Powering Down the Wind Subsidy - from the Wall Street Journal:
The media are saying that the 113th Congress is on track to be "the least productive" on record—as if that's bad for the country. Let's hope gridlock lasts long enough to kill the crony capitalist special known as the wind production tax credit.
This subsidy that was supposed to be temporary is now 20 years old, providing a taxpayer gift to wind companies of 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour. The handout would cost $18 billion over the next five years. The good news is that it is due to expire on December 31 unless Congress acts to extend it, so House Republicans can accomplish something for taxpayers by doing nothing.
With more than 60,000 megawatts of generation in the U.S. and utility-scale projects in 39 states, wind-power producers are no longer an "infant industry." The Department of Energy says that wind power made up 43% of all newly constructed generation in 2012, surpassing even natural gas.
Much of this production is due to the tax credit, which is so generous relative to the wholesale price of electricity that it is distorting energy investment. The handout brings the cost of wind production to nearly zero, which means wind producers are at times paying grid operators to take their wind electricity. This is discouraging investment in other forms of energy, especially in the natural-gas electric generation that is required to back up intermittent wind production—and to keep the lights on as the Obama Administration tries to kill coal-fired power ...
Read the entire article here.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Contact Dave Camp now
The Production Tax Credits for renewable energy from all sources (hydropower, solar, wind, and landfill gas) EXPIRE on December 31, 2013.
Congressman Camp wrote: "In light of the federal government's severe budgetary constraints, I believe Congress should reexamine the full array of energy incentives to ensure these programs are effective from a public policy standpoint and a prudent use of taxpayer dollars."
We highly suggest that each one of us sends U.S. Representative Dave Camp an email that asks that the production tax credits for wind energy, because wind energy is neither cost effective nor a prudent use of taxpayer dollars, NOT be renewed as of December 31, 2013.
Time is running out. If we could all do this by Friday, it might help. Please pass it on.
Email Dave Camp now.
Congressman Camp wrote: "In light of the federal government's severe budgetary constraints, I believe Congress should reexamine the full array of energy incentives to ensure these programs are effective from a public policy standpoint and a prudent use of taxpayer dollars."
We highly suggest that each one of us sends U.S. Representative Dave Camp an email that asks that the production tax credits for wind energy, because wind energy is neither cost effective nor a prudent use of taxpayer dollars, NOT be renewed as of December 31, 2013.
Time is running out. If we could all do this by Friday, it might help. Please pass it on.
Email Dave Camp now.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Testify
On November 13, 2103, Kevon Martis testified before the Ohio Senate and House Public Utilities Committees.
I am the director and senior policy analyst of the Interstate Informed Citizen’s Coalition, Inc. We are a bipartisan non‐profit based in SE Michigan, just a few miles from Toledo, OH. We represent citizens living on the front lines of industrial wind development in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
I would like to thank the committee for this opportunity to testify today.
I have a BA in History from the University of Michigan. I have also served as the vice‐chairman of the Riga Township planning commission as well as the vice‐chairman of the Lenawee County Rural Land Use Committee. I lecture widely across the Michigan on wind energy zoning matters. I have testified before the Michigan House Energy and Tech committee on energy policy and am a resource for legislators from both sides of the aisle.
As a volunteer ratepayer advocate, I believe I bring a unique perspective on what I will today call the
“bizarro world” of industrial wind energy policy. Having been involved with those who are living on the receiving end of wind energy mandates like Ohio’s SB221 or Michigan’s PA295, I am in a position to testify about things that lobbyists roaming the halls of Columbus or Lansing prefer to keep unseen.
As those who testified before me have elegantly demonstrated, the world of wind energy lobbyists,
developers and their “environmental group” advocates is one in which up is down, black is white, loud is quiet, double talk is the lingua franca and the US Constitution does not apply.
Permit me to share my observations from a front row seat across the rural Midwest over the last 4
years ...
You can read the rest of his testimony here.
I am the director and senior policy analyst of the Interstate Informed Citizen’s Coalition, Inc. We are a bipartisan non‐profit based in SE Michigan, just a few miles from Toledo, OH. We represent citizens living on the front lines of industrial wind development in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
I would like to thank the committee for this opportunity to testify today.
I have a BA in History from the University of Michigan. I have also served as the vice‐chairman of the Riga Township planning commission as well as the vice‐chairman of the Lenawee County Rural Land Use Committee. I lecture widely across the Michigan on wind energy zoning matters. I have testified before the Michigan House Energy and Tech committee on energy policy and am a resource for legislators from both sides of the aisle.
As a volunteer ratepayer advocate, I believe I bring a unique perspective on what I will today call the
“bizarro world” of industrial wind energy policy. Having been involved with those who are living on the receiving end of wind energy mandates like Ohio’s SB221 or Michigan’s PA295, I am in a position to testify about things that lobbyists roaming the halls of Columbus or Lansing prefer to keep unseen.
As those who testified before me have elegantly demonstrated, the world of wind energy lobbyists,
developers and their “environmental group” advocates is one in which up is down, black is white, loud is quiet, double talk is the lingua franca and the US Constitution does not apply.
Permit me to share my observations from a front row seat across the rural Midwest over the last 4
years ...
You can read the rest of his testimony here.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Utility company fined for eagle deaths
UTILITY COMPANY SENTENCED IN WYOMING FOR KILLING PROTECTED BIRDS AT WIND PROJECTS
WASHINGTON – Duke Energy Renewables Inc., a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corp., based in Charlotte, N.C., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Wyoming today to violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in connection with the deaths of protected birds, including golden eagles, at two of the company’s wind projects in Wyoming. This case represents the first ever criminal enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for unpermitted avian takings at wind projects.
Under a plea agreement with the government, the company was sentenced to pay fines, restitution and community service totaling $1 million and was placed on probation for five years, during which it must implement an environmental compliance plan aimed at preventing bird deaths at the company’s four commercial wind projects in the state. The company is also required to apply for an Eagle Take Permit which, if granted, will provide a framework for minimizing and mitigating the deaths of golden eagles at the wind projects.
The charges stem from the discovery of 14 golden eagles and 149 other protected birds, including hawks, blackbirds, larks, wrens and sparrows by the company at its “Campbell Hill” and “Top of the World” wind projects in Converse County between 2009 and 2013. The two wind projects are comprised of 176 large wind turbines sited on private agricultural land.
According to the charges and other information presented in court, Duke Energy Renewables Inc. failed to make all reasonable efforts to build the projects in a way that would avoid the risk of avian deaths by collision with turbine blades, despite prior warnings about this issue from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). However, the company cooperated with the USFWS investigation and has already implemented measures aimed at minimizing avian deaths at the sites.
“This case represents the first criminal conviction under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for unlawful avian takings at wind projects,” said Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. “In this plea agreement, Duke Energy Renewables acknowledges that it constructed these wind projects in a manner it knew beforehand would likely result in avian deaths. To its credit, once the projects came on line and began causing avian deaths, Duke took steps to minimize the hazard, and with this plea agreement has committed to an extensive compliance plan to minimize bird deaths at its Wyoming facilities and to devote resources to eagle preservation and rehabilitation efforts.”
The rest of the article is here.
WASHINGTON – Duke Energy Renewables Inc., a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corp., based in Charlotte, N.C., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Wyoming today to violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in connection with the deaths of protected birds, including golden eagles, at two of the company’s wind projects in Wyoming. This case represents the first ever criminal enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for unpermitted avian takings at wind projects.
Under a plea agreement with the government, the company was sentenced to pay fines, restitution and community service totaling $1 million and was placed on probation for five years, during which it must implement an environmental compliance plan aimed at preventing bird deaths at the company’s four commercial wind projects in the state. The company is also required to apply for an Eagle Take Permit which, if granted, will provide a framework for minimizing and mitigating the deaths of golden eagles at the wind projects.
The charges stem from the discovery of 14 golden eagles and 149 other protected birds, including hawks, blackbirds, larks, wrens and sparrows by the company at its “Campbell Hill” and “Top of the World” wind projects in Converse County between 2009 and 2013. The two wind projects are comprised of 176 large wind turbines sited on private agricultural land.
According to the charges and other information presented in court, Duke Energy Renewables Inc. failed to make all reasonable efforts to build the projects in a way that would avoid the risk of avian deaths by collision with turbine blades, despite prior warnings about this issue from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). However, the company cooperated with the USFWS investigation and has already implemented measures aimed at minimizing avian deaths at the sites.
“This case represents the first criminal conviction under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for unlawful avian takings at wind projects,” said Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. “In this plea agreement, Duke Energy Renewables acknowledges that it constructed these wind projects in a manner it knew beforehand would likely result in avian deaths. To its credit, once the projects came on line and began causing avian deaths, Duke took steps to minimize the hazard, and with this plea agreement has committed to an extensive compliance plan to minimize bird deaths at its Wyoming facilities and to devote resources to eagle preservation and rehabilitation efforts.”
The rest of the article is here.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Special meetings for Essex Township and Bengal Township on Nov 6
Essex Township -
November 6th special meeting information:
Township attorneys Frederick Lucas and Bill Fahey have requested a Special Meeting to discuss the Forest Hill Energy Complaint vs Essex Township. The meeting will take place on November 6th at 7:00 pm. The Community Center is being used at that time so we have secured the Village of Maple Rapids offices for the meeting. The offices are located at 118 W. Adelaide approximately three blocks North of the Community Center. This meeting will primarily be a closed meeting with public comment at the opening and closing of the meeting.
Bengal Township -
November 6th special meeting:
Bengal Township is holding a special meeting at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at held at Township Hall at 6586 West M-21.
November 6th special meeting information:
Township attorneys Frederick Lucas and Bill Fahey have requested a Special Meeting to discuss the Forest Hill Energy Complaint vs Essex Township. The meeting will take place on November 6th at 7:00 pm. The Community Center is being used at that time so we have secured the Village of Maple Rapids offices for the meeting. The offices are located at 118 W. Adelaide approximately three blocks North of the Community Center. This meeting will primarily be a closed meeting with public comment at the opening and closing of the meeting.
Bengal Township -
November 6th special meeting:
Bengal Township is holding a special meeting at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at held at Township Hall at 6586 West M-21.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Monday, November 4th - be there!
From Kevon Martis:
Good afternoon ICC supporters and interested observers!
The plans for the AWEA protest Nov. 4th in East Lansing are coming along very nicely.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MI PROTEST EVENT OF THE LAST 6 YEARS! WE NEED YOUR VOICES!
Our friends in Huron County are trying to fill a bus for this event.
URGENT NEWS::
The speaker’s list for the AWEA event has been released. http://www.awea.org/events/Event.aspx?EventID=21506&SubSectionID=5633
The names there are the Who’s-who list of wind profiteers and opportunists in the State of Michigan- Rich VanderVeen who pushed the Gratiot County wind project, John Sarver who said “rural residents do not have a right to peace and quiet”, Rick Wilson of Heritage Energy, Patty Birkholz of MLCV, Doug Jester from 5 Lakes Energy, Chris Kolb of the Michigan Environmental Council- all the names that pushed the failed Proposal 3 ballot measure last year.
Our message to them is simple: NO MEANS NO!!!!
Steve Bakkal of the Michigan Energy Office and MPSC Commissioner John Quackenbush are also speaking. I have sent word to them that we are very troubled by their presence and hope that they will convey to the AWEA crowd that wind energy in Michigan is causing harm and devastating our rural communities. We have several folks who will be attending inside and taking notes. To date I have not received a response from their offices. I will keep you posted.
US Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means committee is scheduled to speak as well. I have placed a call in to his DC office asking for clarity on his position with respect to the Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy so that our protest could be properly targeted.
I have not yet received an answer. I have also asked that he cancel his appearance. We may need to take more action here. Keep your phone dialing fingers nimble and I will keep you posted.
Finally, Senator Debbie Stabenow is speaking as well. Our efforts to reach her on wind energy in the past have fallen upon deaf ears.
Finally, I spent all day in Lansing on Thursday. I spoke with many members of the Senate Energy and Tech Committee. I also visited members of the same committee but on the House side.
Our voices are being heard.
In the meantime, please take some time to start making protest signs for the event. Feel free to use the names of the AWEA speakers to inspire your efforts. We will again have IICC T-shirts for folks who wish to wear them. It would be good to have a few signs showing the names of which counties are represented.
Signs asking Governor Snyder to protect your communities from predatory wind developers or wind development are valuable as well.
And a few asking for the end of the PTC for wind energy are good..
We have folks traveling from OH, IN and hopefully Ontario to help us out.
I hope to see you all there.
Kevon
More information here.
Good afternoon ICC supporters and interested observers!
The plans for the AWEA protest Nov. 4th in East Lansing are coming along very nicely.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MI PROTEST EVENT OF THE LAST 6 YEARS! WE NEED YOUR VOICES!
Our friends in Huron County are trying to fill a bus for this event.
URGENT NEWS::
The speaker’s list for the AWEA event has been released. http://www.awea.org/events/Event.aspx?EventID=21506&SubSectionID=5633
The names there are the Who’s-who list of wind profiteers and opportunists in the State of Michigan- Rich VanderVeen who pushed the Gratiot County wind project, John Sarver who said “rural residents do not have a right to peace and quiet”, Rick Wilson of Heritage Energy, Patty Birkholz of MLCV, Doug Jester from 5 Lakes Energy, Chris Kolb of the Michigan Environmental Council- all the names that pushed the failed Proposal 3 ballot measure last year.
Our message to them is simple: NO MEANS NO!!!!
Steve Bakkal of the Michigan Energy Office and MPSC Commissioner John Quackenbush are also speaking. I have sent word to them that we are very troubled by their presence and hope that they will convey to the AWEA crowd that wind energy in Michigan is causing harm and devastating our rural communities. We have several folks who will be attending inside and taking notes. To date I have not received a response from their offices. I will keep you posted.
US Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means committee is scheduled to speak as well. I have placed a call in to his DC office asking for clarity on his position with respect to the Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy so that our protest could be properly targeted.
I have not yet received an answer. I have also asked that he cancel his appearance. We may need to take more action here. Keep your phone dialing fingers nimble and I will keep you posted.
Finally, Senator Debbie Stabenow is speaking as well. Our efforts to reach her on wind energy in the past have fallen upon deaf ears.
Finally, I spent all day in Lansing on Thursday. I spoke with many members of the Senate Energy and Tech Committee. I also visited members of the same committee but on the House side.
Our voices are being heard.
In the meantime, please take some time to start making protest signs for the event. Feel free to use the names of the AWEA speakers to inspire your efforts. We will again have IICC T-shirts for folks who wish to wear them. It would be good to have a few signs showing the names of which counties are represented.
Signs asking Governor Snyder to protect your communities from predatory wind developers or wind development are valuable as well.
And a few asking for the end of the PTC for wind energy are good..
We have folks traveling from OH, IN and hopefully Ontario to help us out.
I hope to see you all there.
Kevon
More information here.
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