THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA
75 East 93rd Street,
New York, NY 101 28
tel: 21 2 534-1601 fax: 212 426-1086
Gabriel, Bishop of Manhattan
Secretary
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
932 Legislative Office Building,
Albany, New York 1 2248
Dear Honorable Speaker Silver!
1 am writing to ask that New York State halt the wind "farm" planned for Jordanville by a Spanish company, Iberdroila, represented by Community Energy, its Pennsylvania subsidiary, because of the destructive impact this wind "farm" will have on Holy Trinity Monastery, the world spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. To allow this to happen would be a sacrilegious travesty, a disgraceful act unworthy of any state or nation that calls itself civilized.
The name of "Abroad" for the Church stems from the fact that "Abroad" stands for the millions of exiles, clergy and faithful, who fled Russia to escape persecution, and often execution, in the early 1920s after the assumption of power by militant, atheistic Communists. The very survival of pure Christianity in Russia was at stake, and to insure that it would survive and return with the eventual end of Communist rule, no matter how long that took, the hierarchy of Russian Orthodox Church Abroad kept the faith and the flame alive, first in Central Europe and then, with the rise of Hitler and the specter of war looming, to refuge in the United States of America, the bastion of freedom.
Thus some 70 years ago, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad established the Holy Trinity Monastery and the adjacent Cathedral, the seat of the Metropolitan Laurus the First Hierarch, in Jordanville i n southern Herkimer County. Here amid this beautifully bucolic and quiet landscape the Church built the spiritual center that has drawn pilgrims from the Russian diaspora, hundreds of thousands of them, fiom this country, Canada, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia, to this sacred ground. This sacred ground includes a seminary that grants degrees approved by the New York State Board of Regents as well as the Convent of St. Elizabeth for nuns. I also must note here that Holy Trinity has served as a unique beacon for emigre Russian culture in "the land of the fiee and home of the brave." Many Russian families have been drawn to the Jordanville area. They include doctors, teachers, writers, musicians and composers; among them the son of Shostakovich and Mstislav Rostropovich, the great conductor and cellist who recently died in Paris.
What are we to believe about civilization and respect for religious institutions, spiritu values and moral values, if New York State supports his destructive wind project?
Our serenity, our peace of mind, our grounds for worship of the Divine will be subsumed by a project that cannot even begin to compare to the values that we represent, except that in this case subsidized cash and quick buck are all that matter. Instead of civilization, we are faced with industrial barbarism.
Yes, we are very much aware of the threat of global warming. But at what frivolous cost does the state seek to arrest global warming? The returns fiom this Jordanville "wind farm" are pitifully small, in fact negative.
At best, given the vagaries of the wind, the project will supply electricity to 16,000 homes.
And for this a rich religious and cultural heritage must be sacrificed on the altar of mammon? To a cause that is far more greed than green? To what end?
I came to Jordanville in 1980 to study at Holy Trinity Seminary, which, as mentioned above, is located on the grounds of the Monastery. Having spent eight years there I not only received a theological education, but also came to know many of the monks closely, including the abbot of the monastery Archbishop Laurus (now the metropolitan).
Life at the Monastery helped me to not only understand more thoroughly the Christian Orthodox faith, but also the importance of the Monastery itself, as a spiritual center for all the Russian Orthodox faithful, who fled the terror of Soviet Russia, and found freedom in western Europe, the US, Australia, Canada and South America.
I am a son of such immigrants, and am very grateful that Holy Trinity Monastery exists and continues to attract pilgrims and the faiffil from all comers of the world. Having completed my studies, I lectured at the Seminary and then a few years later was tonsured a monk at the Monastery and ordained a deacon. A short time after, I was chosen to become Bishop of Manhattan, and was also consecrated to the episcopacy in Jordanville in July of 1996.
Since that time I have resided in New York City, but despite my busy schedule, I have always made an effort to regularly visit that the small town in Upstate New York that I call my home away from home.
As bishop of Manhattan, I oversee over 80 parishes in our diocese. Thousands of new immigrants from Russia have now become members of those parishes as well as citizens of this great country. Having become members of our Church, they have also become regular visitors and pilgrims of Holy Trinity Monastery. Needless to say, the erection of Wind-turbines in Jordanville would produce a profound negative effect on their future visits to the Monastery. Undoubtedly, the appearance of Wind-turbines in and around Jordanville would represent a tragedy not only to the beautiful surroundings of that particular area, but also, the continued existence and significance of the Monastery, which would-suffer-immeasurably.
I urge you to do everything in your power to stop this from happening.
Gabriel
Bishop of Manhattan
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Data table and maps that describe the location of the Cohocton Wind Power Project
Table 1 Turbine Coordinates of the Steuben County, NY
Cohocton Wind Power Project in NAD 83
Turbine ID Latitude Longitude
1) 42.57520794870 -77.43074452880
2) 42.57235407830 -77.43123984340
3) 42.56953239440 -77.43089008330
4) 42.56056308750 -77.45067346100
5) 42.56267720670 -77.44873111410
6) 42.56467223170 -77.44423496720
8) 42.56070256230 -77.43958806990
7) 42.56348194270 -77.43640811370
9) 42.55868554110 -77.42924606800
10) 42.55575656890 -77.43180966380
11) 42.54996299740 -77.44117462630
12) 42.55064964290 -77.40776336190
13) 42.54731297490 -77.40608847140
14) 42.54264593120 -77.40080237390
17) 42.53498554230 -77.39788997170
18) 42.53007173540 -77.39937496190
19) 42.52646684650 -77.40152955060
20) 42.52706766130 -77.40930342670
22) 42.52505064010 -77.41870784760
27) 42.52889156340 -77.44521856310
28) 42.53079283330 -77.43917309760
26) 42.52846241000 -77.45370626450
25) 42.52626299860 -77.45683634280
24) 42.52322673800 -77.45878708360
23) 42.52086102960 -77.46162569520
15) 42.54282832140 -77.42094123360
16) 42.53809865180 -77.42245911340
21) 42.51918823360 -77.40671498230
31) 42.51399993900 -77.43505156040
30) 42.51805543900 -77.43362510200
32) 42.50603914260 -77.44721889500
29) 42.52528667450 -77.43228685860
36) 42.44042158130 -77.52934968470
35) 42.44243860240 -77.52683448790
34) 42.44449853900 -77.52430474760
33_ 42.44577777720 -77.51818517380
Cohocton Wind Power Project in NAD 83
Turbine ID Latitude Longitude
1) 42.57520794870 -77.43074452880
2) 42.57235407830 -77.43123984340
3) 42.56953239440 -77.43089008330
4) 42.56056308750 -77.45067346100
5) 42.56267720670 -77.44873111410
6) 42.56467223170 -77.44423496720
8) 42.56070256230 -77.43958806990
7) 42.56348194270 -77.43640811370
9) 42.55868554110 -77.42924606800
10) 42.55575656890 -77.43180966380
11) 42.54996299740 -77.44117462630
12) 42.55064964290 -77.40776336190
13) 42.54731297490 -77.40608847140
14) 42.54264593120 -77.40080237390
17) 42.53498554230 -77.39788997170
18) 42.53007173540 -77.39937496190
19) 42.52646684650 -77.40152955060
20) 42.52706766130 -77.40930342670
22) 42.52505064010 -77.41870784760
27) 42.52889156340 -77.44521856310
28) 42.53079283330 -77.43917309760
26) 42.52846241000 -77.45370626450
25) 42.52626299860 -77.45683634280
24) 42.52322673800 -77.45878708360
23) 42.52086102960 -77.46162569520
15) 42.54282832140 -77.42094123360
16) 42.53809865180 -77.42245911340
21) 42.51918823360 -77.40671498230
31) 42.51399993900 -77.43505156040
30) 42.51805543900 -77.43362510200
32) 42.50603914260 -77.44721889500
29) 42.52528667450 -77.43228685860
36) 42.44042158130 -77.52934968470
35) 42.44243860240 -77.52683448790
34) 42.44449853900 -77.52430474760
33_ 42.44577777720 -77.51818517380
Construction underway on Cohocton wind farm by Kat De Maria
"The town developed its own wind law, UPC did numerous environmental and interconnection studies. This is really the culmination of a long process," Swartley said.
That long process has been scrutinized by a group of concerned residents.
"We are not against a wind farm in Cohocton, contrary to popular opinion. What we are for is the proper sitting of the windmills," said Judith Hall, of Cohocton Wind Watch.
She says she wants to make sure the windmills go up a safe distance from the residences and a cemetery that dot Cohocton's hills.
"It's a very ill-thought-out project," Hall said.
Town and state officials haven't agreed and signed off on the project in recent weeks. But with lawsuits, some permits and construction pending, the dust...and dirt...haven't settled. Town leaders say they will.
(Click to read entire article)
(Click on link from article to view video)
That long process has been scrutinized by a group of concerned residents.
"We are not against a wind farm in Cohocton, contrary to popular opinion. What we are for is the proper sitting of the windmills," said Judith Hall, of Cohocton Wind Watch.
She says she wants to make sure the windmills go up a safe distance from the residences and a cemetery that dot Cohocton's hills.
"It's a very ill-thought-out project," Hall said.
Town and state officials haven't agreed and signed off on the project in recent weeks. But with lawsuits, some permits and construction pending, the dust...and dirt...haven't settled. Town leaders say they will.
(Click to read entire article)
(Click on link from article to view video)
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Cohocton Town Clerk Needs Real Leadership
My name is Blair Hall and I am running for Town Clerk in the Republican primary. If you are offended by the arrogant and undemocratic process that is the hallmark of the current administration, your vote can remove the incumbents from office.The future of Cohocton must include and advance the benefit of all residents and property owners. The younger generation needs to be part of rebuilding our town. All citizens are owed an honest government. The dishonesty that has been tolerated in local government, by elected and appointed officials must end. I pledge to all my neighbors to establish the highest professional standards for an ethical and competent Town Clerk administration.
I was born in Atlanta, NY and attended Naples Central School. I earned a BSc and MA degrees from University College London. My formal education provides the discipline, organization and computer skills that will transform the Town Clerk into a model and trustworthy office. I will research and obtain available grants for the Town. The office will be open evening hours to make it easier for working residents to access the clerk's office.
If Cohocton Republicans truly believe in traditional conservative principles, then you must vote out all incumbents. You know in your heart that a cancer of deceit is at the core of the current administration. The integrity of town records and documents needs to be kept under the supervision of the Town Clerk, at the Town Hall. Cohocton MUST clean house in order to build a community that all citizens can be proud to call home. Younger residents like me should have a bright future that allows us to stay in this beautiful rural area to raise our families.
I ask for your vote and appeal to your moral courage to vote out of office the current incumbents. Reform Cohocton NOW, or pay the price for decades to come.
BLAIR HALL for Town Clerk - Republican primary Sept 18, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Hamlin Wind Tower Report Delayed
A frustrated HamlinWind Tower Committee told the town board and town supervisor Monday night that more work must be done before anyone can decide whether to proceed with wind tower development in Hamlin.
The Committee was originally given until December to recommend whether wind turbine development is in the town's best interest and to and propose regulations. Earlier this month committee members were told by town supervisor Dennis Roach that their deadline was being moved-up to July 30th.
As the Wind Tower Committee report was presented last night Chairperson Linda DeRue made it clear that the group ran-out of time to complete its charge. DeRue said that more time should be spent looking at health concerns, legal concerns, economic impact, environmental impact and other issues. She indicated that town residents should be surveyed, and town leaders should visit a community where wind towers are already part of the landscape.
The committee did present proposed regulations for wind tower development, in the event that the Town Board and the Supervisor decide that Wind Towers are in the town's best interest.
The committee was applauded by citizens who have expressed concerns over property values, public health and other issues.
Supervisor Dennis Roach said that the committee's timeline was shortened due to indications that the state may act soon to regulate wind tower development. Roach says the Town of Hamlin should maintain local control of such projects by enacting its own regulations before the state acts.
Roach thanked the Wind Tower Committee for its work and he said that the committee report will be used by the town going forward. He said public hearings will be scheduled before the town board decides whether to regulate wind tower development, or ban it from Hamlin.
The Committee was originally given until December to recommend whether wind turbine development is in the town's best interest and to and propose regulations. Earlier this month committee members were told by town supervisor Dennis Roach that their deadline was being moved-up to July 30th.
As the Wind Tower Committee report was presented last night Chairperson Linda DeRue made it clear that the group ran-out of time to complete its charge. DeRue said that more time should be spent looking at health concerns, legal concerns, economic impact, environmental impact and other issues. She indicated that town residents should be surveyed, and town leaders should visit a community where wind towers are already part of the landscape.
The committee did present proposed regulations for wind tower development, in the event that the Town Board and the Supervisor decide that Wind Towers are in the town's best interest.
The committee was applauded by citizens who have expressed concerns over property values, public health and other issues.
Supervisor Dennis Roach said that the committee's timeline was shortened due to indications that the state may act soon to regulate wind tower development. Roach says the Town of Hamlin should maintain local control of such projects by enacting its own regulations before the state acts.
Roach thanked the Wind Tower Committee for its work and he said that the committee report will be used by the town going forward. He said public hearings will be scheduled before the town board decides whether to regulate wind tower development, or ban it from Hamlin.
Friday, August 17, 2007
PSC Issues Certificates for Cohocton Projects
A copy of today’s decision in Case 07-E-0138, when issued, will be available on theCommission’s www.dps.state.ny.us Web site by accessing the Commission’s File Room sectionof the homepage. Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission orders can also beobtained from the Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).
(Click to read PSC document)
(Click to read PSC document)
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Dr. Frank "Stoner" Clark—I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE Cohocton Town Justice
In seeking the Republican nomination for Cohocton Town Justice and asking for your support, I want to say from the beginning what a unique position this office represents. It differs greatly from other elected positions in that while integrated into the entire New York State system of jurisprudence, it does not require the specific judicial background and education in law mandated for most other offices in this system. .It is designed to relieve the state judiciary of much of its burdensome case load at the local and municipal level while encouraging the healthy decentralization of government through local community participation.
(Click to read entire ad)
(Click to read entire ad)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Concerned Citizens brings various interests together for forum by JOHN T. EBERTH
OLEAN - Wind turbines are promoted as a green, Earth-friendly energy source but the huge windmills have opponents seeing red.
More than 40 people gathered at the Olean Public Library Monday for a wind energy discussion hosted by Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County, an environmental advocacy group.
Concerned Citizens invited Bradley E. Jones, a business consultant from Naples, N.Y., to the meeting to talk about wind power problems in the central Finger Lakes Region. Mr. Jones is part of a group fighting two wind farms near his home.
Small towns in Western New York and Pennsylvania have been besieged by offers from companies to build wind farms in their communities. Three projects are being considered or are under way in Cattaraugus County.
Mr. Jones said wind farms are financed by investment banks because federal and state wind energy subsidies and tax breaks guarantee the turbines will make money even if they don't produce a lot of electricity. Utilities are required by law to buy electricity from wind farms. These wind farms make money because of government policies, not because they make economic or common sense, he said.
Mr. Jones said the promise of green, pollution-free energy from wind farms is also an illusion. He said the 400-foot wind-turbine towers kill up to 1,000 birds per tower per year, cause noise and sun flicker that harm human health, and actually waste energy because the wind farms need to be tied to the electrical grid to meet their own energy needs.
Electric motors turn the turbines so they always face into the wind. To do that they need the constant electricity provided by hydro power and coal-fired electric plants.
Mr. Jones said it also takes a typical wind farm with 60 turbines seven years to make up for the amount of fossil-fuel energy needed to build the wind farm in the first place. Mr. Jones is also concerned that federal energy policy allows wind farms to sell the "carbon credits" they earn for not burning fossil fuels to other industries such as coal-burning electric plants.
The policy makes money for the wind-farm operator while allowing the coal-burning plant to continue polluting because they can use the carbon credit to avoid plant improvements that protect the environment.
State Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, is a proponent of wind energy as part of an overall energy policy. She attended the meeting at the request of Concerned Citizens. She said she realizes wind energy can never replace traditional forms of electricity production but believes New York needs to diversify its sources of electricity production.
She said Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the Democratic-controlled state Assembly are in favor of more wind energy as is a majority of the Republican-controlled state Senate.
But Sen. Young said she is concerned that an energy bill called Article 10, backed by Gov. Spitzer, would take control for siting new wind farms out of the hands of local governments.
The bill, still being considered by the Senate and Assembly energy committees, would create a state siting commission that would approve the placement of wind farms. The siting commission's power would supersede that of local town boards and planning boards.
The bill, still being considered by the Senate and Assembly energy committees, would create a state siting commission that would approve the placement of wind farms. The siting commission's power would supersede that of local town boards and planning boards.
The state has created similar siting commissions in the past to deal with controversial projects such as the low-level nuclear waste siting commission that toured sites in Allegany County in the 1990s.
Sen. Young said she's only for wind farms if local communities want them. She fears that if it's established, the siting commission would force communities to accept wind farms they don't want.
"I do support wind energy but I think there are some problems with the Article 10," she said.
Sen. Young urged those concerned about the Article 10 law to write to Gov. Spitzer. People can write to Gov. Spitzer by addressing their letter to Gov. Eliot Spitzer, State Capital, Executive Chamber, Albany, NY 12224.
In order to generate the peak amount of electricity, wind turbines need sustained winds of between 20 and 27 mph. But sometimes there is no wind. Because of that, wind turbines cannot replace traditional sources of electricity such as coal-fired steam turbines, Mr. Jones said. Denmark led the world in wind farm construction 20 years ago. But even at their peak, Danish wind farms only produced 20 percent of the country's energy.
"We need a stable, reliable source of electricity," Mr. Jones said. "We're not going to turn ourselves into a Third World country and only do our laundry when the wind is blowing."
Gary Abraham, an environmental attorney and member of Concerned Citizens, said in Europe, where wind turbines have been used for a generation, the demand for stable sources of electricity has meant that wind farms are only a component of an overall energy system.
"In Europe, where these have been used for years, they haven't dispensed with a single coal-burning plant," Mr. Abraham said.
Mr. Jones said Germany just decided to take energy subsidies away from wind farms and give the money to coal-mining companies.
Sen. Young said wind farming can provide some of New York's energy, but the state needs to draft new policies to control the growth of wind farms while protecting the rights of citizens.
"In the Senate we have been trying to negotiate this Article 10 bill with the governor," she said. "If you're going to have wind farms, you have to apply some common sense."
More than 40 people gathered at the Olean Public Library Monday for a wind energy discussion hosted by Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County, an environmental advocacy group.
Concerned Citizens invited Bradley E. Jones, a business consultant from Naples, N.Y., to the meeting to talk about wind power problems in the central Finger Lakes Region. Mr. Jones is part of a group fighting two wind farms near his home.
Small towns in Western New York and Pennsylvania have been besieged by offers from companies to build wind farms in their communities. Three projects are being considered or are under way in Cattaraugus County.
Mr. Jones said wind farms are financed by investment banks because federal and state wind energy subsidies and tax breaks guarantee the turbines will make money even if they don't produce a lot of electricity. Utilities are required by law to buy electricity from wind farms. These wind farms make money because of government policies, not because they make economic or common sense, he said.
Mr. Jones said the promise of green, pollution-free energy from wind farms is also an illusion. He said the 400-foot wind-turbine towers kill up to 1,000 birds per tower per year, cause noise and sun flicker that harm human health, and actually waste energy because the wind farms need to be tied to the electrical grid to meet their own energy needs.
Electric motors turn the turbines so they always face into the wind. To do that they need the constant electricity provided by hydro power and coal-fired electric plants.
Mr. Jones said it also takes a typical wind farm with 60 turbines seven years to make up for the amount of fossil-fuel energy needed to build the wind farm in the first place. Mr. Jones is also concerned that federal energy policy allows wind farms to sell the "carbon credits" they earn for not burning fossil fuels to other industries such as coal-burning electric plants.
The policy makes money for the wind-farm operator while allowing the coal-burning plant to continue polluting because they can use the carbon credit to avoid plant improvements that protect the environment.
State Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, is a proponent of wind energy as part of an overall energy policy. She attended the meeting at the request of Concerned Citizens. She said she realizes wind energy can never replace traditional forms of electricity production but believes New York needs to diversify its sources of electricity production.
She said Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the Democratic-controlled state Assembly are in favor of more wind energy as is a majority of the Republican-controlled state Senate.
But Sen. Young said she is concerned that an energy bill called Article 10, backed by Gov. Spitzer, would take control for siting new wind farms out of the hands of local governments.
The bill, still being considered by the Senate and Assembly energy committees, would create a state siting commission that would approve the placement of wind farms. The siting commission's power would supersede that of local town boards and planning boards.
The bill, still being considered by the Senate and Assembly energy committees, would create a state siting commission that would approve the placement of wind farms. The siting commission's power would supersede that of local town boards and planning boards.
The state has created similar siting commissions in the past to deal with controversial projects such as the low-level nuclear waste siting commission that toured sites in Allegany County in the 1990s.
Sen. Young said she's only for wind farms if local communities want them. She fears that if it's established, the siting commission would force communities to accept wind farms they don't want.
"I do support wind energy but I think there are some problems with the Article 10," she said.
Sen. Young urged those concerned about the Article 10 law to write to Gov. Spitzer. People can write to Gov. Spitzer by addressing their letter to Gov. Eliot Spitzer, State Capital, Executive Chamber, Albany, NY 12224.
In order to generate the peak amount of electricity, wind turbines need sustained winds of between 20 and 27 mph. But sometimes there is no wind. Because of that, wind turbines cannot replace traditional sources of electricity such as coal-fired steam turbines, Mr. Jones said. Denmark led the world in wind farm construction 20 years ago. But even at their peak, Danish wind farms only produced 20 percent of the country's energy.
"We need a stable, reliable source of electricity," Mr. Jones said. "We're not going to turn ourselves into a Third World country and only do our laundry when the wind is blowing."
Gary Abraham, an environmental attorney and member of Concerned Citizens, said in Europe, where wind turbines have been used for a generation, the demand for stable sources of electricity has meant that wind farms are only a component of an overall energy system.
"In Europe, where these have been used for years, they haven't dispensed with a single coal-burning plant," Mr. Abraham said.
Mr. Jones said Germany just decided to take energy subsidies away from wind farms and give the money to coal-mining companies.
Sen. Young said wind farming can provide some of New York's energy, but the state needs to draft new policies to control the growth of wind farms while protecting the rights of citizens.
"In the Senate we have been trying to negotiate this Article 10 bill with the governor," she said. "If you're going to have wind farms, you have to apply some common sense."
Expansion of UPC wind farm is topic of public hearing
A public hearing will be held this week on the proposed expansion of the Steel Winds wind farm in the City of Lackawanna. The hearing, before the Planning and Development Board, is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Wednesday in the Lackawanna Senior Center, 230 Martin Road.
BQ Energy, (UPC part of project) which operates the eight wind turbines at the former Bethlehem Steel site along Lake Erie, seeks to erect additional turbines but needs a zoning variance.
BQ Energy, (UPC part of project) which operates the eight wind turbines at the former Bethlehem Steel site along Lake Erie, seeks to erect additional turbines but needs a zoning variance.
WINDFALL DREAMIN' by Linda George
Our marvel town has the newest trend for our farm,
It's calling for current Windmills to hover my barn.
Song birds and shed bats used to fly free,
But now it's all about me!
REFRAIN
I'm getting a Windmill on my land,
It will be worth a bounty of grand.
Come see it spin, come see it roar,
If only I could get twenty more!
Checkered with the "brother of my wife",
Jacketing green envy influential in my life,
Scoring the way up in countryside politics,
Big Wind found bigger wind to prove I'm a hick.
REFRAIN
It's tough en route for the mailbox to get my check,
No unease about the family farm cutback. I'm set!
It's my bread and butter, with its strobe light effect,
In the cataract of darkness, a red light sky we get.
REFRAIN
I'll cruise Rodeo Drive and sail the Mediterranean Sea,
My teen will drive a Hummer with an extended warrantee.
I'll get massages, and shop Fifth Avenue,
We'll have a home theater; I'm now a Who's--Who.
REFRAIN
Pioneer Credit won't call me no more,
My neighbors may see monsters, but they didn't know poor.
This is my windfall; my ship has come in,
Just cause I'm doing better than you, it's not a sin.
By Linda George
It's calling for current Windmills to hover my barn.
Song birds and shed bats used to fly free,
But now it's all about me!
REFRAIN
I'm getting a Windmill on my land,
It will be worth a bounty of grand.
Come see it spin, come see it roar,
If only I could get twenty more!
Checkered with the "brother of my wife",
Jacketing green envy influential in my life,
Scoring the way up in countryside politics,
Big Wind found bigger wind to prove I'm a hick.
REFRAIN
It's tough en route for the mailbox to get my check,
No unease about the family farm cutback. I'm set!
It's my bread and butter, with its strobe light effect,
In the cataract of darkness, a red light sky we get.
REFRAIN
I'll cruise Rodeo Drive and sail the Mediterranean Sea,
My teen will drive a Hummer with an extended warrantee.
I'll get massages, and shop Fifth Avenue,
We'll have a home theater; I'm now a Who's--Who.
REFRAIN
Pioneer Credit won't call me no more,
My neighbors may see monsters, but they didn't know poor.
This is my windfall; my ship has come in,
Just cause I'm doing better than you, it's not a sin.
By Linda George
Monday, August 13, 2007
U.S. Manufacturers and Electric Companies Remain Firmly United Against Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard
Renewable Portfolio Standard is an Electricity Tax on American Consumers
Washington, August 3, 2007 - A proposal to require U.S. power companies to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources in roughly the next decade likely will cost consumers billions of dollars, with little chance of achieving such an ambitious goal, manufacturing and utility groups said on August 2.
On the eve of an expected House vote on a nationwide renewable portfolio standard (RPS), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and Edison Electric Institute (EEI) expressed support for increasing electric generation from renewables, but said a federal mandate was the wrong approach.
"We are deeply concerned that an RPS will lead to higher electricity prices for all types of consumers, undermining the ability of U.S. businesses to compete in a global economy and reducing the take-home pay of American workers," said NAM President John Engler, noting that U.S. manufacturers account for a third of the nation's energy use and nearly 30 percent of its electricity. "Affordable and reliable electricity is essential to the long- term health of the U.S. economy."
"Everyone's in favor of renewable energy, but this federal mandate essentially is a tax on electricity for many businesses and consumers," added EEI President Tom Kuhn. "States already are working to increase the amount of electricity produced from renewables. The last thing we need is for Congress to impose a preemptive federal mandate that is neither cost-effective nor achievable nationwide."
Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia already have mandatory renewable electricity standards in place, and three more have established RPS goals. Yet every one of these state plans includes at least one resource that would not be eligible for credit under a federal RPS.
Utilities in states without sufficient renewable resources will end up complying with a federal RPS not by building wind, solar or other types of renewable generation, but by purchasing credits from other utilities or making payments to the federal government. These costs will be incurred on top of those associated with building new, non-renewable back-up generation that can run "24/7" or be dispatched at a moment's notice, an ongoing necessity due to the intermittent nature of most renewable resources.
As a practical matter, a federal renewable electricity mandate is a huge stretch. A 15-percent RPS would mandate a 400-percent increase in renewable electricity generation in just 12 years. Clearly, this isn't an achievable goal in many areas.
The prospect of a federal RPS also raises significant collateral issues. An RPS will require not only the development and construction of new generation projects, but also will necessitate the siting and construction of new transmission infrastructure to move electricity from the remote areas in which it is produced to the customers who need it. Apart from the additional associated costs, siting generation and transmission raises significant 'NIMBY' issues that can throw a wrench into even the best-laid plans to harness renewable energy resources.
For these and many other reasons, states and their utilities -- not the federal government -- should be allowed to make their own fuel choices and tap those renewable resources available in their areas of the country. States have a proven track record when it comes to adoption of renewable electricity generation, and Congress should allow that to continue, while providing incentives and support for renewables technology and development.
"If ever there was a case in which one size doesn't fit all, this is it," the association leaders said.
The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation's largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Contact: Kat Snodgrass, 202-637-3094.
Edison Electric Institute is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. Contact: Dan Riedinger, 202-508-5483.
Washington, August 3, 2007 - A proposal to require U.S. power companies to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources in roughly the next decade likely will cost consumers billions of dollars, with little chance of achieving such an ambitious goal, manufacturing and utility groups said on August 2.
On the eve of an expected House vote on a nationwide renewable portfolio standard (RPS), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and Edison Electric Institute (EEI) expressed support for increasing electric generation from renewables, but said a federal mandate was the wrong approach.
"We are deeply concerned that an RPS will lead to higher electricity prices for all types of consumers, undermining the ability of U.S. businesses to compete in a global economy and reducing the take-home pay of American workers," said NAM President John Engler, noting that U.S. manufacturers account for a third of the nation's energy use and nearly 30 percent of its electricity. "Affordable and reliable electricity is essential to the long- term health of the U.S. economy."
"Everyone's in favor of renewable energy, but this federal mandate essentially is a tax on electricity for many businesses and consumers," added EEI President Tom Kuhn. "States already are working to increase the amount of electricity produced from renewables. The last thing we need is for Congress to impose a preemptive federal mandate that is neither cost-effective nor achievable nationwide."
Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia already have mandatory renewable electricity standards in place, and three more have established RPS goals. Yet every one of these state plans includes at least one resource that would not be eligible for credit under a federal RPS.
Utilities in states without sufficient renewable resources will end up complying with a federal RPS not by building wind, solar or other types of renewable generation, but by purchasing credits from other utilities or making payments to the federal government. These costs will be incurred on top of those associated with building new, non-renewable back-up generation that can run "24/7" or be dispatched at a moment's notice, an ongoing necessity due to the intermittent nature of most renewable resources.
As a practical matter, a federal renewable electricity mandate is a huge stretch. A 15-percent RPS would mandate a 400-percent increase in renewable electricity generation in just 12 years. Clearly, this isn't an achievable goal in many areas.
The prospect of a federal RPS also raises significant collateral issues. An RPS will require not only the development and construction of new generation projects, but also will necessitate the siting and construction of new transmission infrastructure to move electricity from the remote areas in which it is produced to the customers who need it. Apart from the additional associated costs, siting generation and transmission raises significant 'NIMBY' issues that can throw a wrench into even the best-laid plans to harness renewable energy resources.
For these and many other reasons, states and their utilities -- not the federal government -- should be allowed to make their own fuel choices and tap those renewable resources available in their areas of the country. States have a proven track record when it comes to adoption of renewable electricity generation, and Congress should allow that to continue, while providing incentives and support for renewables technology and development.
"If ever there was a case in which one size doesn't fit all, this is it," the association leaders said.
The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation's largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Contact: Kat Snodgrass, 202-637-3094.
Edison Electric Institute is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. Contact: Dan Riedinger, 202-508-5483.
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