Comments - Why Mass. Lags On Gov Deval Patrick’s Wind Power Goal - Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine2024-03-28T10:13:15Zhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=4401701%3ABlogPost%3A54567&xn_auth=noI know that cap-and-trade is…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-25:4401701:Comment:545772014-03-25T17:51:10.662ZKathy Shermanhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/KathleenASherman
<p>I know that cap-and-trade is a big part of it, and the Massachusetts RPS mandates have been put as "cap and trade" by proponents of renewable - as a model for California of all things (full circle - bring those rolling blackouts on!). However, at least for the ISO-NE sector, I don"t think there is even that much dirty coal left, although oil might come back for when natural gas is constrained. Our use of petroleum is for transport!! We will just drive more electricity guzzlers like NSA,…</p>
<p>I know that cap-and-trade is a big part of it, and the Massachusetts RPS mandates have been put as "cap and trade" by proponents of renewable - as a model for California of all things (full circle - bring those rolling blackouts on!). However, at least for the ISO-NE sector, I don"t think there is even that much dirty coal left, although oil might come back for when natural gas is constrained. Our use of petroleum is for transport!! We will just drive more electricity guzzlers like NSA, banking data centers, etc either out of the country entirely or to big coal-consuming states like Texas. I will try to share your faith that things are changing, but the news on the transmission plans has me pretty bummed even though I had been seeing it coming. Maybe the only good news from the last month or so is that the parent of Iberdola didn't consent to one of the projects in the MA utility long-term contracts.</p>
<p>But then I see thesolutionsproject.org - only checked Maine, but it was 35% land-based and 35% offshore wind for 100% renewable by 2050. I swear the aim of this is to get all the people out of the boonies where they were enjoying their life and wildlife into the city.</p> The buying and selling of ren…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-25:4401701:Comment:545762014-03-25T16:12:15.630ZMartha thackerhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/Marthathacker246
<p>The buying and selling of renewable energy credits is what cap and trade is all about. Not helping the environment, but Wall Street.Maybe there are technicalities over terms used ..i.e. the way the bankers have ripped off the American people by technicalities. Everything is legal for the corporations until fairly recently when Duke Energy lost over the bird problem. This was the signal that things are changing and more shall I say honest.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The reason that upper state ME and NY…</p>
<p>The buying and selling of renewable energy credits is what cap and trade is all about. Not helping the environment, but Wall Street.Maybe there are technicalities over terms used ..i.e. the way the bankers have ripped off the American people by technicalities. Everything is legal for the corporations until fairly recently when Duke Energy lost over the bird problem. This was the signal that things are changing and more shall I say honest.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The reason that upper state ME and NY have been targeted for wind farms is that PPAs with foreign countries do not require energy to be produced. Canada....</p> It's not true that Mass doesn…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-25:4401701:Comment:547062014-03-25T13:13:38.257ZKathy Shermanhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/KathleenASherman
It's not true that Mass doesn't have the renewable resource- solar photovoltaic build up very quickly and can be placed near the population centers, rather than the more sparsely populated conserved parts of the state. Maine isn't a Saudi at number 25 for wind, and Mass is further down at 35th, but has already sacrificed 24 sq. mi. plus of Nantucket Sound and federal leases were already granted for massive wind offshore, even though the wind speeds there are likely not competitive with the very…
It's not true that Mass doesn't have the renewable resource- solar photovoltaic build up very quickly and can be placed near the population centers, rather than the more sparsely populated conserved parts of the state. Maine isn't a Saudi at number 25 for wind, and Mass is further down at 35th, but has already sacrificed 24 sq. mi. plus of Nantucket Sound and federal leases were already granted for massive wind offshore, even though the wind speeds there are likely not competitive with the very tip of Maine or the North Sea.<br />
<br />
The RECs don't have to be 'cap and trade'. It has been pointed out that coal-generators already had to meet tough Clean Air standards enacted in Mass 20 years ago, and cheap gas had driven some out. New England's nuclear generators are really precarious. But we are not going to replace base load with wind and solar and hydro - look at Ontario.<br />
<br />
What I question is these executive branch decrees, and legislation written by the exec. The Governor's conferences have continually come up with bad deals for everyone.<br />
<br />
NStar had been buying its wind energy for RPS compliance and 'green rates' from troubled wind farms in NY. The 'green rates' aren't even that much more and the difference was tax-deductible. But anybody can buy RECs, so my fear is that investors (speculators) will manipulate the markets, leaving consumers even more at the mercy of volatile rates.<br />
<br />
It certainly is not as simple as making some LOCAL energy, the story sold to us. Massachusetts could be the Sa…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-24:4401701:Comment:546162014-03-24T18:10:23.261ZMike DiCensohttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/MikeDiCenso
<p>Massachusetts could be the Saudi Arabia of Wind...leave ME alone!!!</p>
<p>Massachusetts could be the Saudi Arabia of Wind...leave ME alone!!!</p> http://www.governorswindenerg…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-24:4401701:Comment:547022014-03-24T14:55:07.530ZDan McKayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DanMcKay
<p><a href="http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/?p=8228" target="_blank">http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/?p=8228</a></p>
<p>Selling undelivered and unreliable wind power. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/?p=8228" target="_blank">http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/?p=8228</a></p>
<p>Selling undelivered and unreliable wind power. </p> How can the RECs etc. even be…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-24:4401701:Comment:545712014-03-24T14:48:45.708ZMartha thackerhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/Marthathacker246
<p>How can the RECs etc. even be legal when cap and trade did not pass muster through the legislative process in DC?</p>
<p>Since power is lost for every mile in transmission, ,how could ME wind farms even help supply the enormous population in Mass. anyway?</p>
<p></p>
<p>I think the money was in RECs to start with and the power lines aren't even needed. And in more current SEC reports under risk factors, First Wind says lack of transmission access is a good thing. Some policos are being…</p>
<p>How can the RECs etc. even be legal when cap and trade did not pass muster through the legislative process in DC?</p>
<p>Since power is lost for every mile in transmission, ,how could ME wind farms even help supply the enormous population in Mass. anyway?</p>
<p></p>
<p>I think the money was in RECs to start with and the power lines aren't even needed. And in more current SEC reports under risk factors, First Wind says lack of transmission access is a good thing. Some policos are being caught with their pants down. Poor MPUC is having to take the brunt of the accusations /condemnations. They weren't even asked to come to the hearing between US govt. and FERC over the building of Stetson I ...because there was no room on the grid for any new generators.</p>
<p>Our current wannabe candidates for gov. seem to be jumping on the band wagon after it is stalled and in a questionable neighborhood at that. Sad to be so locked in. Politics is changing and some people don't even know it. Gov. Cuomo could very likely be facing opposition in NY from a progressive base that sees him as letting them down. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Rep. Mike Michaud, think long and hard about who you jump in the band wagon with.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> What these people in Mass. do…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-24:4401701:Comment:548072014-03-24T14:12:39.892ZDan McKayhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/DanMcKay
<p>What these people in Mass. don’t realize is that with no renewable generation in state to satisfy their RPS, they must buy renewable energy credits to meet the standards. These RECs basically double the supply costs of electricity, therefore, the very people who shunned the “ green “ offer from their utilities are having it shoved right down their throats. While, in Maine, where intermittent generation takes place, the costs of transmission and reliability go up and the PUC sets up long term…</p>
<p>What these people in Mass. don’t realize is that with no renewable generation in state to satisfy their RPS, they must buy renewable energy credits to meet the standards. These RECs basically double the supply costs of electricity, therefore, the very people who shunned the “ green “ offer from their utilities are having it shoved right down their throats. While, in Maine, where intermittent generation takes place, the costs of transmission and reliability go up and the PUC sets up long term contracts with renewable generators that adds additional costs to in State customers.</p> This is our chance to comment…tag:www.windtaskforce.org,2014-03-24:4401701:Comment:548052014-03-24T13:58:11.063ZGary Campbellhttps://www.windtaskforce.org/profile/GaryCampbell
<p>This is our chance to comment on how the people of Massachusetts see Maine as their personal energy plantation. So long as Maine allows First Wind to destroy its mountains, lakes and tourism economy, they're happy buying the electricity so they can feel they've done their part to save the planet.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>This is our chance to comment on how the people of Massachusetts see Maine as their personal energy plantation. So long as Maine allows First Wind to destroy its mountains, lakes and tourism economy, they're happy buying the electricity so they can feel they've done their part to save the planet.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>