Glenn Johnson's D&C "Weather Extra" article - Aug 1st 2008 by Jim Sawicki

Good morning, Mr. Johnson -

It was nice to see your description of how wind turbines work in this morning's paper but your first sentence in your first paragraph could use more elaboration.

It is true that industrial wind development is one of the fastest growing energy industries in the last ten years but you stopped short and thereby misled your readers by saying "Wind has become one of the most affordable sources of 'green' energy..." You should have completed your sentence to educate your readers by adding that it is one of the most affordable sources for the Industrial Wind companies, their lobbyists and investment firms because it is paid with huge taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies and shell games of energy credits. "Green" energy as you and so many others label Industrial Wind is just not so green. It does virtually nothing to reduce CO2 emissions and certainly does nothing to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Industrial wind technology, especially inland upstate NY, has too high a cost, at taxpayer and ratepayer expense, for too little in return. In most places throughout the U.S., huge industrial wind development will produce little or nothing at times of peak demand. This is already documented in California and Texas. NY state industrial wind companies are said to benefit the public good and yet they will not release their wind study data. Even more disturbing is these industrial developments are tearing apart communities and pitting neighbor against neighbor. They claim to benefit the public good and yet privately negotiate land-lease agreements for 30 to 40 story tall turbines that affects the whole community and region where they are proposed and/or already placed. They don't pay their fair share of property taxes by convincing (bamboozling) local officials to accept PILOT payment programs. (Payment in lieu of taxes.) Evidence mounts daily, worldwide, about improper sitings and setbacks that have associated health risks, loss of property values, destruction of ecosystems, economic loss from tourism (one of few successful business sectors of NYS), and negative impact on bird and bat populations...

Wind companies mislead the public by stating their turbines will provide 1.5MW, 2MW, etc. of electricity depending on the specific model. In reality, industrial wind turbines never deliver anything close to their "nameplate" rating. The data that should be made public is Capacity Factor. This is measured as a percentage of nameplate capacity and is usually 10% or close to ZERO percent of the nameplate's rating! Industrial wind turbines have low capacity factors because they are dependent on wind speed and their output is intermittent, volatile and unreliable just like the wind. Wishful thinking and unrealistic NYS mandates for renewable energy can not trump scientific facts based on laws of physics, as meteorologists like yourself already know.

NYS citizens, especially taxpayers and ratepayers, that are already burdened with high taxes and electric bills do not deserve to pay more while Industrial Wind Companies (including their maze of multi-level entities) and their owners avoid taxation, add significant costs to rates and impair the environment in the process. People who are forced to live in proximity to industrial wind developments should not have their scenic vistas and property values impaired.
Glenn, I am quite sure you are aware of your responsibility with your readers to present accurate information. I suggest you visit - http://www.batr.org/citizenpoweralliance/whitepapers.html and www.wind-watch.org to get the facts about industrial wind development.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Jim Sawicki
Canandaigua, NY