Energy East is the parent ownership for RG&E and NYSEG utilities. They also own Central Maine Power Company and several gas utilities in Connecticut and Massachusetts. IBERDROLA is a Spanish company that recently purchased Scottish Power and has created one of the largest electricity groups in Europe. Iberdrola is the world´s leading wind energy company.
If the acquisition of Energy East is approved by federal regulators what will be the impact on your electric utility bill? The cost of electric from wind generation is much higher over alternative methods. The efficiency of industrial wind turbines are at most 30 % of rating and in our region it should be expected to be as low as 6% to 12% during much of the year when the prevailing winds are minimal.
The sale of RG&E and NYSEG is a true security risk to residents of Western New York. This is not an imagery threat, but is a real risk. The dire destructive consequences of globalization will come home to roost in every check you pay to this foreign company who will be able to control one of our most important infrastructure facilities.
Inefficient and government subsidized wind turbines will dot all of New York State as every special interest faction drains off their financial pay off for selling out another American industry. This Energy East acquisition should be opposed by every customer of electric utilities and righteous outrage needs to be focused upon your federal and state regulators and elected officials before approval is granted.
Cohocton Wind Watch has warned against the siting of ill-conceived industrial wind turbine projects in our area. Now you see the evidence that foreign companies want to control our electric supply, which will place us at their mercy. Pricing for the consumer is already at record levels. Iberdrola will use the government tax credits and incentives from wind subsidies to eliminate their legitimate U.S. tax obligations. The added expense of inconsistent wind generation will add to the electric costs across the board.
How can NYS consumers benefit from foreign utility ownership of a wind developer? The prospects are explicitly clear that the “sweet heart deals” that line the pockets of corporate insiders will drain the check books of every electric consumer. Note this one example: “Wesley W. von Schack, in addition to continuing as a chief executive of Energy East following its acquisition by Iberdrola, will receive a lump-sum payment of $21.8 million from the Spanish company”.
From a recent press release: “IBERDROLA expects to support Energy East's efforts by exploring opportunities to expand its wind generation portfolio, which includes the upstate New York-based Maple Ridge wind generating facility -- the largest such facility on the East Coast”.
UPC, the developer of Cohocton and Prattsburgh projects has close ties with Iberdrola. Other foreign companies active in U.S. wind energy development include Ireland's Airtricity, Spain's Gamesa and Naturener, Australia's Babcock & Brown, Electricité de France (via Enxco), Nedpower of The Netherlands, Shell, BP, and the various UPC Wind companies funded by European investors through Italian parent UPC Group - Italian Vento Power Corporation.
These foreign wind developers work together to control electric generation capacity under the constant threat of eminent domain. Naturener joined Gamesa, and has interests in the wind developer Navitas Energy, and Iberdrola, a world leader in wind farm ownership that recently snapped up Scottish Power. The latter owns PPM Energy, with a significant portfolio in wind energy that adds up to the assets Iberdrola already had in the US.
Senator Chuck Schumer raised a loud voice against the Dubai Ports sell out. That was a graphic betrayal that every citizen understood in their gut. Now is the time to wake up and demand of Schumer and every other public servant that they combat the systemic dismantling of vital domestic companies. Opposing Iberdrola and defeating its take over of Energy East is a national security issue.
Get active and express your indignation to foreign control and ownership of our utilities and organize to stop Iberdrola now. Keep our utilities among domestic control and ownership. A European wind developer will not operate RG&E and NYSEG in the best interests of Americans. The Public Service Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Security and Exchange Commission and every other NYS and US agencies that have regulatory authority over such transactions needs to reject this acquisition.
Every media outlet needs to investigate and expose the unsavory links and shady business practices of foreign wind and utility companies. Support the Anti-trust complaint against the wind industry and expand the investigation into the ties to foreign utility interests. Electric costs affect every consumer of energy. Everyone deserves homeland security protection of our utilities. The Iberdrola take over of Energy East is a national issue and genuine danger to our economic future.
James Hall – Cohocton Wind Watch
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