Author Topic: Legislative threat to US wind development (Read 710 times)

phil b · « **on:** May 22, 2007, 07:43:48 PM »

Wind Energy Works! friends:

A new effort in Washington DC poses a serious threat to wind development - both future and existing. It threatens not only any federal RPS, but also state RPS requirements would be affected if Chairman Nick Rahall, D-WV, has his way. Highlights:

His provision makes new wind development illegal until new federal rules (Fish & Wildlife Service) are established. We know from the Minerals Management Service experience this can take a while - MMS expects theirs to take 2 ½ years, way over the original 270 days prescribed.

Existing facilities must shut down within 6 months of new rules, until certified.

Any violation is a criminal offense with a $50,000 fine or a year in prison. Small residential wind turbines, as well as large, are required to cease operating or face criminal penalties.

Once new rules are passed, every single wind turbine will require certification - government staff would have to evaluate each turbine application.

This Bill is moving with Lightning Speed. Although it was made available only last week, a House Committee on Natural Resources mark-up session where the bill will be formally considered has been scheduled for June 6. A hearing is scheduled for this Wednesday.

Please go to http://capwiz.com/windenergy/issues/alert/?alertid=9773201&queueid=%5bcapwiz:queue_id%5d for a sample letter and action request. I have also attached a fact sheet but list talking points below. For a list of who's on the committee, click here.

Let me know if you have questions, and keep me in the loop with any efforts or feedback.

Talking points:

No other form of electricity generation has even been subject to a Fish and Wildlife Service certification process, although others may have far more serious impacts on wildlife. Mountain top removal and the deposit of the resulting fill in river valleys is one example of a practice related to the generation of electricity that might be expected to harm wildlife, but would not be addressed by Subtitle D. Meanwhile, the National Academy of Sciences recently concluded: "Clearly, bird deaths caused by wind turbines are a minute fraction of the total anthropogenic bird deaths - less than 0.003% in 2003 based on the estimates of Erickson et. al. (2005)." House cats kill more than 1000 times as many birds each year as wind turbines.

Wind Energy is Green Energy. Wind energy requires no mining or drilling for fuel, no fuel transportation, no hazardous waste disposal, and no water use; and wind energy generates electricity without toxic pollutants like mercury, without greenhouse pollution, and of course without the conventional pollutants that cause smog and acid rain. Is this really an energy sector Congress should close down, for environmental reasons?

Wind Energy has a Crucial Role to Play in Solving the Climate Problem. Wind power is not only emissions free, it is also readily available and cost effective.

Failure to stop this provision is a missed opportunity to bring the rural economic development benefits and domestic energy diversity wind provides.

Susan Williams Sloan

American Wind Energy Association

Wind Energy Works!

ph 512/220-9063

m 202/906-9847

www.windenergyworks.org

www.awea.org

phil b · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2007, 01:50:04 PM »

The fact sheet is in my files. "Rahall bill fact sheet"

chadking · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2007, 08:49:48 PM »

Some people are nuts. I sent a message to my senator.

Countryboy · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2007, 08:50:30 PM »

SEC. 235. DEFINITIONS.

(4) WIND PROJECT- The term `wind project' means any project in the United States that uses wind to generate electric power.

Hmm. So what's the definition of a "project" anyway?

And what is the definition of "United States"? (In Congressional legislation, "United States" is usually defined as what people commonly call "Federal Zone". If it's not a Federal Zone, it isn't considered to be a part of United States for that code section.)

Nevertheless, it's still more useless government BS we could all live without. It sounds a lot like Socialism - so much for the land of the Free.

electrondady1 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2007, 09:13:46 PM »

smells just like fascism to me ,

big business in control of power production.

individuals with there own power source are independent and cannot be controlled properly.

better look out America !

jht1057 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2007, 09:21:45 PM »

Hello All,

Anyone here know about lobbyists?

We are all feeling the pain of inflated gas prices. The US government is pushing for new energy alternatives, but the oil companies, utility companies, ect. are in a panic fearing lost revenues and angry stockholders. The alternative energy industry is being bought up and controlled by the very companies threatened by the new technology. Now our government wants to over regulate and legislate the technology because the big money lobbyists say they will lose money because of it.

That is why we are paying more for gas, solar & wind generation equipment, ect.. Who here remembers what solar cost 10 years ago, 5 years ago, and now today? The technology is being bought and controlled by the very people who oppose it.

Fish and wildlife? What a great smoke screen for what is coming when we are all forced to bend over!!

MattR · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2007, 09:28:32 PM »

"A new effort in Washington DC poses a serious threat to wind development - both future and existing. It threatens not only any federal RPS, but also state RPS requirements would be affected if Chairman Nick Rahall, D-WV, has his way."

Hate to say this, yet it has begun well before Chairman Nick Rahall has introduced this at Washington DC. A link to a previous post of mine asking for hints on how to get around the County ordinances where I reside is at http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/4/17/4432/98567 and to read about the ordinance head to this link http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wp-content/uploads/shawanoordinance5-16-05.doc

So in other words, I am feeling the pain before the rest of the Country probably will. Just one more way our Government shows us how much of our freedom that they can take away from us in this "Land of the Free".

Even if I am already feeling the pain regarding this topic, I hope it gets stopped somewhere in our system. We are already WAY too dependant on other Countries for sources of energy that it only makes sense to use what everybody has, wind. Makes you wonder how big of a genny you could utilize in any government building considering all the hot wind blowing around in there...lol.

MattR

sunuser · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2007, 08:31:17 AM »

I believe an item that needs to be added to the objection to the legislative threat to wind power is it would affect all the farms and ranches in the nation that utilize wind mills to pump water. I have been around wind mills on farms for over 50 years and have never seen a bird hurt by one of them.

thefinis · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2007, 08:46:40 AM »

What ya'll thought that the wind was free for the taking?

A close look at commercial wind energy will show that most of the units and owner/operators are either the feds or big power/oil companies. We have power regs that were snuck in here at Texas that I recently came across. I guess it might have seemed like a good idea but the result is that it limits access to the power grid. All the power lines and electric companies have been classed as generation, transmission or distribution. Big wind turbines need to hook to a transmission line but these aren't available in most rual areas. If a wind turbine is hooked to a distribution line it can not exceed the current usage on that line because to back feed a distribution line to the main transmission line would make it a transmission line and it can't be a transmission line if it is a distribution line. Don't you just love rules and regs.

Hope that we get a new group in DC that leans toward RE especially homemade. It should be an interesting next 4-5 years.

Finis

jimjjnn · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2007, 09:40:22 AM »

Wish we could throw the whole bunch of politicians out of office. Seems to me that they are more interested in preserving their positions in D.C. rather than serving their constituents.

The McCain-Feingold bill on Incumbency Protection is just the start. Now you are seeing bills to restrict private wind energy. Just another way to control the citizens in my view

whatsnext · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2007, 11:44:24 AM »

This should really be "front paged" so that no one misses it. Every member here should write their congressman to oppose this.

John....

CmeBREW · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2007, 02:11:58 PM »

I just wrote my Congressman, for what it's worth. It is nothing more than big energy corruption at it's worst. They want to own the wind also. It really does sicken me beyond words. Once a WORTHLESS law is passed it is about impossible to revoke. I wish we all could do more to stop this.

zubbly · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2007, 03:03:38 PM »

simple solution to all this government oposition.

simply invite all against wind energy to a single meeting (all expenses paid of coarse)

once they are all inside, lock the door and set fire to the building.

end of problem.

i always admired the american people for not taking bull$#|+ laying down. not time for them to lay down now.

maybe even a good old american hanging of the trouble makers would make a good example and rid the system of the maggots who oppose those of us that are doing good to this world.

nuff said,

zubbly

winston · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2007, 03:17:51 PM »

On a perhaps related issue the FEDs are proposing draconian regulation of propane facilities ---in the name of protecting us from 'terrists'

anything over 7500 pounds would be strictly regulated --and may reguire federal inspections for safty

This is rediculous--I know farmers that have this much propane storage

This windmill law is all about control of us rabble

"they" (and yes, there is a "they") are slowly and surely putting us into a tight little straight jackets

tax a guy and threaten him with prison time for using used fryer oil in his old diesel Volkswagon Rabbit (Illinois-- thread here somewhere)

It is Fascism

Corporate control of government to make them rich and keep us poor

Fish and wildlife

HHHhhhmmmm

What about all those dams out west

oh nevermind I'm sure they never so much as hurt a minnow

winston · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2007, 03:24:02 PM »

zubbly

I hate to say this but the 'average American' is not only taking it lying down, they're buying and applying the vaseline too

Most are so overworked, stressed out and dumbed down they don't know what to believe

so they listen to Hannity, limbagh, oreilly or some other shill for the corporatocracy and think they have an opinion

It is going to get very much worse before it gets better IMO

Spdlmt150 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 23, 2007, 05:06:04 PM »

Unfortunately the "average american" isn't even aware of what is happening, let alone even feebly equipped to act upon it. Rights are being stripped away daily. Politicians serve themselves & strive to maintain their positions at any expense. Citizens try to deal with their little existence and prefer not to be bothered with anything outside it until it imposes on their lifestyle, and at that point it is far too late.

I hope all here contact their rep as I just have, and make every effort to get as many people as possible to do the same.

Pics of the mini-axial project will be coming soon!

cyplesma · « **Reply #16 on:** May 23, 2007, 06:05:10 PM »

I don't know if it'll do any good, but I also created a post on HBO's Bill Maher's board. As well as my rep. I'll pass it on to my Senators as well. Sometimes I like to send them stuff like this in writing via FAX. I have problems with the US mail. well, I have problems with banks, mortgage companies, etc, etc, etc. 8 ) but I'm not going crazy against anybody, but there is a lot of push towards anti guns as well. Bullets are still the best defense against criminals of any size, shape, etc, etc, etc. 8 )

cyplesma · « **Reply #17 on:** May 23, 2007, 06:16:05 PM »

oh if any body didn't pay attention, Al Gore had to get permission from his neighbors to put solar panels on the roof of one of his mansions. I would have thought he would have owned enough land that the only way his neighbors could see his mansion is if they used a telescope. 8 ) I only advocate in violence in self defense, situations like if one of the two girls that Cho first shot had a weapon, maybe one of them could have shot him before he left them for dead before he went on his rampage. Oh for those of you that really want to hear a bad tax idea, my governor (MI) wants to put a tax on foods in vending machines. but not on the same food on any store shelf (not yet anyway). More wonderful money grabbing logic. This really isn't the place, but maybe someday I'll start yet another anti big brother web site and explain a few more things about the problem with lawyers (inherently part of the judicial branch, and serving in the legislative branch, and 1992 - 2000 serving as president, executive branch) problem is called separation of powers, but they were quick to point out separation between church and state, beat goes on and on...............

tecker · « **Reply #18 on:** May 23, 2007, 06:46:23 PM »

This just drives home the fact that you don't have to have any intelligences to be in public service . His Mommy alway feed him the locking chow and made shure he was protected from the truth . Now he is task to protect the blue chips And his whole life is a lie . Promoting stupidity and poisioning everything he touches .

shagy · « **Reply #19 on:** May 23, 2007, 08:10:51 PM »

if one wants to complain about the noise of a wind genny they might want to try livving by a power plant. the one i live close to has a train that goes almost every night that keeps me awake. not to mention the wistling that comes from the plant from time to time , it almost sound like a very large pressure release valve going off

tecker · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2007, 09:05:55 PM »

The coal trains extend for miles and the Plants sweept their soot into the area around the plants with no reguard.

Spdlmt150 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2007, 10:00:42 PM »

The armed citizen is a part of the system of checks & balances as originally designed.

jimjjnn · « **Reply #22 on:** May 23, 2007, 11:47:28 PM »

That's why the elitist anti-gun people are trying to pass laws to control the "Masses". No guns, then they will be rge only ones that have guns other than criminals that don't give a hoot about laws anyway. Look at the number of Elitists that have armed guards. Some antis also are licensed to carry. Dianne Feinstein is a prime example.

Old F · « **Reply #23 on:** May 24, 2007, 04:36:27 AM »

Hey zubby

I am willing to pony up enough carbon credits to make that little BBQ carbon neutral . : )

Here is were I am going to date my self back in the day there was a saying

If you not part of the solution you part of the problem .

Let your government officials know what you think It is you right use them or lose them .

Old F

winston · « **Reply #24 on:** May 24, 2007, 06:51:13 AM »

Noise sure

but does it kill birds ?

only joking..........

pepa · « **Reply #25 on:** May 24, 2007, 07:14:47 AM »

i sent an email io my rep. and received a form letter reply stating that he was fighting globle warming. i replayed back that i wanted to know if he would help fight this bill and also informed him about the amount of people on this board and the good efforts of people like Humble and others to help the developing countries and a fiew lines about the will of the american people. we will see how he reacts to the reply. pepa

CreativePower · « **Reply #26 on:** May 24, 2007, 08:48:23 AM »

The method to have hope over this puny human act of greed

Though I am not an American and currently don't have any binding forces put on me by this type of injunction or what ever it may be labeled, I AM however and advocate for the American way of life and a proponent for liberty that it embodies. I know that if something takes root in the US it will take root here sometime after that in Canada - as such I have considered what the available actions for us to take. Though we may not be able to battle this personally but by proxy we can engage the enemy - or at least the ones that would seek to shackle us.

The first step:

First we have to remove from us the idea of having no power and considerations of failure - it is only by inaction that things will be employed not in our or your nations favor. This must be replaced by the thought of hope because when one takes an action positive in nature then there is hope of victory - and don't consider this to be a loan effort. If we move as one body of individuals then it is an effort of one individual collectively speaking and moving with thunder!

Second Step:

Employ the tools that we have available to us - some of you already have realized some of them by sending letters of opposition to your representatives in the government but this is not enough for it is too easy for them to ignore - this must be done relentlessly on a daily bases (when possible) and by all individuals. More importantly we need to employ our biggest and best tool - the internet. As such the following areas should be focused on.

TheOtherPower.com - all members need to be notified by email of these actions taken so that they can be in a state of knowing. They have to be apprised of how it will affect them.
All material vendors that you use personally for all the stuff that you buy online or even from the stores - these guys have the most to loose from lost sales - consider all the areas - Neo Mags, Copper Wire, Controller units, Blades, and even whole units (for those of us that are less inclined to do scratch builds), Epoxy, plastics, fiberglass, wood - and these are just the things we use to build the units there is not even mentioned all the things we buy to get them put together. We have to consider our buying power as a leaver - we have to contact all the sites that we use to do what we "like to do" and for some of us "have to do" - you should inform them that you will no longer need to be a customer of theirs if this type of legislation passes. There should be an agreed upon email created as a forward to all these people sent from each individual member from this site (at a minimum). The Subject should contain something like the following "Chairman Nick Rahall seeks to kill Wind Energy as a source of Green Energy for the common American" though this may technically be not completely accurate - I have found that the American public prefers to deal with half truths as that is what they have come to expect from the media and governmental sources. In the body of the email there should be parts of the proposed legislation and also the above mentioned talking points (which could be elaborated upon - as there should be more factual information in existence).
Contact all environmental bodies (or as many that can be conceived) with the email - they can enforce the greatest presence in the capital.
All sites that sell Wind energy systems as solutions should be contacted with the email - these guys have a lot to loose from these types of actions and they will also carry a big voice to their local representatives.
Local news agencies as well as online news sites - if anyone knows investigative reporters perhaps they can be inspired to follow the money trail for Chairman Nick Rahall and find out what has inspired him take this action.
Energy consulting firms - they don't sell anything but their time but they will have one less option to employ for their clients and sometimes the only viable option.
Finally as many foreign governments and or individuals in foreign countries - there is nothing like international embarrassment to at least make the right decision for rest of the politicians so that the monkey that instigated this small minded effort will hopefully not try to do so again.

Any other considered actions should be posted as soon as possible - as I said it's not my country and all I can do is suggest an action - many of you have stated that you wished that there was something that you could do - well here you go!

If you guys wish I can try to put a considered email together for common representation - however I will need more information on the suggested action in the proposed legislation and more considered talking points - email it to me and that will tell me that you are serious about doing something about this silly proposed action.

One of my favorite statements "For evil to triumph is for Good people to do nothing"

Let us be Victorious!

DF

Gary D · « **Reply #27 on:** May 24, 2007, 08:48:30 AM »

Thanks for the Heads up Phil! I shot off an email to the Penn Future media room in the hopes that they will put out an alert to all Pennsylvania environmentally concerned citizens(signed up with them). If other states have such watchdog websites, and any members here are involved with them, I'd strongly suggest they do the same...Gary D.

finnsawyer · « **Reply #28 on:** May 24, 2007, 09:26:22 AM »

I live in MIss-it-again too. You find a tax on food in vending machines to be worst than Granholm's once proposed tax on services? I wrote to the Editor of our local rag proposing that the tax on a barrel of beer be raised from $6.50 to $65.00 ( $6.50 in effect since 1960-something). Great big silence, especially from our representatives.

Well, I'm sorry folks. I don't hold out very much promise to stop this fine example of Socialism from proceeding. How did you vote in the last general election? Search your conscience. Did you help put the same idiots back in office? Why does the Libertarian party do so poorly? Their policies would fit nicely with most of the comments here. You have to realize that creeping Socialism works because each chopping away of our freedoms affects only a small number of people. In this case it's the 7,000 or so souls that frequent this site and their suppliers. Face it. Small scale wind power just isn't a great concern to most people. Hell, $3.50 per gallon gas can't get them to modify their behavior. Enjoy the ride!

willib · « **Reply #29 on:** May 24, 2007, 10:19:42 AM »

This is Rahall's opening statement on the subject on May first

http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/hearings/OpeningStatement.aspx?OSID=100

Birds and bats :

HA, those large windturbines rotate so slowly the birds and bats would have the same possibility of flying into a stationary structure as getting hit by a large windturbine

paradigmdesign · « **Reply #30 on:** May 24, 2007, 10:27:34 AM »

"follow the money trail for Chairman Nick Rahall"

It appears he has some ties to coal, as well as ties to the Sierra Club.

from Wikipedia:

"Rahall is the author of the 1978 legislation which established the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System. Ten years later, he gained enactment of legislation to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, in the process creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. Rahall legislation also established the National Coal Heritage Area in 11 southern West Virginia counties.

Numerous State and national organizations have recognized Rahall for his work on environmental issues, he is the recipient of the 1997 Citizen's Coal Council award, the 1996 "Keeper of the Flame Award" presented in 1996 by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, the 1990 "Friend of the Earth Award" for his work on protecting the coalfield environment, the Sierra Club's 1988 "Seneca Award" for Outstanding Environmental Stewardship, American River's 1988 "River Conservation Award," and the Ansel Adams Award from the Wilderness Society in 2004."

Though this dosen't mean that he took any money from the coal guys, it may be a part of the story. He may want to gain support for "clean coal" by limiting the ammount of support and availability for wind turbines.

To be fair he is from a "coal state"

from WVminesaftey.org

West Virginia produces about 15 % of total coal production in the U.S.
West Virginia leads the nation in underground coal production.
West Virginia leads the nation in coal exports with over 50 million tons shipped to 23 countries.
West Virginia Coal accounts for about 50% of US coal exports.

(personal rant) I wonder how many birds used to live in the millions of trees that have been cut down for strip-mining over the years. There is NO SUCH THING AS CLEAN COAL

vawtman · « **Reply #31 on:** May 24, 2007, 11:55:41 AM »

Oops wisconsin is in trouble!!!

http://www.620wtmj.com/_content/news/story_7751.asp

winston · « **Reply #32 on:** May 24, 2007, 12:25:15 PM »

I wonder if any birds were killed in that accident

News:

Author Topic: Legislative threat to US wind development (Read 710 times)