Long Islander's Blog – January 2020 Archive (21)

Richard Silkman: A New Energy Policy Direction for Maine

An energy economist, Richard Silkman, has been recently distilling a 98-page plan to make Maine a zero-carbon state by 2050.

It relies on a large-scale shift from fossil fuels to an expanded electricity grid powered mainly by new renewables. His main selling point? While the grid upgrades and investments in new generation and storage would cost nearly $60 billion over that period, the entire project should not cost more over time…

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Added by Long Islander on January 30, 2020 at 4:00pm — 10 Comments

Hydro-Québec: What ‘A Deadly Shade of Green’ got wrong

The report was neither accurate nor balanced, a company spokesperson says.

Regardless of how readers may feel about the New England Clean Energy Connect project — the line that would transmit renewable, hydroelectricity from Quebec to the New England power grid — I think everyone can agree that accurate and balanced reporting is necessary in evaluating the opportunities the project represents.

I am writing in response…

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Added by Long Islander on January 30, 2020 at 11:15am — 3 Comments

Maine Climate Council has its second full meeting

Maine on target to meet near-term greenhouse gas emissions goals

New estimates of how much carbon Maine forests store indicate that achieving carbon neutrality will be easier than hitting Gov. Mills’ robust emissions targets for 2050.

....................Scientists also provided the first concrete…

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Added by Long Islander on January 30, 2020 at 10:30am — 3 Comments

First of two hearings highlights Downeast wind farm’s TIF terms with county

By Lora Whelan | The Quoddy Tides | January 24, 2020 | quoddytides.com ~~

Over 60 Washington County residents gathered on the afternoon of January 9 for the first of two public hearings held by the county commissioners in the county courthouse in Machias to discuss the Washington County Downeast Wind Municipal Development and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Commission Chair Chris Gardner explained that the commissioners have no jurisdiction over planning and zoning concerns…

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Added by Long Islander on January 28, 2020 at 4:09pm — 4 Comments

SHILL AWAY: Maine has the potential to power itself through wind

This article is wrong on so many levels.

Maine has the potential to power itself through wind

.......As of 2018, Maine was harvesting 923 megawatts of wind-generated power, meeting 21 percent of the state’s overall power needs of 4,615 megawatts. “There is plenty of wind in Maine,” Thaler said. “Does Maine have the potential to meet its own energy needs through wind power? The short answer is yes.”..................…

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Added by Long Islander on January 27, 2020 at 11:30am — 15 Comments

Challenged federal rule could price many renewables out of PJM’s capacity market

Sweeping “minimum offer” rule will likely cut into the competitive edge for renewables as a hedge against fossil fuels.

Motions filed this week are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to change a ruling that could price many renewables out of the PJM capacity market, while driving up prices for consumers.

FERC’s Minimum Offer Price Rule, or MOPR, calls for PJM to set minimum bids for state-subsidized electricity generators in those auctions. The rule…

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Added by Long Islander on January 24, 2020 at 1:54pm — 1 Comment

REJOICE: Wind power industry leader calls quits for Vermont

.................Blittersdorf cites a hostile political climate for his recent decision, and he credits Gov. Phil Scott, who campaigned on opposing industrial wind development in 2016, as the main force behind this new reality.

“In 2012 there were over a dozen wind projects in development. Now there are none,” he said. “This is truly a sad state of affairs for Vermont. Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. We must combat the carbon emissions crisis and move to a…

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Added by Long Islander on January 24, 2020 at 1:30pm — 4 Comments

Scarring Maine's Blueberry Barrens and Great Heath with thirty 650' Tall Wind Turbines

It's curious that there's no mention in this article that the turbines would be spread out on three sides of the 7,000-plus acre Great Heath the largest peatland in the state and an area the state protects. See earlier post:…

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Added by Long Islander on January 22, 2020 at 12:30pm — 12 Comments

Gov Mills on Wind Power in State of the State

Excerpts from the speech are below. See links at bottom of this post for the full speech. Note that there is no reference in the speech to onshore wind. Onshore wind has become a very controversial topic since it was first rammed down Mainers' throats over 10 years ago. Many politicians will thus avoid its mention. However, mere avoidance of referring to onshore wind in politicians' speeches should not cause anyone to drop their guard. The threat continues to be real and various areas are…

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Added by Long Islander on January 22, 2020 at 8:30am — 10 Comments

John Droz, Jr: Energy & Environmental Newsletter: January 20, 2020

Some of the more important articles in this issue are:

Special interest groups vow to continue push for energy credits

Wind Energy Lobbyists Still Beating Solar Lobbyists in DC

NY Energy Bill from Cuomo to Consumers Could Top $47 Billion!

50,000 Tons Of Non-Recyclable Wind Turbine Blades Dumped In The Landfill

US Congress approves Historic Funding for Nuclear

Federal setbacks to nuclear energy will harm climate

Europe’s Green Energy Policy Is A Complete…

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Added by Long Islander on January 20, 2020 at 8:51am — 2 Comments

Maine anti-corridor group hit with ethics complaint that could force it to disclose donors

By Michael Shepherd, BDN Staff • January 17, 2020 3:49 pm

Updated: January 17, 2020 4:21 pm

AUGUSTA, Maine — A dark-money group that has aired ads opposing Central Maine Power’s proposed hydropower corridor was hit with a Friday ethics complaint by a political committee funded by the utility in a move that could force the group to disclose donors.

It’s the second ethics complaint in the nascent campaign over the $1 billion corridor that would take Hydro-Quebec power to the…

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Added by Long Islander on January 17, 2020 at 11:53pm — 13 Comments

Group backing CMP power line wins support of former environmental leaders

Ten former state environmental officials and advocates lend their support to Mainers for Clean Energy Jobs, a coalition of business and union groups that backs the $1 billion transmission line.

A coalition of business and union groups backing Central Maine Power’s $1 billion transmission line proposal has won the support of nearly a dozen former state environmental officials and advocates.

Mainers for Clean Energy Jobs – which comprises individuals,…

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Added by Long Islander on January 14, 2020 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

These Liars Won't Stop Lying: Groups vow to continue push for clean energy credits

Lobbyists for clean energy industries are confident, despite some recent setbacks, that 2020 is the year Congress will pass tax incentive policies.

After spending most of the year lobbying the Senate and House to create a new tax credit for energy storage and extend credits for solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, industry representatives say they hope to continue the momentum from last year and try again.

“We’ve got all the pieces in place; now it’s time to just take…

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Added by Long Islander on January 11, 2020 at 8:31am — 4 Comments

Maine would have to produce 55% more electricity if every car on the road transitioned to electric

...............Efficiency Maine, a state trust that oversees energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction programs, offers rebates for the purchase of electric vehicles, part of state efforts to incentivize growth.

“We’re certainly mindful that if those projections are right, then there will need to be more supply,” said Michael Stoddard, the program’s executive director. “But it’s going to unfold over a period of the next 20 years. If we put our minds to it and plan for it, then we…

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Added by Long Islander on January 10, 2020 at 4:30pm — 9 Comments

Washington County - Columbia wind project proposed

January 8, 2020 by Johanna S. Billings

COLUMBIA — The wind may be blowing a new source of power into Washington County.

Apex Clean Energy, based in Charlottesville, Va., is developing plans for a wind farm in Columbia and land nearby in the Unorganized Territory, with hopes of completing the project in October 2022, said Paul Williamson, a senior development manager with the company.

The project, known as Downeast Wind, is proposed for 22,000 acres in Columbia and…

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Added by Long Islander on January 9, 2020 at 11:30am — 9 Comments

Study group proposes modest goals for Maine renewable energy storage

A commission that studied the potential for projects to store excess renewable power generated in Maine has recommended that the state set a short-term goal of reaching 100 megawatts of capacity by 2025 to send an important signal to investors and developers.

The non-binding target is modest compared with what states such as Massachusetts and New York are proposing, and it doesn’t commit any state money. Still, the proposal recognizes the “value and benefits that strategic investment…

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Added by Long Islander on January 8, 2020 at 7:37pm — 4 Comments

CMP transmission line clears major regulatory hurdle

The state's Land Use Planning Commission voted Wednesday to certify the 145-mile electric corridor proposed by Central Maine Power.

Maine’s rural land use regulators have approved a controversial transmission corridor proposed by Central Maine Power that would cut through more than 50 miles of wild North Woods.

The state Land Use Planning Commission voted 5-2 Wednesday to certify CMP’s $1 billion New England Clean Energy Connect as an accepted use in the areas it would be…

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Added by Long Islander on January 8, 2020 at 6:05pm — 2 Comments

Camden Select Board Feels Wind Turbines "Should be on the Table"

Video of tonight's select board meeting in Camden. The select board seems to feel it must do more to be green and apparently this includes wind power. My remembrance is that the onetime wind proposals for Ragged Mountain were dead. But apparently not. The photo below shows a select board member invoking the efforts of Greta Thunberg as motivation for Camden to do more.

Video of 1/7/20 Camden Select Board Meeting:…

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Added by Long Islander on January 7, 2020 at 11:00pm — 4 Comments

German government may offer 'silence money' for living near windmills

When government has to bribe people to tolerate noisy, ugly, flashing and unhealthy wind turbines and also tells us that wind projects do not reduce property values, something is not adding up. Follow the money. People are getting paid, including those who should be looking out for us.

German government may offer 'silence money' for living near windmills

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has proposed a new answer to people complaining about wind…

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Added by Long Islander on January 7, 2020 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

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Maine as Third World Country:

CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power

 

Click here to read how the Maine ratepayer has been sold down the river by the Angus King cabal.

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

******** IF LINKS BELOW DON'T WORK, GOOGLE THEM*********

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

Not yet a member?

Sign up today and lend your voice and presence to the steadily rising tide that will soon sweep the scourge of useless and wretched turbines from our beloved Maine countryside. For many of us, our little pieces of paradise have been hard won. Did the carpetbaggers think they could simply steal them from us?

We have the facts on our side. We have the truth on our side. All we need now is YOU.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

 -- Mahatma Gandhi

"It's not whether you get knocked down: it's whether you get up."
Vince Lombardi 

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Hannah Pingree on the Maine expedited wind law

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

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

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

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