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