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Denise Bode, the American Wind Energy Association’s chief propagandist, is still trying to sell wind power snake oil to the public and Congress. Monday, along with 200 other groups looking to get their share of the stimulus package largess, endorsed a national renewable electricity standard (RES).
“With the strong focus on the economy in Washington right now, it’s important for Congress to recognize the importance of the RES to our economic recovery said Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA. We have seen how using more renewable energy creates jobs —wind created 35,000 jobs last year — and several studies have shown that a national RES will lower consumer electric bills as well. A national renewable electricity standard is one of the most important steps we can take to encourage businesses to invest in clean energy and create thousands of new jobs right here in the U.S.”
As we’ve stated countless times on this blog, we’re in favor of utilizing ALL forms of alternative energy -including nuclear. The problem for us arises when companies or organizations want their product subsidized by the government. We believe – along with the Heritage Foundation – that the marketplace is the best determinant of who survives and who doesn’t.
Ben Lieberman, Senior Policy Analyst for Energy and Environment issues at Heritage writes,
“The only reason why renewable electricity needs to be mandated in the first place is that these alternatives are far too expensive to compete otherwise. In effect, Washington is forcing costlier energy options on the public. This is particularly true for certain states, especially those in the Southeast, where the conditions are not conducive to wind power.
Moreover, these sources of electricity are intermittent and unreliable and thus pose problems beyond the added costs. And like ethanol, renewable sources of electricity enjoy substantial tax breaks; thus, the mandate will cost Americans both as taxpayers and as ratepayers.”
Are there any “true conservatives” left?
Related:
OKPNS: 9/13/08 WSJ Letters: “The Pickens Plan: Visionary or Blowin’ in the Wind?”
Video: Bode: “We’re Really Pretty Exited About President Obama”
2 Comments
1. stuart replies at 26th March 2009, 10:39 am :
First, Oklahoma and the Federal government subsidizes the two leading source of power generation in Oklahoma to the tune of something like 95:1, Coal and natural gas is subsidized $95 for every $1 alternatives get. Oklahoma through its energy policies mandate that power in the state comes from these two sources which make up 94% of all the electricity in OK.
These policies prevent farmers from having another source of income. The revenue form wind leases has revived rural economies but not in OK, because the law makers mandate Coal; OK’s leading energy generator. Oh… and there is no coal in Oklahoma, but the state spend billions on coal to out of state companies. There are vast wind resources in OK, which can if added to the state’s energy mix will, lower the cost of electricity for the entire state, and provide revenue for rural economies.
Never mind that wind power is clean. According to Department of Energy, Coal and Natural gas use 1.7 trillion gallons of water a year. And aren’t we in a drought, why are we wasting all this water? While the water passes through the coal plant it picks up mercury. Mercury is very toxic. A baby that is exposed to mercury will have server brain damage. See the march of dimes website to learn more.
So, what is the more important value, protecting the big rich out of state power plant owners who already control the electrical prices, or providing a hard working local communities the tools they need to harvest their natural resource, that protect families, by keeping the environment clean, and provide jobs to rural economies?
2. Noah replies at 27th March 2009, 6:53 am :
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander”
Oil, Coal and Nuclear have been subsidized for years and this energy “subsidy” precedent has been set on the national level.
How would you expect other forms of energy to compete against subsidized energies?
Additionally, your claim that wind energy is more expensive is just not true. An average 100 MW wind farm will cost approximately $300 million dollars and your resource over time (not including operations and maintenance) is free.
Do you know how much it costs to build a new nuclear power plant and/or coal plant? We are talking billions and billions of dollars. These energies just can’t compete against a well sited wind farm.
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