Mount Desert Islander: Look at future Maine wind development proposals with an ever more critical eye

We can only hope that as Mainers become more and more familiar with the shortcomings of intermittent wind power generation and the environmental degradation that results, they will look at future development proposals with an ever more critical eye.

http://www.mdislander.com/opinions/editorials/wind-power-co2

and

Some lawmakers speculate Governor LePage will take steps to tilt the state from its pursuit of wind power

— It’s about time for a detailed energy policy. LePage has been saying for years that the answer to Maine’s energy problems — and boosting the economy — is by bringing more natural gas to the state. He proposes piping more natural gas from new reserves in Pennsylvania; but that’s a regional plan, not a state one. And while a steady supply of natural gas would help big industries, it is unlikely to do much for private homes. Some lawmakers speculate LePage will take steps to tilt the state from its pursuit of renewable energy — wind power, namely. He also might renew efforts to lift the 100-megawatt cap on hydropower as it exists in Maine’s renewable energy portfolio, even though that proposal failed last year amid bipartisan opposition.

http://bangordailynews.com/2015/01/30/the-point/lepage-expected-to-...

and

Dixfield selectmen extend wind project moratorium

DIXFIELD — The Board of Selectmen voted Monday evening to extend the moratorium on wind energy projects for another six months, Town Manager Carlo Puiia said Wednesday.

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/river-valley/2015/01/28/dixfield-sel...

and

Environmental advocates push solar, energy efficiency bills

"Make no mistake: We will defend against any attempts to weaken or dismantle past progress," said Maureen Drouin, executive director of the Maine Conservation Alliance.

The solar measure would remove the cap on the number of people who can co-own a project, which is a barrier for people who want to make such investments, said Dylan Voorhees, clean energy and global warming project director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. It would also provide renewable energy credits to reduce projects' costs.

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2015/01/29/environmental-advoc...

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Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on January 31, 2015 at 10:47am

Maine would be doing better if we were not producing for out of state use, and/or out of country profits. Importing Natural Gas just to run and electrical production facility to send the power back out of state tells me we are being used. Building at taxpayers forced contribution Wind farms is much more of the same. Natural Gas Purchasing is what is keeping our electrical rates up. Along with transmission lines, Maine does not need, but for exporting electricity. I am not sure where LePage got his figures or how he interpreted them, but seems he got it wrong,,,, Again!

http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=ME
30th largest consumer of energy
44th in CO² Emissions
9th highest prices for Electricity
11th most expensive per capita combined energies.
15th highest prices for Natural Gas

43rd in Total Energy Production
0 Crude oil production
0 Natural Gas Production
0 Coal Production
45th Electrical production

Maine Energy Consumption
48th in the nation at 1.3T Btu's COAL
48th in the nation at 70.5T Btu's NATURAL GAS (includes other gaseous fuels)
42nd in the nation at 177.4T Btu's PETROLEUM (includes ethanol)
44th in the nation at 39.4T Btu's ELECTRICITY

Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on January 31, 2015 at 10:26am

Co-Ownership of Solar again opens the door to Corporate ownership to receive funds from the taxpayers. 

 

Maine as Third World Country:

CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power

 

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

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

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

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

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Hannah Pingree on the Maine expedited wind law

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

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

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

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