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Thursday, August 06, 2009
Thank You, Senator Goss
"Senate votes to ban mountain wind turbines"
That's the headline posted today at the Winston-Salem Journal.
Senator Steve Goss was the lone vote in the N.C. Senate against this wrong-headed attempt to hobble alternative energy.
This very bad bill has yet to be calendared in the N.C. House and probably won't be considered until next year.
That's the headline posted today at the Winston-Salem Journal.
Senator Steve Goss was the lone vote in the N.C. Senate against this wrong-headed attempt to hobble alternative energy.
This very bad bill has yet to be calendared in the N.C. House and probably won't be considered until next year.
Labels: Steve Goss, wind power
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Taking the Wind Out of Alternative Energy
The attempt to cripple wind power in the North Carolina mountains continues apace in the N.C. General Assembly, led principally by two mountain Democrats, Martin Nesbitt of Buncombe and Joe Sam Queen of Haywood counties.
What's worse (we won't quite say "nefarious" yet) is that the attempt to ban the wind generators that might actually produce some serious alternative energy is being wrapped up in a seemingly high-minded environmentalist doctrine ("the mountain views, O my brethren!") while in reality it serves the interests of the worst polluters on the planet, Big Oil and Big Coal, industries which are openly hostile to wind power.
The big "tell" in this proposed legislation is that the bill, as introduced by Steve Goss in March, was originally designed specifically to exempt wind turbines from provisions of the "ridge law." But other senators got their hands on it and completely reversed its thrust, first to ban effectively wind power in the mountains ... now merely to cripple it decisively. For example, the bill currently would severely limit how much wind-generated power the Big Boys like Duke Energy would have to buy for their monopolized grids. That's a sweet deal for Duke.
If there is a justifiable concern about huge wind farms invading our mountain ridges, give counties the (ahem) zoning power to control their location (as Watauga has already done).
It's transparent what political ideology is leading the fight against wind energy. Just take a look at any of the jillion John Locke Foundation websites and blogs in the state (like this and this). Their "free market" fundamentalism includes an impulse to squeeze the life out of anything that might free us from fossil fuels.
What's worse (we won't quite say "nefarious" yet) is that the attempt to ban the wind generators that might actually produce some serious alternative energy is being wrapped up in a seemingly high-minded environmentalist doctrine ("the mountain views, O my brethren!") while in reality it serves the interests of the worst polluters on the planet, Big Oil and Big Coal, industries which are openly hostile to wind power.
The big "tell" in this proposed legislation is that the bill, as introduced by Steve Goss in March, was originally designed specifically to exempt wind turbines from provisions of the "ridge law." But other senators got their hands on it and completely reversed its thrust, first to ban effectively wind power in the mountains ... now merely to cripple it decisively. For example, the bill currently would severely limit how much wind-generated power the Big Boys like Duke Energy would have to buy for their monopolized grids. That's a sweet deal for Duke.
If there is a justifiable concern about huge wind farms invading our mountain ridges, give counties the (ahem) zoning power to control their location (as Watauga has already done).
It's transparent what political ideology is leading the fight against wind energy. Just take a look at any of the jillion John Locke Foundation websites and blogs in the state (like this and this). Their "free market" fundamentalism includes an impulse to squeeze the life out of anything that might free us from fossil fuels.
Labels: John Locke Foundation, Steve Goss, wind power
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
What's Up With This Guy?
Senator Charles W. Albertson, who represents the N.C. coastal plain counties of Duplin, Lenoir, and Sampson counties, wants to ban the development of wind power in the mountains, because (sez he) "We know that if you put a bunch of windmills up there, it's going to change the aesthetics and mar the landscape."His bill would actually ban -- ban! -- the practice of hooking wind turbines up to the power grid, so that excess energy can be sold to the Big Boys.
Such a proposed law has prompted some state bloggers to speculate that Sen. Albertson has some coal mine stock tucked away somewhere, or that he represents the worst of an older generation that never left the 19th century, let alone with 20th.
FOOTNOTE
When last heard from on this site, Sen. Albertson was also responsible for blocking a move to increase the number of poultry plant inspectors. Poultry plants are among the more notorious violators of NC labor laws. They also gave Sen. Albertson some $25,000 in campaign contributions.
So Albertson has a history of being something of a dick.
Labels: Charles Albertson, wind power
Monday, June 22, 2009
The New Wind Generator at ASU
Went up on Friday. To get a sense of the scale, that's a man standing at the top of the tower.Starting in 2004, the students at Appalachian State University have voted overwhelmingly to "tax" themselves $5 per student per semester to fund the Renewable Energy Initiative (REI), its mission "to reduce the environmental impact of Appalachian State University by replacing the university's existing sources of energy with cleaner forms of renewable energy...." Some 82% of students voting in 2004 supported the initiative. Last year 93% of students voted "yes!"
This wind generator is the latest installation on campus funded by that $5 assessment. Previous projects have included biodiesel/solar/photovoltaic projects, with more to come. This generator will produce an estimated 150,000 - 200,000 kilowatt hours annually, enough to power 10-15 homes. (Lots of technical background info at this REI page, including some very cool simulated movies of how the generator will look to a person driving up Rivers Street and a 360-degree fly-around of the site behind the Broyhill Inn.)
Labels: Appalachian State University, sustainable energy, wind power
Monday, June 23, 2008
One of the Good Guys
Dennis Scanlin, honored by the U.S. Department of Energy for his pioneering work and advocacy for wind energy.He says there are some 50,000 sites in western NC suitable for small-scale wind turbines that could produce enough power for a home or farm. It's an alternative future, and Scanlin has envisioned it. They say you can't get there unless you can imagine what it's like, and Scanlin has done that. He had a major hand in drafting Watauga County's wind turbine ordinance, the first of its kind in the state.
Plus he's just a hell of a nice guy.
Labels: Dennis Scanlin, wind power
Monday, June 16, 2008
A Mighty Wind Coming
'Bout time somebody stated the obvious about the future of wind power in the NC mountains:
We need to get on with it!
"There is an opportunity to install wind [power] in the mountains. We want a clear policy made so wind developers can know where to go and what is off limits. The problem right now is that things are so unclear that there's very little effort for wind development anywhere." -- John D. Wilson, research director, "Cornerstones: Building a Secure Foundation for North Carolina's Energy Future," interviewed in the Watauga Democrat
We need to get on with it!
Labels: energy independence, wind power
