Reed & Reed's CEO shamelessly shilling and dutifully doubletalking

Comment

Comment by Gary Campbell on January 28, 2012 at 11:04am

Is there a way to determine whether wind cheerleaders like NRCM, Reed & Reed, Sewell, etc are insisting on buying 100% renewable energy themselves? That is, are THEY buying the renewable certificates? If not, their hypocrisy is palpable.

Comment by Harrison Roper on January 28, 2012 at 10:55am

So the Presidents of Reed & Reed and of the Sewall Company are in favor of wind power.  Why am I not surprised?

  Both of their companies are in the construction business.  While they correctly cite all the jobs created and the tax base increase  they do not mention the short-term character of the jobs, or the huge question of what is going to pay the taxes incurred and the financing from the  "increased tax base."

  Will the turbines generate enough power to pay for themselves? I think not.  Wind turbines have notoriously irregular and unpredictable power output.  There is an assumption that "installed capacity" is what you get from them - NO. The equating of "installed capacity" with actual power output assumes fueled facilities, and an infinite supply of fuel.  While this is true of fossil power plants, it is not true of wind farms.  Wind turbines just sit there, making their notoriously "skittery" power only when the wind blows.  Promoters say about "can produce"  such and such power. BUT that is only when the wind is perfect, 24/7.

  This rarely happens. Look out the window at tallest trees in your neighborhood.  The strength of the wind changes constantly.  Maine's inland wind resource is "poor to moderate" in most areas. Yes, it is better on hills and ridges and mountaintops, but it pales by comparison (brown  on the map) while out on the ocean it is superb (bright red). 

  Here are some examples. based on information gleaned from the Federal Energy Regulation Commission's website:  Mars Hill (apparently the best site in Maine)  produced 36%  of its installed capacity ("Capacity Factor") in 2009 and again in 2010.  Stetson I, in the boonies of Washington County, produced 23.4%  Cap[acity Factor in  2009 and 31% in 2010.  UMPI's highly touted campus windmill produced less than a 11% Capacity Factor when it was working;  Fox Islands Wind LLC, on coastal Vinalhaven,  is reported to have a 30.6 Capacity Factor in 2009 and a 28% Capacity Factor  in 2011.

   Considering this fractional power production rfecord, how will these things make enough money to pay their taxes and other expenses, let alone pay back the loans, interest  and decommissioning payments? And is anyone paying attention to the more expensive character of the back-up power that must be instantly available when the wind doesn't blow? Who is paying for that? I suspect industrial wind farms mostly exist to collect subsidies, grants, and tax breaks- and with the political climate these days, how long will that last? 

  I am hoping Gov. Paul LePage's policies will put a stop to industrial wind farm development in Maine.  If it can't stand on its own -well, goodbye, and don't let the door slam on the way out, please.

Harrison Roper  Houlton/Danforth