Offshore Vineyard Wind is Un-American

Courting foreign energy companies’ entry into the offshore renewable energy market undermines our energy goals.  

“Instead of relying on foreign oil and foreign energy, we are now relying on American energy and American workers like never before.”

President Donald J. Trump

President Trump’s energy policies are laudable.  And, his accomplishments in the U.S. energy, and other sectors, are impressive.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/

While, the U.S. presently courts foreign-owned renewable energy companies.  Specifically, Vineyard Wind, that would create “green” jobs in Spain, Italy, Denmark, China and the Netherlands, funded by U.S. taxpayers.

Scott Farmelant, Vineyard Wind  Public Relations, provides evidence of the foreign ownership of Vineyard Wind:

“Vineyard Wind is a stand alone joint venture co-owned by two corporate partners, with one being Avangrid Renewables, the other being Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.” 

Vineyard Wind parent companies include the investment arm of Pensions Denmark, and Avangrid that is Iberdrola of Spain, (2009 biggest stimulus winner- Iberdrola).

https://www.iberdrola.com/about-us/lines-business/flagship-projects...

Vineyard Wind poses a threat to U.S. fishing industry jobs and marine tradesmen.

“This is a losing proposition for the fishing industry- big time," said Lanny Dellinger, who is the chair of the state's fisheries advisory board...”

https://turnto10.com/news/local/rhode-island-fishing-professionals-...

Vineyard Wind is a foreign-owned, U.S. taxpayer-funded, generator of jobs overseas.

“Windar Renovables has been awarded the contract to manufacture, certify, assemble, inspect, store and supply the elements for the [Vineyard Wind] wind farm's 84 foundations...”

Thusly, Vineyard Wind would create 400-500 jobs in Asturias, Spain, (with US taxpayers’ multi-millions’ in stimulus, again; (2009 biggest stimulus winner- Iberdrola).

https://www.iberdrola.com/about-us/lines-business/flagship-projects...

“Vineyard Wind named MHI Vestas Offshore Wind as the preferred wind turbine supplier for the project.”

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S

Dusager 4

8200 Aarhus N

Denmark

Vineyard Wind would create manufacturing jobs in Denmark.

http://www.mhivestasoffshore.com/vineyard-wind-selects-mhi-vestas-a...

‘Vineyard Wind: Heerema participates in largest US offshore wind project’

riday, 12 July, 2019 - 11:15

“Heerema marine contractors installing a monopile“

”Dutch offshore contractor Heerema has been assigned to help build the first and largest commercial offshore wind farm in the United States. The prestigious 'Vineyard Wind LLC' project is the nation's first utility-scale offshore wind energy project.

The contract for Heerema comprises in the (offshore) transport and installation (T&I) of 84 foundations consisting of monopiles and transition pieces and appurtenant ESP platforms in the Northeast of the US near the island of Martha's Vineyard..”

https://www.offshorewindindustry.com/news/vineyard-wind-heerema-par...

“Vineyard Wind has entered into an agreement with Italian company Prysmian Group worth 200 million euros to design, manufacture, install and commission the submarine cabling system that will connect the offshore wind farm with the Continental US power transmission grid. The project will require a total of 134 kilometres of high voltage alternating current electric cable...”

To create jobs in Italy and China with U.S. taxpayers’ dollars. 

https://www.iberdrola.com/about-us/lines-business/flagship-projects...

Vineyard Wind will likely create cable manufacturing jobs in China-

“Luigi Migliorini, CEO of Prysmian Group China, added that “Prysmian Group can now offer a wide range of cable technologies and products, including Extra High Voltage and High Voltage cable systems, as well as Medium Voltage and Fire Resistant cables, from 6kV to 500kV. The new plant will be capable of producing all the main designs available in the HV systems sector”.

https://www.prysmiangroup.com/en/stories/corporate/

“Denmark’s Bladt Industries has signed a contract with the US-based Vineyard Wind LLC for fabrication and delivery of an offshore substation for the 800MW Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm...”

“Bladt Industries will execute the project in cooperation with Semco Maritime and ISC Engineering. The design is already underway by ISC Engineering and the electrical system will be performed by Semco Maritime...”

https://www.offshorewind.biz/2019/06/26/vineyard-wind-selects-offsh...

Semco Maritime A/S

Esbjerg Brygge 30

6700 Esbjerg

Denmark

https://www.semcomaritime.com/en-en

The proposed offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind, is un-American.

Views: 1054

Comment

You need to be a member of Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine to add comments!

Join Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine

Comment by Barbara Durkin on May 11, 2021 at 8:45am

The half truths of the wind industry are whole lies.  

Just as Central ME Power is Avangrid/ Iberdrola of Spain, domestic names are used for the purpose of denying citizens the truth.  

Vineyard Wind is owned by a Iberdrola Avangrid (Spain) & Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (Danish Pension Fund) 


So, who is “USA, Massachusetts Linxon”?

‘Vineyard Wind orders onshore substation

North America’ | August 20, 2020

“USA, Massachusetts: Linxon has secured a contract to construct the onshore substation for the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project.”

https://transformers-magazine.com/tm-news/vineyard-wind-orders-onsh...

7/1/20

‘The interest in Linxon is now carried on by Hitachi ABB Power Grid’

https://www.linxon.com/2020/07/01/newly-established-hitachi-abb-joi...

SNC-Lavalin and ABB announce formation of Linxon, a new JV company

Aug 31, 2018 — Linxon has been formed to execute turnkey substation projects.

https://new.abb.com/news/detail/6695/snc-lavalin-and-abb-announce-f...

‘The interest in Linxon is now carried on by Hitachi ABB Power Grids’

“The divestment of ABB Power Grids to Hitachi was announced in December 2018. The transaction is now complete as of July 1, 2020.”

https://www.linxon.com/2020/07/01/newly-established-hitachi-abb-joi...

‘Hitachi Absorbs ABB Power Grids in New $10B Joint Venture’

July 1, 2020’

“Japanese technology conglomerate Hitachi holds a 80.1% ($6.85 billion) stake in Hitachi ABB Power Grids, while Zurich-based ABB will hold the remaining 19.9% stake. ABB also holds a pre-defined option to exit the retained 19.9% shareholding three years after closing, and it is likely it will be bought out by Hitachi, which has said it will consider acquiring ABB’s share to make it a wholly owned subsidiary after 2023.”

https://www.powermag.com/hitachi-absorbs-abb-power-grids-in-new-10b...

‘DOE Lays Out How Power Sector Could Win the Cybersecurity Battle’

https://www.powermag.com/doe-lays-out-how-power-sector-could-win-th...

.  

Comment by Roy Pentland on September 18, 2020 at 10:32am
An excellent article Barbara. I have read it before, and all of the links. I have learned much from your work and that has enabled me to start tackling wind energy from the engineering aspect.
Comment by Barbara Durkin on November 15, 2019 at 7:10pm
Sen. John Cronyn appears to be a great contact team make.  

“The ongoing congressional discussions, led by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), aim to expand the scope of CFIUS and give it oversight over more types of transactions...”

It appears Committee on Foreign Investments in the U.S. (CFIUS) is looking at a Mayflower Wind partner, EDP.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-13/everybody-wants-...

“The Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) generally focuses on foreign investments in U.S. companies that could pose a risk to national security.


—meaning companies that do business with large firms with strategically important technologies. The ongoing congressional discussions, led by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), aim to expand the scope of CFIUS and give it oversight over more types of transactions...”

Good piece on China’s influence on Europe. 

https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/05/23/on-chinese-investment-and-...

Comment by Barbara Durkin on November 15, 2019 at 7:04pm

We need to expose these rent-seekers who don’t care if we face fuel poverty because they will destroy our economy, Penny.  They need, and have, their friends in government.  Let’s expose them, too.  Hopefully, green pols will be voted out of office, ASAP!  

Comment by Penny Gray on November 15, 2019 at 5:08pm

These companies are sucking us dry and we're applauding them.  That's brainwashing and corporate politics hard at work.

Comment by Barbara Durkin on November 15, 2019 at 11:54am

Spot on, Willem!  U.S. taxpayers are positioned to fund jobs created in Denmark, Spain, Italy, China, and the Netherlands.  According to fishing industry reps, offshore wind will kills domestics jobs.

“Mayflower Wind, a joint venture of Shell and EDPR Offshore North America”

It appears Committee on Foreign Investments in the U.S. (CFIUS) is looking at a Mayflower Wind partner, EDP.

https://www.bloomberg.com/n...

EDP & EDPR ownership?

China Three Gorges is CTG (China) a Chinese state-owned utility

‘CTG bids for EDP, EDPR to be made simultaneously’

https://renewablesnow.com/n...

‘China Three Gorges halts talks with EU regulators on EDP takeover: sources’

“CTG launched a bid to take control of EDP, of which it already owns 23 percent, in May last year, but the transaction has moved at a slow pace.

Sources say CTG has yet to complete regulatory filings in Europe and the United States, cut, cont.-
https://www.reuters.com/art...

EDP Pac support Hillary Clinton President-

https://www.2ndvote.com/pre...

‘EDP head office raided in corruption probe’

Created: 02 June 2017

Officers of the Judicial Police raided the Lisbon offices of EDP, REN and the Boston Consulting Group this morning as part of an investigation into active and passive corruption.

https://www.algarvedailynew...

‘EDP shares drop after senior staff named in corruption probe’

www.ft.com/fastft/.../edp-s......

EDP chief denies wrongdoing over contracts under investigation ...

www.nasdaq.com/.../edp-chie.........

13 hours ago - EDP chief denies wrongdoing over contracts under investigation ... the local division of U.S. consulting firm Boston Consulting Group on Friday in a probe ... market, saying it suspected "crimes of active and passive corruption…”

‘EDP voting rights and shares to Mubadala’

EDP-CTG_Activos_Portugal_EN

PDF / 254 Kb

EDP-CTG_Activos_Portugal_EN

Change of qualified shareholding in EDP

Monday, January 30, 2017

IPIC notified EDP that 100% of its shares and inherent voting rights have been acquired by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC.

About Mubadala Investment Company

On 21 January 2017, the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as the ruler of Abu Dhabi, issued a law creating the Mubadala Investment Company, a company wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi.

- See more at: http://www.mubadala.com/en/......

Mubadala Development Company | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

www.mubadala.com/

Comment by Willem Post on November 15, 2019 at 10:55am

The subject is OFFSHORE WIND

The US, including all of New England, has near-zero experience and near-zero specialized infrastructures, unlike Europe which has invested tens of $billions in offshore wind infrastructures to train people, design, manufacture, build, transport, erect, maintain and operate 20,000 MW of wind turbines over the past 25 years with many more thousands of MW in the pipeline.

Any move by the US towards offshore wind will be built by foreigners (mostly European entities) from A to Z, with minor US input for window dressing, as happened with Vineyard Wind.

Naive, dreamy renewable folks in Disgusta Maine should not become too starry-eyed thinking Maine will be allowed to "win big" by those entities.

I have 35 years of experience designing and building large energy systems.

Comment by Willem Post on November 15, 2019 at 10:31am

See this article about Mayflower Wind and comments.

That project will have foreign entities do almost all of the project from A to Z, with hundreds of millions of dollars of US taxpayer subsidies.

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/next-steps-on-offshore-wind/

Comment by Willem Post on November 15, 2019 at 10:02am

The Seven Deadly Sins of China Regarding World Trade, per Peter Navarro, Trade Negotiator

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Sunday identified what he called the “seven deadly sins” that China must stop doing before the ongoing trade war with the U.S. will come to an end.

 

1) Stop stealing our intellectual property

2) Stop forcing technology transfers

3) Stop hacking our computers

4) Stop dumping into our markets and putting our companies out of business

5) Stop state-owned enterprises from heavy subsidies

6) Stop the [importation of] fentanyl

7) Stop currency manipulation,”

 

Wallace and Navarro briefly sparred over the extent to which tariffs on China will affect U.S. consumers. President Trump and his economic advisors have repeatedly characterized the tariffs as a “tax on China,” despite economists’ claims that the costs trickle down to consumers.

 

The list of Chinese misconduct, Navarro said, were “all structural changes,” and “the question is how much as a consumer would you be willing to pay to have that stop.”

 

“The point is you’re saying I don’t have to pay anything,” Wallace countered.

 

Navarro argued the tariffs have yet to directly affect Americans because “China has strategically gamed the tariffs by slashing their prices and devaluing their currency.”

 

He conceded, however, that “we have a bigger question” about whether tariffs in general trickle down to consumers.

Comment by Barbara Durkin on November 14, 2019 at 12:46pm

Thank you, Willem.  While wind, on land and sea, is the problem, due to its low energy density and to its threat to energy security, yet it’s viewed as a solution by some, in some places.  Those who favor it know little about it, or they benefit by public subsidies directed to wind projects, or they’re funded to count bird carcasses.

 

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 

Task Force membership is free. Please sign up today!

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/

© 2024   Created by Webmaster.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service