You know our position on wind energy and the other forms of snake oil being sold to us (with our own money) as “alternative energy.”  The Red Dirt Report has given us another angle on this taxpayer supported scam:  what happens to the wing turbines once they’ve outlived their usefulness?

Red Dirt Report:

Wind turbines used to generate electricity would not be built if there were no tax incentives from the State and Federal governments. Wind turbine blades wear out, generators wear out and the towers wear out.  There are not tax incentives to repair wind turbines. When these wind turbines are being constructed in Oklahoma and wear out and the companies that put them up are gone, who is going to take them down?

History tells us that all technology becomes obsolete and when technology that involves massive concrete pads and blades the size of airplane wings becomes obsolete and abandoned we will have another Tar Creek.  Many of the wind turbines placed in use in the 70’s and 80’s in California and Hawaii are now standing idle, broken and silent. Most owners are gone and/or bankrupt and the citizens of Hawaii and California are left with some very visible reminders of the lack of planning when the turbines were constructed. Read more…

Related:

Video: Clarity on Wind Energy

Whatever happened to the good old days of capitalism when an emerging industry sank or swam due to the merits and marketability of their product, not from subsidies from the government?

“AWEA welcomes the Administration’s announcement of $2.3 billion in tax credits for clean energy manufacturing and President Obama’s call to Congress to provide an additional $5 billion in such credits. The U.S. wind energy industry appreciates the speed with which the Administration is providing this support. These tax credits will be critical in sustaining manufacturing activity in the current economic downturn.

However, in order to maximize the renewable energy jobs expected as a result of these tax incentives, and to build up a strong renewable energy manufacturing base in the U.S., these companies need a more certain market to sell into. The industry is still vulnerable to the impacts of on-again off-again tax credit policies.”

Now, for a few facts:

Related:

Hot Air About Wind Power

Quote of the Day: Bode: “The Booming U.S. Wind Industry Has Much to Learn From Our European Counterparts”

Looks like Dave McClendon and Oklahoma Horizon received the Bode talking points! Be sure and click the related story to read the truth about European wind energy. From Oklahoma Horizon’s YouTube page:

“State leaders believe Oklahoma can lead the way in both research and the production of wind generating equipment which is why an Oklahoma delegation traveled across the Atlantic to the largest wind expo in Europe.”

Hat tip: OklahomaHorizonTV

Quote of the Day: Bode: “The Booming U.S. Wind Industry Has Much to Learn From Our European Counterparts”

We couldn’t agree more!

Related:

Et Tu Bode?

Are There Any “True Conservatives” Left?

Denise Bode: “The True Conservative?”

“I just returned from some international wind meetings in Europe with a fresh perspective on how our industry is viewed overseas.” Read more…

CNET News: Wind power outlook weak in Europe, report says

“Rising materials costs, engineering challenges, and installation snags threaten European goals to dramatically expand wind power, according to a report by Cambridge Energy Research Associates.

Installation hold-ups loom in addition to rising costs, according to the Cambridge Energy Research report. Modified barges are used to set up offshore turbines, but only one such vessel is available that can install a five-megawatt turbine, and it can take a year to prepare more of them.

And it called for more government help. Subsidies in Europe vary by nation and take the form of either clean-energy certificate trading programs or feed-in tariffs, through which utilities can buy renewables in advance at a set price.” Read more…

Wind Turbines in Europe Do Nothing for Emissions-Reduction Goals

“Despite Europe’s boom in solar and wind energy, CO2 emissions haven’t been reduced by even a single gram. Now, even the Green Party is taking a new look at the issue — as shown in e-mails obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE.

But there’s a catch: The climate hasn’t in fact profited from these developments. As astonishing as it may sound, the new wind turbines and solar cells haven’t prohibited the emission of even a single gram of CO2. Even more surprising, the European Union’s own climate change policies, touted as the most progressive in the world, are to blame.” Read more…

The reality of wind power – Extremely high cost and unreliably

“More on the very high cots, high subsidy ant the unreliability of wind power. In this case from Spain where the government have subsidized wind power with OVER 90 % over the market price!

And solar power has been subsidized with OVER 575 % over the market price!

Isn’t it fantastic! Subsides of over 90% and 575% over market price!

I mean with subsides of over 90% and 575% I can turn any lousy money losing business into profit for my self but at a HUGE cost to society and the taxpayers.” Read more…

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”

From Examiner.com:

Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Fleece the Public Association, will be a participant at Bill Clinton Crony John Podesta’s National Clean Energy Project: “Building the New Economy” forum on Monday, February 23, 2009. Read more…

From Energy Current:

Bode served on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission from 1997 to 2007, resigning to become CEO of the American Clean Skies Foundation. Bode resigned as CEO of the American Clean Skies Foundation in November to succeed Randall S. Swisher, who retired after serving 19 years with the AWEA.

During the early days of Bode’s leadership, the wind industry has been seeking a portion of the proposed $825 billion economic recovery package being considered by Congress. The proposal includes tax breaks for renewable energy investment and production. Read more…

OK Legislators’ Blog: Rep. Murphey: “Opposing Debt in a Debt-Happy Society”

“The hope is that provisions such as those included in the House stimulus bill to restore the effectiveness of the tax incentives for renewable energy will quickly become law and provide the capital needed to continue to build projects.” -AWEA’s CEO, Denise Bode

We all remember from our high school English classes the Latin phrase Julius Caesar uttered in Shakespeare’s play of the same name when he realized he was being betrayed by his loyal friend Brutus: “Et tu Brute?” (”Even you, Brutus?”)

Well that’s how we felt this morning when we received this tip in our inbox. Ms. Bode was a speaker yesterday in Washington at the “Green Jobs National Conference” which was sponsored by a Democratic Party front group called the Blue Green Alliance. Check out the roster of invited speakers:

Leo W. Gerard, international president, United Steelworkers.

Achim Steiner, United Nations Environment Program executive director, United Nations Under-Secretary General.

Larry Cohen, president, Communications Workers of America.

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn. (Our first Muslim Congressman)

Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Peter Lehner, executive director, Natural Resources Defense Council.

Related:

Video: Bode: “We’re Really Pretty Exited About President Obama”

Bode’s New Organization Sponsors “Green Inaugural”

OCOLLY.COM: Hargis aims for a greener OSU

Video: American Wind Energy Association CEO Denise Bode’s comments at the “Green Inaugural”. (@1:32 mark)