Voices--and Potatoes--in Common

We here in Maine have something in common with our neighbors to the west, in Idaho.

We are both northern states.

We both have low density populations.

We both claim potatoes as a major product/export (I dare say ours might have a slight edge, but I'll not disparage those spuds 'from away'. They're quite delicious, too!).

:o)

AND-- we are both inhabited by no-nonsense folks who dare to ask questions when something doesn't seem to quite... add...up.

The photo above is another advertisement which was run this week in Idaho publications. Bear in mind... this is from Idaho Power Company! Below is the text of the ad:
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Something is missing from the conversation about energy.

For nearly a century, Idaho Power has been committed to clean energy. Today, about half the energy in our portfolio is generated from hydro, wind, solar, biomass and geothermal. We are proud of our small carbon footprint and a history of responsible energy that rivals any electric utility in the nation.

How Do You Make Wind Energy Seem Less Expensive?

When special interest groups and wind developers talk about the cost of wind energy, remember that the profits go into their pockets, while the costs come from your pockets. To arrive at their numbers, developers have to resort to the fiction that their wind machines produce energy at the very same rate as more traditional sources like hydro or gas.

But we all know the wind doesn’t blow all the time. By law, electric utilities have to provide fair-priced electricity on a 24/7 basis so, for every megawatt of intermittent energy on the system, additional capacity is needed that’s ready to deploy the moment the wind stops blowing.

In the simplest of terms, special interest groups and wind developers are asking you to pay more for a less reliable product. And that just isn’t right.

Sensible. Dependable. Responsible. It’s the right thing.
getpluggedin.com
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Just imagine what it would be like if Central Maine Power Company or Bangor Hydro were raising these same issues. Imagine if they were demanding common sense answers!

Write to your electric company today. Write to your Legislators today.

It's time to put a stop to this foolishness.

Wind. It's expensive. It's unreliable. It's intermittent. It's not 'green'. It causes health problems when sited too close to dwellings. It causes loss of value to real estate within 2 miles. It kills raptors, migratory birds, and bats. It's not able to be stored. And don't forget: it's expensive, unreliable, intermittent and unable to be stored.

Grid-scale wind energy is a fool's plan. Let's take a cue from our friends in Idaho. Let's not be taken for fools.

Idaho Wind

As I've already mentioned, other states (as well as countries all around the globe) are fighting the same wind battles we are. Some folks are playing catch-up-- just getting their 'wind bearings' and others are strides ahead of where we are.

World-wide, there are hundreds and hundreds of citizens' groups waging war against the corporate wind lobby.

Below is an excerpt from a letter I received from a 'wind warrior' in Idaho. And above is an interesting ad from the same state...This is the wording, in case you can't make it out:

"Something is missing from the conversation about energy.

"For nearly a century, Idaho Power has been committed to clean energy. Today about half the energy in our portfolio is generated from hydro, wind, solar, biomass and geothermal. We are proud of our small carbon footprint and history of responsible energy that rivals any electric utility in the nation.

"What Happens When The Wind Doesn’t Blow?

"For the most part, people work by day and rest at night. Wind, however, sometimes does the opposite. Or it blows one minute and not the next, so integrating wind energy into the grid that brings power to our homes requires facilities that can quickly adjust to moment-to-moment fluctuations in wind activity. Unfortunately, traditional generating plants can take hours to come on-line and off, so they are not suited to the task. Integrating all of this variable capacity also undermines the time-tested, science- and technology-driven, 20-year look-forward plan that is required of all utilities. And that just isn’t right.

"Sensible. Dependable. Responsible. It’s the Right Thing.

"To learn more and make your voice heard, visit www.GetPluggedIn.com. Together, we can get wind back on a responsible track." (I haven't had time to check out that link...guess I'd better do that, huh?)

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From Idaho:

"Our moratorium bill did not move out of House Committee by 1 vote -- so disappointing. We tried to push a siting bill through during the last week of the legislative session, but it did not move out of Committee by 3 votes. However, we did have a win. In the final moments of the legislative session, Idaho's sales tax rebate for wind did not pass on the Senate for by 1 vote. That was it -- then the session was over! This was huge! I testified in the Senate Committee. When it moved out of committee, I actually left the capitol building because I could not bear to watch the Senate floor debate -- I thought it would pass for sure. I was at lunch having a quick bite to eat before I made the long trip home when our lobbyist called and said that it failed on the floor by 1 vote. I guess the Senator who was the Chairman of the committee where I testified (and 1 other person against it) was the only Senator that debated against the bill -- our lobbyist said his debate was heroic! Of course, I went back over to the capitol building after I got the news so that I could shake the lawmakers' hands. It was incredible. Our tiny group and 1 lobbyist beat their army of lobbyists (worth $1 million). It was a great day in Idaho!

"Is your legislative session still going? Did Maine propose a moratorium?"

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Maine's Legislature is still in session. And we DID write a moratorium bill, but today it was voted by the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee as "Ought Not To Pass". However, the EUT Committee is holding another work session on Tuesday, and we have hopes that they will "tweak" LD 1366 (And Act to Update the Maine Wind Energy Act...), vote that it "Ought To Pass" and support the wishes and the will of the people of Maine rather than the corporate wind lobby. There are too many very real problems with industrial wind; from the sometimes-questionable conduct of developers and government officials, to the health effects of the turbines, and the impact to property values and the environment. And on and on and on. As frustrated as we become and as hopeless as we sometimes feel, there are many good men and women in Augusta who simply didn't know all the facts behind 'wind' when they passed LD 2283 in 2008.

Please help my contacting the members of the EUT Committee and ask that they support our legislation.