong></h1>
<p>Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>Wind Power Is Dying - “Obsession with wind turbines is one of the greatest blunders of our time.”tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2011-08-31:4401701:BlogPost:243402011-08-31T00:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p> </p>
<div id="entryMeta"><h2 class="singlePageTitle">Wind Power Is Dying</h2>
<p class="singlePostMeta">Posted by <a href="http://frontpagemag.com/author/tait-trussell/" title="Posts by Tait Trussell">Tait Trussell</a> <a href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/#bio">Bio ↓</a> on Aug 28th, 2011…</p>
<div class="clear"></div>
</div>
<div id="innerLeft"><div id="tagsandcats"><table border="0" width="100%">
<tbody><tr><td><div class="printpreview"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<div id="entryMeta"><h2 class="singlePageTitle">Wind Power Is Dying</h2>
<p class="singlePostMeta">Posted by <a title="Posts by Tait Trussell" href="http://frontpagemag.com/author/tait-trussell/">Tait Trussell</a> <a href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/#bio">Bio ↓</a> on Aug 28th, 2011</p>
<div class="clear"></div>
</div>
<div id="innerLeft"><div id="tagsandcats"><table border="0" width="100%">
<tbody><tr><td><div class="printpreview"><a rel="nofollow" title="Print This Post" href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/print/"><img title="Print This Post" alt="Print This Post" src="http://cloud.frontpagemag.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-print/images/printer_famfamfam.gif" class="WP-PrintIcon"/></a> <a rel="nofollow" title="Print This Post" href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/print/">Print This Post</a></div>
</td>
<td><div class="fontresizer"><ul>
<li class="fontResizer"><a title="Decrease font size" class="fontResizer_minus">A</a> <a title="Reset font size" class="fontResizer_reset">A</a> <a title="Increase font size" class="fontResizer_add">A</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div class="post"><p><a href="http://cloud.frontpagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/wind-turbine-kirkheaton-wind-farm-43491978.gif"><img height="247" width="375" src="http://cloud.frontpagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/wind-turbine-kirkheaton-wind-farm-43491978.gif" title="wind-turbine-kirkheaton-wind-farm-43491978" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-103053"/></a></p>
<p>While the U.S. is dumping billions of dollars into wind farms and onshore and offshore wind turbines, this energy source is being cast aside as a failure elsewhere in the world.</p>
<p>Some 410 federations and associations from 21 European countries, for example, have <a href="http://www.croh.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=542:epawcom&catid=10:newshttp://www.croh.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=542:epawcom&catid=10:newshttp://www.croh.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=542:epa">united against</a> deployment of wind farms charging it is “degrading the quality of life.”</p>
<p>The European Platform Against Wind farms (EPAW) is demanding “a moratorium suspending all wind farm projects and a “complete assessment of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of wind farms in Europe.” The EPAW said it objects to industrial wind farms which “are <span style="color: #ff0000;">spreading in a disorderly manner across Europe” under pressure from “financial and ideological lobby groups,” that are “degrading the quality of life</span> living in their vicinity, affecting the health of many, devaluing people’s property and severely harming wildlife.” A petition for a moratorium has been sent to the European Commission and Parliament, said EPAW chairman J.L Butre.</p>
<p>France, earlier his year <a href="http://www.renewablesinternational.net/france-opens-bids-for-offshore-wind/150/505/30022/http:/www.renewablesinternational.net/france-opens-bids-for-offshore-wind/150/505/30022/http:/www.renewablesinternational.net/france-opens-bids-for-offshore-wind/15">ran into opposition</a> to its plan to build 3,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind turbines by 2020. That year is the target date the European Union set for providing 20 percent of its energy through renewable sources. An organization called the Sustainable Environment Association, opposes wind power, saying the subsidies will “not create a single job in France.”</p>
<p>In Canada, Wind Concerns Ontario (WCO) has launched a province-wide drive against wind power. It said Aug. 8 it wants to ensure that the next government is clear that “there is broad based community support for a moratorium…and stringent environmental protection of natural areas from industrial wind development.” WCO claimed, “<span id="apture_prvw1"><a href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/#" class=" snap_noshots"><span> </span><span>The Wind</span></a><span> </span></span> industry is planning a high powered campaign to shut down support” for the WCO’s aims. “Our goal is to store the petition until the next legislative session gets underway in the fall…”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Netherlands has approximately 2,000 onshore and offshore wind turbines. But even though Holland is synonymous with windmills, the installed capacity of wind turbines in the Netherlands at large <a href="http://theenergycollective.com/willem-post/51642/dutch-renewables-about-face-towards-nuclearhttp:/theenergycollective.com/willem-post/51642/dutch-renewables-about-face-towards-nuclearhttp:/theenergycollective.com/willem-post/51642/dutch-renewables-about">has been stagnant</a> for the past three years, according to an article in February in the Energy Collective. It was 2237 megawatts (MW) at the end of 2011. That was said to be about 3.37 percent of total annual electricity production. <span style="color: #ff0000;">The principal reason for the stagnant onshore capacity “is the Dutch people’s opposition to the wind turbines.</span>” They are up to 400 feet in height.</p>
<p>The Dutch national wind capacity factor is a dismal 0.186. The German wind capacity factor “is even more dismal at 0.167,” the article said.</p>
<p>Expanding wind power to meet the European Union’s 20 percent renewables target by 2020 meant adding at least another thousand 3 MW, 450-foot wind turbines to the Dutch landscape “at a cost of about $6 billion.” Not surprisingly, the Dutch people found that to be far too costly—“an intrusion into their lives and an unacceptable return on their investment, especially when considering the small quantity of CO2 reduction per invested dollar.”</p>
<p>An added 3,000 MW of offshore turbines also was rejected. The capital cost was figured at $10 to $12 billion. The cost was judged to be too much and the wind energy produced too little. “The energy would have to be sold at very high prices to make the project feasible.” The article added, “The proposed Cape Wind project in Massachusetts is a perfect example of such a project.” Environmental Lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in July wrote an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/18/248500/rfk-jr-in-murdochs-wall-street-journal-urges-abandoning-cape-wind-for-canadian-hydro-he-once-opposed/"> blasting</a> the project off Cape Cod as “a rip-off.” Recently, <span style="color: #ff0000;">the Netherlands became the first country to abandon the European Union target of producing 20 percent of its domestic power from renewables by 2020.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>In Denmark, the Danes became aware that the poor economics of their heavily-subsidized wind energy is a major reason for the nation’s high residential electric rates. Opposition to the gigantic onshore turbines was so great that the state-owned utility finally announced last year that it would abandon plans for any new onshore wind facilities.</p>
<p>The Energy Collective article also reported that a CEPOS (Center for Political Studies) <a href="http://priceofoil.org/2010/03/25/anti-wind-study-linked-to-climate-sceptics/http:/priceofoil.org/2010/03/25/anti-wind-study-linked-to-climate-sceptics/http:/priceofoil.org/2010/03/25/anti-wind-study-linked-to-climate-sceptics/http:/priceofoil.org/2010/">study found</a> that 90 percent of wind energy sector jobs were transferred from other technology industries and that only 10 percent of the wind industry jobs were newly created jobs. As a result, the study said, <span style="color: #ff0000;">Danish GDP is $270 million lower than it would have been without wind industry subsidies.</span></p>
<p>The Australian government, like the U.S., has placed a major emphasis on deploying renewable sources of energy, especially wind energy. As in the U.S.,<a href="http://pandorasboxofrocks.blogspot.com/2011/03/australia-wind-turbines-cause-health.htmlhttp:/pandorasboxofrocks.blogspot.com/2011/03/australia-wind-turbines-cause-health.htmlhttp:/pandorasboxofrocks.blogspot.com/2011/03/australia-wind-turbines-cause-he">Australia</a> set a target of 20 percent of its energy to come from renewal sources by 2020. The government provides generous subsidies and tax breaks to wind energy developers. But <span style="color: #ff0000;">medical studies on farmer families living within 5 miles of wind farms found health problems ranging from sleep deprivation to nausea</span>. Similar health effects have been discovered in other locations, including in the U.S.</p>
<p>Because wind blows only intermittently, Britain has determined that it will have to construct <a href="http://bigpeace.com/ier/2011/07/08/lights-out-for-the-uk-the-blunder-of-relying-on-wind-power/http:/bigpeace.com/ier/2011/07/08/lights-out-for-the-uk-the-blunder-of-relying-on-wind-power/http:/bigpeace.com/ier/2011/07/08/lights-out-for-the-uk-the-blunde">an additional</a> 17 natural gas-powered plants as back-ups to wind to keep the lights on by 2020. These plants will cost 10 billion pounds, according to a posting by the Institute for Energy Research. One analyst was quoted as saying, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>“Government’s obsession with wind turbines is one of the greatest blunders of our time.</strong></em>”</span></p>
<p>Onshore wind power today costs about $0.13 per kWh. That’s <a href="http://bmeverett.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/renewable-energy-rd-got-results/http:/bmeverett.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/renewable-energy-rd-got-results/http:/bmeverett.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/renewable-energy-rd-got-results/http:/bmeverett.wordpress.com/20">nowhere near</a>either the objective of the U.S. Department of Energy or the cost of competing power sources. The wind turbines jutting into the sky all across the country exist only because of the massive federal subsidies. Is this considered a failure by Obama officials? No way. Obama’s 2012 budget proposal increases renewables spending by 33 percent.</p>
<p>Wind farms in Texas that will cost $400 million over the next two years produce, incredibly, an average of only <a href="http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2010/12/texas-wind-farm-tax-break-program-costs-16-million-per/1292858306.column">one job</a> for every $1.6 million of capital investment. So the state’s comptroller general figured, according to a December 20, 2010 story in the Austin American-Statesman.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As long ago as 1973, then-<span id="apture_prvw1"><a href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/2/#" class=" snap_noshots"><span> </span><span>President Nixon</span></a><span> </span></span> called for “Project Independence” in reaction to the OPEC oil embargo. The project was to achieve energy independence through development of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Independencehttp:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Independencehttp:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Independencehttp:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Independencehttp:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Independencehttp:/en.">alternative energy</a> sources, such as wind, solar and geothermal power. So, there’s nothing new about renewable energy.</p>
<p>The Obama 2012 budget asks for <a href="http://lamodeverte.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/obama-favours-clean-energy-over-fossil-fuels-in-2012-budget/http:/lamodeverte.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/obama-favours-clean-energy-over-fossil-fuels-in-2012-budget/http:/lamodeverte.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/oba">$8 billion</a> for “clean” energy, mainly wind power subsidies. As recently as Feb. 7, the secretaries of Energy and Interior announced plans to launch dozens of offshore turbines miles out at sea, while admitting the expense <a href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/03/09/obama-in-wonderland/http:/frontpagemag.com/2011/03/09/obama-in-wonderland/http:/frontpagemag.com/2011/03/09/obama-in-wonderland/http:/frontpagemag.com/2011/03/09/obama-in-wonderland/http:/frontpagemag.com/2011/03/09/">would be unknown</a>. Despite generous subsidies, wind power is expected to provide no more than 8 percent of electric power in the U.S. by 2030.</p>
<p>The American Wind Industry Energy Association, the wind lobby group, said the top five states for wind energy were Texas, Iowa, California, Minnesota, and Washington. It said the second quarter of 2011 saw over 1,033 megawatts of capacity installed. It also maintained <a href="http://www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea.org/http:/www.awea">that wind is second only</a> to natural gas and U.S. wind power represents more than 20 percent of the world’s wind power.</p>
<p>Over the next half century, say, it’s possible some new technologies will revolutionize energy. But, if so, they surely will come from the private sector — not government.</p>
<p><b><br/></b></p>
<p> </p>
<div id="tagsandcats"><a id="bio" name="bio"></a><h4>About <a title="Posts by Tait Trussell" href="http://frontpagemag.com/author/tait-trussell/">Tait Trussell</a></h4>
<div class="authorbio">Tait Trussell is a national award-winning writer, former vice-president of the American Enterprise Institute and former Washington correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/">http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/28/wind-power-is-dying/</a></p>
<p>************************************* <br/>Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.</p>Cherished Views of Katahdin Sold for Three Cents a Daytag:www.windtaskforce.org,2011-09-21:4401701:BlogPost:260562011-09-21T03:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p>An area destroyed for $26 a year. I guess that means about seven cents a day per owner, which if there were two people in every household might be 3.5 cents per day. Maine has been had. Thank you Governor Baldacci. Thank you NRCM.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561525073?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561525073?profile=original" width="737"></img></a></p>
<p>Iconic shot of wind turbines on northern end of Rollins Mt. with Mt. Katahdin in the background. May…</p>
<p>An area destroyed for $26 a year. I guess that means about seven cents a day per owner, which if there were two people in every household might be 3.5 cents per day. Maine has been had. Thank you Governor Baldacci. Thank you NRCM.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561525073?profile=original"><img class="align-full" width="737" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561525073?profile=original"/></a></p>
<p>Iconic shot of wind turbines on northern end of Rollins Mt. with Mt. Katahdin in the background. May 2011.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Please see article from BDN below and continue reading by clicking on the link.</p>
<h1 class="storyHed headline">Wind farm helps Lincoln lower tax rate, town officials say</h1>
<div class="alignleft"><div class="byline">By <a title="Posts by Nick Sambides Jr." href="http://bangordailynews.com/author/nick-sambides-jr/">Nick Sambides Jr.</a>, BDN Staff</div>
<div class="datetime">Posted <span class="date">Sept. 20, 2011,</span> at <span class="time">8:33 p.m.</span></div>
<div class="datetime"></div>
<div class="datetime"></div>
<div class="datetime"></div>
<div class="datetime"><span class="time"><br/></span></div>
</div>
<div class="alignright"><a title="Print this" href="http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/20/news/penobscot/wind-farm-helps-lincoln-lower-tax-rate-town-officials-say/print/"><img alt="Print this" src="http://static.bangordailynews.com/wp-content/themes/bdn/images/print.gif"/></a> <a title="E-mail this" href="http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/20/news/penobscot/wind-farm-helps-lincoln-lower-tax-rate-town-officials-say/email/"><img alt="E-mail this" src="http://static.bangordailynews.com/wp-content/themes/bdn/images/mail.gif"/></a> <a title="Facebook this" target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://bdn.to/aou4&t=Wind%20farm%20helps%20Lincoln%20lower%20tax%20rate,%20town%20officials%20say"><img alt="Facebook this" src="http://static.bangordailynews.com/wp-content/themes/bdn/images/facebook.gif"/></a> <a title="Tweet this" target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Wind+farm+helps+Lincoln+lower+tax+rate,+town+officials+say+http://bdn.to/aou4+&via=bangordailynews&related=bangordailynews,bdnbiz,bdnpolitics,rockblogsterbdn,bdnhealth"><img alt="Tweet this" src="http://static.bangordailynews.com/wp-content/themes/bdn/images/twitter.gif"/></a> </div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div class="entry"><div id="thePost"><div class="clear"></div>
<p>LINCOLN, Maine — Owners of $100,000 properties will pay $26 less in town taxes annually than they would have paid last year under a new 19.86 mill rate town officials have set, they said Tuesday.</p>
<p>Town Manager <a href="http://bangordailynews.com/people/lisa-goodwin/">Lisa Goodwin</a> attributed the lower rate to the $42.2 million in value added to local taxes by the Rollins Mountain industrial wind-to-energy site as part of site owner <a href="http://bangordailynews.com/organization/first-wind/">First Wind</a>’s tax increment financing agreement with the town.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/20/news/penobscot/wind-farm-helps-lincoln-lower-tax-rate-town-officials-say/?ref=latest">http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/20/news/penobscot/wind-farm-helps-lincoln-lower-tax-rate-town-officials-say/?ref=latest</a></p>
<p> </p>
<h1 class="title"><strong><span class="font-size-2">********************************* </span></strong></h1>
<p>Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.</p>
<p></p>
<div><font color="#407F00"><br/></font></div>
<div><font class="yiv1638896790" color="#407F00"><br/></font></div>
<p></p>First Wind - Why Don't We Investigate Their Dealings?tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2011-09-23:4401701:BlogPost:263102011-09-23T03:30:00.000ZThinklike A. Mountainhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/ThinklikeAMountain
<p>Please click on the following PDF on First Wind - a complaint from a U.S. Congressman.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561524973?profile=original" target="_self">Massa_USRep_DNY__letter_to_Obama.pdf</a></p>
<p> …</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561528820?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561528820?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>Please click on the following PDF on First Wind - a complaint from a U.S. Congressman.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561524973?profile=original" target="_self">Massa_USRep_DNY__letter_to_Obama.pdf</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561528820?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561528820?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>NRCM's CO2 - From A Different Point of View (PDF)tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2011-09-23:4401701:BlogPost:269012011-09-23T04:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p>The attached document attempts to put NRCM's published CO2 information into proper perspective. We think it does just that and it's high time to change course. C'mon everybody, let's work together to fix Maine's problems.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561524642?profile=original" target="_self">NRCM_CO2_From_a_Different_Point_of_View.pdf</a> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The attached document attempts to put NRCM's published CO2 information into proper perspective. We think it does just that and it's high time to change course. C'mon everybody, let's work together to fix Maine's problems.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561524642?profile=original" target="_self">NRCM_CO2_From_a_Different_Point_of_View.pdf</a> </p>
<p> </p>Biostitute Alert: wind industry bird consultants set to spew guano in Camden March 18thtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2010-03-12:4401701:BlogPost:25042010-03-12T09:30:00.000ZRon Huberhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/RonHuber
<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Camden Public Library on Thursday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m.</span></span></p>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="TIMES, serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Richard Podolsky, who has <i>"a twenty year track record in helping “big box” developers, oil and gas, electric and renewable (especially wind), energy…</i></span></font></div>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Camden Public Library on Thursday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m.</span></span></p>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="TIMES, serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Richard Podolsky, who has <i>"a twenty year track record in helping “big box” developers, oil and gas, electric and renewable (especially wind), energy companies to reduce potentially adverse environmental impacts from a wide range of projects and achieve regulatory compliance" <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">is going to speak at a Midcoast Audubon gathering at the Camden Public Library</span></i></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="TIMES, serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br/></span></i></span></font></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://richardpodolsky.com/richard-podolsky-bio.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Podolsky</span></a></span> and co-worker</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://richardpodolsky.com/mark-digirolamo.html">Mark DiGirolamo</a> together make up <a href="http://richardpodolsky.com/">Avian Systems, Wind Power Consultants</a>. These two cheerful fellows</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">will share their experiences "studying" birds and bats at dozens of wind power projects around the United States. Astonishingly, the duo have never found a serious problem anywhere they were paid to check. The wind industry <i>loves</i> hiring these guys. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They were consultants for Plum Creek in the Moosehead fight, too. No impact there either.They checked. Amazing.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br/></span></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Podolsky and DiGirolamo are "currently studying birds at the wind power project on Vinalhaven as well as the proposed project for Monhegan Island".</span></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif; font-size: large;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif; font-size: large;">If you are wondering what their findings will be, I have a hint: 'He who pays the piper calls the tune'.</span></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="TIMES, serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br/></span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="TIMES, serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This meeting should be a barrel of laughs. can't wait.</span></font></div>
<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: TIMES, serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br/> <br/></span></span></span></div>
</div>Why the Double Standard Olympia, Susan and Habib?tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2010-03-04:4401701:BlogPost:22322010-03-04T23:00:00.000ZLong Islanderhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/LongIslander
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Yesterday, each of our U.S. Senators issued a press release about a bill they have introduced called the Deepwater Offshore Wind Incentive Act which would provide a tax incentive of 3.04 cents per kilowatt production tax credit for the first 6,000 Megawatts of Deepwater Offshore Wind Production in the United States.…</font></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Yesterday, each of our U.S. Senators issued a press release about a bill they have introduced called the Deepwater Offshore Wind Incentive Act which would provide a tax incentive of 3.04 cents per kilowatt production tax credit for the first 6,000 Megawatts of Deepwater Offshore Wind Production in the United States.</font></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">One of the apparent arguments is that the turbines are out of sight!</font></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Here are some excerpts:</font></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Senator Olympia Snowe: "Deepwater wind, defined as in waters greater than 60 meters, <strong>avoids issues related to view shed</strong>".</font></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Habib Dagher: “The Senators are to be commended for a far-reaching legislation which will allow entrepreneurs in the US and in Maine to compete with Europe, China, Japan and other countries in developing next-generation, floating <strong>over-the-horizon</strong> wind farms.</font></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><a href="http://snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=25bae7ae-802a-23ad-44bc-87e972f7ce09"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">http://snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=25bae7ae-802a-23ad-44bc-87e972f7ce09</font></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">Although Senator Collins did not reference the viewshed thing yesterday, she has most certainly done this in prior press releases, e.g., "Deep, offshore wind production, <strong>out-of-sight from land</strong>, could provide an affordable source of renewable electricity directly to the country's population centers on each coast.”</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><a href="http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=24db77f8-802a-23ad-48c9-fb4dcf76f473&Region_id=&Issue_id=&CFID=36906792&CFTOKEN=71191327"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=24db77f8-802a-23ad-48c9-fb4dcf76f473&Region_id=&Issue_id=&CFID=36906792&CFTOKEN=71191327</font></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3"><strong><u>What Happened to Shallow Water Wind?</u></strong></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">If one looks at the wind resource map of Maine, it immediately is apparent that the shallow waters on the shoreline have mostly “Good” winds, versus the mostly “Poor” or “Marginal” winds inland. Bear in mind that these are the official classifications of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><a href="http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/images/windmaps/me_50m_800.jpg"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/images/windmaps/me_50m_800.jpg</font></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">When we go offshore into deepwater, we move from “Good” to “Excellent”. But we also move into a depth of water where the technology doesn’t exist – and where mother nature’s storms could be a real problem. In wartime, this offshore generation would be more vulnerable to enemy attack.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">In any event, the big picture is that in taking on the deepwater wind challenge, all of the technically feasible shoreline “Good” wind resource has been ignored. It hasn’t even been addressed.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">But when you see phrases like <strong>“viewshed issues”, “out-of-sight from land” and “over the horizon</strong>”, it becomes clear why the technically feasible “Good” shoreline shallow water wind is ignored. And the reason can be summed up in one word: SETBACK.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">That’s right, in essence our U.S. Senators, Mr. Dagher and others are advocating perhaps a 20 mile setback for our shoreline residents.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">I have nothing against these residents and they do not deserve to have their front yards turned upside down with visual pollution, night sky light pollution and unhealthy sound and vibration.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">But why are these things OK for inland residents? You’ve worked hard your entire life, paid taxes all the way and secured your little piece of solitude and quietude on a tranquil north woods pond. You chose this place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. You want to listen to the loons and gaze at the stars. The next day they are building 40 story tall strobe-lit noisy turbines on top of you. And your once pleasant country road is now lined with the turbines’ massive requisite transmission lines. Apparently, if your body of water contained saltwater instead of freshwater, you’d be protected by a de facto 20 mile setback.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">So the question is – <strong><font size="5">Why the double standard?</font></strong></font></p>What is Maine to ustag:www.windtaskforce.org,2010-02-23:4401701:BlogPost:19882010-02-23T01:38:39.000ZDan McKayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DanMcKay
How can anyone who has spent any time in Maine conjure up an idea of transforming the top of the state’s mountains into a place for giant industrial generators ?. This is embarrassing to us who have worked diligently to clean up our environment for the past 40 years. From this resolve, We have come to see our state for it’s beauty , shining forth through the lakes, streams, shorelines and, yes, our mountains too.<br />
Is this the right course for Maine ? Do wind machines really fit here ? We have…
How can anyone who has spent any time in Maine conjure up an idea of transforming the top of the state’s mountains into a place for giant industrial generators ?. This is embarrassing to us who have worked diligently to clean up our environment for the past 40 years. From this resolve, We have come to see our state for it’s beauty , shining forth through the lakes, streams, shorelines and, yes, our mountains too.<br />
Is this the right course for Maine ? Do wind machines really fit here ? We have recovered our rivers from industrial and municipal pollution . We have cleaned our soil of hazardous chemicals. Our environmental conscious is alert now , thanks to these great accomplishments. Never did we expect to see the day our mountains would be forsaken for others to gain an advantage needlessly deserved.<br />
Please take the time to think about where we are as a state, our visions as we move forward, our goals which sets us apart from other states and our people who radiate with pride knowing our pristine scenery is the envy of many not so lucky to be here.