Dudley G. Gray's Posts - Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine2024-03-28T11:20:15ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGrayhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1494012619?profile=original&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blog/feed?user=3nv1wi2omrs97&xn_auth=noSmart Energy Scamtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2022-07-19:4401701:BlogPost:2448282022-07-19T11:00:21.000ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGray
<p>I recently received solicitation from Smart Energy Inc. for a six month trial using so-called renewable energy for my electricity supply. In exchange for my gullibility, ignorance and naivete, I would receive a $200 dollar visa gift card. Still being able to do sixth grade math from the great education I received at B. E Moore school in Ellsworth some 64 years ago I dug. out sixth months of CMP bills.</p>
<p></p>
<p> Usage-CMP supply only 3373 KWH X.1181…</p>
<p>I recently received solicitation from Smart Energy Inc. for a six month trial using so-called renewable energy for my electricity supply. In exchange for my gullibility, ignorance and naivete, I would receive a $200 dollar visa gift card. Still being able to do sixth grade math from the great education I received at B. E Moore school in Ellsworth some 64 years ago I dug. out sixth months of CMP bills.</p>
<p></p>
<p> Usage-CMP supply only 3373 KWH X.1181 =$398.35</p>
<p> Smart Energy supply offer 3373 KWH X.249 = $839.98</p>
<p> ----------------------</p>
<p> Difference $441.53</p>
<p> Smart Energy Visa gift card bribe $(200.00)</p>
<p> ------------</p>
<p> My additional cost to use energy supplied by wind and solar $241.53</p>
<p></p>
<p>In exchange for the destruction of Maine's mountaintops, ridges and vistas for industrial wind and the waste of precious farmland for solar farms, we get to reward the same investors who developed Record Hill Wind (former Governor Angus King) Kibby Mountain Wind (Trans Canada Corp et al),and Bingham wind (Onward Energy). Moving on to solar farms, we have 490 acres of farmland destroyed in Farmington, (Nextera) with 300,000 panels, then renewable blueberry land in Hancock destroyed and owned by BNRG of Dublin, Ireland.</p>
<p>There is nothing renewable about wind turbines and solar panels. They are not recyclable and will require new landfills after they have filled the pockets of their investors while the same time fleecing the public with subsidies,accelartated deprecation and investment tax credits.</p>
<p>Lastly , we had a minority of voters turn out last November to halt CMP's NECEC hydroelectric corridor from Hydro-Quebec which would have supplied electricity at between five and seven cents per Kilowatt hour (KWH)</p>
<p>This Smart Energy scam along with the continuing fiasco in our University of Maine System should make Maine voters finally wake up and say enough of this!!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Dudley Gray</p>
<p>Rangeley Plantation</p>
<p></p>EV cost per miletag:www.windtaskforce.org,2022-06-08:4401701:BlogPost:2416302022-06-08T12:45:36.000ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGray
<p>Yesterday I watched the ignorant Sen. Stabenow pontificate about how she drove to DC passed many gas stations in her new EV. I had been in Farmington at Hannaford looking at the charging stations. An empty Prius was parked at the station whose price per KWH was.40 Plus a flat additional charge if you were hooked up for more than 20 minutes. The other. stations were all Teslas and seemed to indicate a price of .625 KWH My all in. rate at home (CMP). is .2331 KWH.</p>
<p>I would like some…</p>
<p>Yesterday I watched the ignorant Sen. Stabenow pontificate about how she drove to DC passed many gas stations in her new EV. I had been in Farmington at Hannaford looking at the charging stations. An empty Prius was parked at the station whose price per KWH was.40 Plus a flat additional charge if you were hooked up for more than 20 minutes. The other. stations were all Teslas and seemed to indicate a price of .625 KWH My all in. rate at home (CMP). is .2331 KWH.</p>
<p>I would like some member to empirically provide the necessary proof of what it actually costs to drive a particular EV versus the same normally asperated gasoline vehicle for a certain distance -say 300miles.</p>
<p>Using gasoline price presently @ $5.00 gallon</p>
<p></p>
<p>Dudley Gray. Rangeley Planttion</p>Left and right vs. Industrial wind/Solar in the North Woodstag:www.windtaskforce.org,2021-12-01:4401701:BlogPost:2299362021-12-01T20:18:41.000ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGray
<p>I mailed this to the following publications, The County, Piscataquis Observer,Fiddlehead Focus,The Irregular on 11/22.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Piscataquis,Somerset and Aroostook counties are in danger of becoming the new Clean Energy Connect for solar and wind development. Irrespective of the developments themselves just how many miles of transmission lines ,clear cuts,wildlife habitat will be destroyed but more importantly the entire unique character of the North Maine woods will be forever altered…</p>
<p>I mailed this to the following publications, The County, Piscataquis Observer,Fiddlehead Focus,The Irregular on 11/22.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Piscataquis,Somerset and Aroostook counties are in danger of becoming the new Clean Energy Connect for solar and wind development. Irrespective of the developments themselves just how many miles of transmission lines ,clear cuts,wildlife habitat will be destroyed but more importantly the entire unique character of the North Maine woods will be forever altered and lost for future generations.</p>
<p>It is quite one thing to have 15 Canadian sugar sap houses and 100's of thousands of taps, miles and miles of collection lines on the Golden Road just 10 miles from the border. Let's now add another swath of destruction and hundreds of miles of transmission lines . So,here we go again with RFP's(request for proposals )to the developers for a legislatively mandated transmission corridor, no different from CMP's (NECEC )except for the corridors and substations to service multi hundreds of 600 foot windmills and 40,000 panel solar farms in the North Maine Woods.</p>
<p>This is where the political left and right should meet. The Natural Resources Council of Maine, Audobon Society, Appalachian Mountain Club, Sierra and all their sister organizations are going to run into recreational enthusiasts, Fishermen, Trappers, Hunters and preservationists. Now with the apparent defeat of CMP's high voltage transmission line are we going to turn round and destroy Maines last great natural asset?</p>
<p></p>
<p>I've been dead against any development in the North Maine Woods.I hated what Roxanne Quimby accomplished with Katahdin Woods project. I would hope that since her impact is far more benign than the aforementioned Wind/Solar/ Substations/transmission lines criscrossing the Allagash region would be enough for herself and Jym St. Pierre to scream enough, but then again I wonder . There is so much environmental hypocrisy that it is difficult to figure whose side you are on.</p>
<p></p>
<p>With the recent news of 85 percent increases in the supply side our monthly electrical bills,I'm beginning to wonder if any constituency (governmental,environmental including the public) has a clue how disastrous these projects would be in comparison to the 145 mile CMP transmission line. Only corrupt politicians, crony capitalists, developers, and souless corporate contractors will line their pockets with the subsidies and tax benefits provided by the rest of us.</p>
<p>As I have said many times, the root of all these failures goes back to at least 1998 when the legislature at the behest of Gov. Angus King forced the breakup up of our public utilities. The fix wasin because the insiders of CMP and Bangor Hydro got rich when FPL, now Nextera got CMP's dams and Emera, now Versant (City of Calgary Alberta) along with Brookfield,Canada own Bangor Hydro's dams. Yes, it is complicated until you just follow the money from Angus King to Record Hill Wind then to the U.S. Senate to Gov. Baldacci's expedited wind law to becoming himself the vice-chairman of Avangrid, CMP's parent corporation. These are the masters of self-aggrandizement, while the rest of us get the shaft.</p>
<p>Maine voters and ratepayers need to smarten up and pay attention to what has been done to them the name of good governance. Occasionally,disasters are arrested by a Governor like Paul LePage but then we resume our spiral down with the Socialists, who want public power as well as those who are trying to destroy our Lobster industry in favor of 300 Right Whaleswho have not been endangered by our precious industry</p>
<p></p>
<p>Maybe we are headed for the trash heap of Democratic experiments, but for me I will keep speaking in defense of the Republic until we turn it around or fail.I fear but also hope for our progeny, will have the chance to enjoy a great experience as have I, a thankful American Patriot.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Dudley Gray</p>
<p>Rangeley Plantation</p>
<p></p>Galloping Socialismtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2019-03-09:4401701:BlogPost:1614992019-03-09T11:55:13.000ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGray
<p></p>
<p>Governor Janet Mills and the legislature are heading towards expropriation of CMP (Avangrid) 145 mile transmission line from Hydro Quebec to Lewiston.</p>
<p>During a six hour stipulation hearing before the PUC not one intervenor asked the commissioners about this, yet the Governor had categorically stated on 03/01 "importantly, the stipulation creates a new special purpose entity (euphemism for State Owned Enterprise) not CMP to build and operate this transmission line".</p>
<p>CMP…</p>
<p></p>
<p>Governor Janet Mills and the legislature are heading towards expropriation of CMP (Avangrid) 145 mile transmission line from Hydro Quebec to Lewiston.</p>
<p>During a six hour stipulation hearing before the PUC not one intervenor asked the commissioners about this, yet the Governor had categorically stated on 03/01 "importantly, the stipulation creates a new special purpose entity (euphemism for State Owned Enterprise) not CMP to build and operate this transmission line".</p>
<p>CMP created a new entity named NECEC,LLC to accomplish this ,indicating the fix was in. As soon as Reps.Seth Berry and Nicole Grohoski (who delineated the plan in an editorial in the Ellsworth American on 02/20) introduce this bill to the full legislature ,the vote to expropriate the asset or assets from CMP and Emera will be an accomplished fact, albeit at a very high price. But why stop there ? Put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Lets just buy CMP, EMERA ,dams from Brookfield and Nextera and we will be back where we were before 1999 when our wise legislature copied Montana and forced the separation of each of our two utilities generating assets from their less valuable transmission assets. Bangor Hydro and CMP insiders and stockholders got rich on the sale of CMP to IBERDROLA (Spain) and Bangor Hydro to EMERA (Canada) while we ratepayers, voters and residents got the usual shaft.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Now, twenty years later we will be told to do it all over again in the name of renewables, climate change, EV's(charging stations from Jackman to Lewiston). This Public Power grab will end up costing us multi billions, create a new bureaucracy, enrich the IBEW workers and bankrupt the taxpayers. The Transmission line and corridor alone are priceless. Only 150 feet of the 300 ft width is going to be used. But I'll bet a Natural Gas pipeline from Montreal to Searsport will eventually be built. Take that Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker!!!</p>
<p>So, to finish this rant, between Ranked Choice Voting,and the election itself we Mainers have really shot ourselves in the foot except for two unintended consequences. The first, Nextera won't build their 133 turbines in the Franklin and Somerset Counties and just maybe Peter Mills will run against his sister in four years.</p>
<p>Dudley Gray</p>
<p>Rangeley Plantation</p>
<p></p>CMP, Nextera and the Governor's Billtag:www.windtaskforce.org,2018-02-02:4401701:BlogPost:1229912018-02-02T20:00:08.000ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGray
<p>The rejection of Northern Pass by New Hampshire regulators puts CMP's "Clean Energy Connect" back on the front burner. Even though CMP has publicly stated that their 140 mile direct current line from Coburn Gore to Lewiston has nothing to do with wind power it stretches credulity to not see a direct connection between Nextera's 133 turbine project and this high voltage transmission line.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Even though the LUPC recently rejected Nextera's petition to expand the expedited…</p>
<p>The rejection of Northern Pass by New Hampshire regulators puts CMP's "Clean Energy Connect" back on the front burner. Even though CMP has publicly stated that their 140 mile direct current line from Coburn Gore to Lewiston has nothing to do with wind power it stretches credulity to not see a direct connection between Nextera's 133 turbine project and this high voltage transmission line.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Even though the LUPC recently rejected Nextera's petition to expand the expedited permitting areas of Chain of Ponds,Seven Ponds,Skinner, T5R6,BKP WKR Townships, I find it hard to believe CMP (Avangrid) and Nextera,two of the most parasitic and incestuous public corporations that I know of, will give up their attempts to continue the ruination of Maine's views and mountaintops.</p>
<p></p>
<p>As evidenced yesterday,Democrats in the Legislature voted in lockstep preventing the Governor's bill, LD 1810 from receiving a public hearing. Unfortunately, six Republicans fell down on their jobs and were absent for the vote,thus dooming the outcome. Among other things LD1810 protected the scenic character of Maine by increasing the sight distance of wind turbines from 8 miles to 40. Were this bill to get a public hearing and a vote perhaps Maine scenic character would have been protected.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Please remember folks, Maine's 6 billion dollar tourism business is of paramount importance for the long term. Another important fact is that Maine does not need the power generated by 133 additional wind turbines nor the power from Hydro Quebec facilitated by CMP's transmission line. All the power from these assets would be shipped to southern New England and beyond with not a dime of rate relief for Maine customers. So, as I have said before Maine is no longer a colony of Massachusetts so they should put their wind turbines in the Berkshires and build power dams on the Connecticut River. Leave us alone!!!!!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Dudley Gray dudleyg.gray@gmail.com</p>
<p>Rangeley Plantation</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>Nextera rulemaking petitiontag:www.windtaskforce.org,2017-11-19:4401701:BlogPost:1137742017-11-19T17:26:41.000ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGray
<p></p>
<p>THIS IS IMPORTANT---IN FACT, CRITICAL</p>
<p>Nextera petitoning LUPC to expand expedited permitting area. LUPC will consider 12/13. Questions</p>
<p>to stacie.r.beyer@maine.gov 557-2535</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>All need to be aware of this and hopefully agree that "the line in the sand" needs to be drawn here. There are few more scenic areas in the State of Maine than the drive from Stratton to the Coburn Gore on Rt 27, especially at peak fall foliage. Approval of this application…</p>
<p></p>
<p>THIS IS IMPORTANT---IN FACT, CRITICAL</p>
<p>Nextera petitoning LUPC to expand expedited permitting area. LUPC will consider 12/13. Questions</p>
<p>to stacie.r.beyer@maine.gov 557-2535</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>All need to be aware of this and hopefully agree that "the line in the sand" needs to be drawn here. There are few more scenic areas in the State of Maine than the drive from Stratton to the Coburn Gore on Rt 27, especially at peak fall foliage. Approval of this application will result in the scenic and physical destruction of 24,000 acres of pristine hills ,forests and views. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Some time ago I succeeded in removing Rangeley Plantation from the expedited wind area but failed on a technicality on Dallas and Sandy River plantations. At a hearing in Bangor the LUPC Commissars(commissioners) would not even allow me to speak. the fix was in.</p>
<p></p>
<p>From Nextera application: "for purposes of convenience , the project can be broken into two sections: the area north of Rt27 in Franklin and Somerset Counties(Moose Wind) which will include approximately 71 turbines in the townships of Skinner, Kibby,T5R6, BKP,WKR and(2) the area south of Rt 27 within franklin County(Alder Stream Wind) which consists of approximately 62 turbines in Chain of Ponds, Seven Ponds and Alder Stream Townships.</p>
<p>This petition must be denied on the basis of scenic character alone. Also the Legislature needs to reauthorize the capability of Townships, plantations and towns to remove themselves from the expedited wind area by citizen petition.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The 44 unit Kibby Mountain unit has already destroyed the views from Bingham/Moscow. Record Hill Wind has ruined the views of The beautiful Swift river valley. Sugarloaf in Dixfield is another to say nothing of the remainder of the State.</p>
<p>Industrial wind opponents need to really need to step up and attend hearings and testify as well as write the Legislature, PUC , Governor , Public Advocate to stop this insanity.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'll do my part but can not lead any opposition efforts.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Dudley Gray Rangeley Plt.</p>
<p></p>UMPI windmill least importanttag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-09-23:4401701:BlogPost:583252014-09-23T10:29:56.000ZDudley G. Grayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DudleyGGray
<p>UMPI windmill might work better if it were 150-200 ft taller. It was built in a land depression. The most important issue today is what the Maine Supreme Court will say about the Emera First Wind appeal which flies in the face of legislative intent. Why was legislation passed which forced our public utilities to split their generating from their distribution assets and now that those utilities are no longer ours,the PUC will allow Emera to acquire a financial interest in First Wind,enabling…</p>
<p>UMPI windmill might work better if it were 150-200 ft taller. It was built in a land depression. The most important issue today is what the Maine Supreme Court will say about the Emera First Wind appeal which flies in the face of legislative intent. Why was legislation passed which forced our public utilities to split their generating from their distribution assets and now that those utilities are no longer ours,the PUC will allow Emera to acquire a financial interest in First Wind,enabling the build out of more subsidized wind farms. Where is the uproar from our Legislature? Are we so stupid as to not see what this is all about. The Canadians (Emera) have their distribution system in place for their own windfarms, plus they get to ruin our landscapes with the blessing of our PUC. It's time for someone to get mad about this instaed of pussy footing around. Kurt Adams is a corrupt crony capitalist of the first order.</p>
<p> Dudley Gray</p>
<p> Rangeley Plt.</p>