A constituent just received a letter from Representative Dave Camp which states: 'H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act, signed into law on January 2, included a one year extension of the wid Production Tax Credit through December 31, 2013. The House of Representatives did not take up legislation to extend the credit into next year before adjourning the 2013 legislative session.'
What this means, folks: PUT THE PRESSURE ON REPRESENTATIVE CAMP in a HUGE way starting on January 6, 2014!!!! If they just bulldoze that funding bill through, wind turbines will be funded again through 2014. If we can get the funding pulled, the project will stop.
Again, IF WE CAN GET THE FUNDING PULLED, THE PROJECT WILL STOP.
It is ONLY through our voices that the funding will be pulled. Call everyone you know and ask everyone to please e-mail Rep. Camp on Friday, January 3rd so he has all of this for January session. Please make it your New Year's resolution to ask 5 people to write their representative.
Thank you. Merry Christmas; Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
2013 recap and message!
Below is a recap of 2013 from Kevon Martis. I still can't believe so much has been accomplished in such a sort time. As you read the letter, please keep in mind that none of this would be possible without Kevon's efforts. Those of you who haven't met him, please watch one or two of his videos. Also, the sign in front of AWEA's headquarters tells you a lot about his commitment, and fighting style. He's not backing down to anyone. We are on the verge of turning things around at the state and possibly bringing an end to the project here in Clinton Co. The thing Kevon needs most right now is donations to the IICC to help cover his traveling expenses. I urge you to go to the www.iiccusa.org website and help in any way you can or contact me.
Thanks,
I wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas.
Ken Wieber
Thanks,
I wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas.
Ken Wieber
Dear IICC Supporters and interested observers:
Sorry I am so late with this update. But what a busy year!
Thinking back over the past 12 months, it is amazing the things we have accomplished together.
We attended nearly every Energy Forum in the state and brought informed speakers and testimony before the MPSC and MEO. http://www.youtube.com/watch?
I was able to present as a formal speaker in Traverse City. http://www.youtube.com/watch?
We picketed several Energy Forum events and handed out literature across the state and made our “Death Turbine” infamous! http://www.youtube.com/watch?
We strengthened our ties with our Ohio brethren, excluding college football J :
We picketed the AWEA in Columbus and East Lansing and got great press coverage for our efforts. http://www.mlive.com/business/
We assembled a team of expert witnesses who testified before both the Ohio House and Senate Public Utility Committees. Our written testimonies are here: http://www.
My video from that event is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Many thanks to Robert Rand, Lisa Linowes, Dr. Michael Giberson, Dr. George Taylor, Dr. Jay Lehr, Dan Simmons and James Fuscaldo, J.D. and ESPECIALLY Julie Johnson and Tom Stacy who worked tirelessly to put it all together.
And a huge thank you for everyone’s financial support that made this event possible!
Our efforts in Ohio elicited a sharp rebuke from Senator Seitz to AWEA’s Michael Goggin:
Senator Seitz is still working aggressively to roll back Ohio’s RPS law and is even considering bringing suit against their instate generation mandate personally. http://www.bizjournals.com/
I testified before the Michigan House Energy and Tech committee against PA295: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
James Fuscaldo and I testified before the MPSC with respect to the unconstitutional instate renewable energy mandate. http://iiccusa.org/
I submitted a 30 page response to the State’s Draft Report on Renewable Energy. It appears that not only did we help frame the debate, the majority of my suggestions were incorporated in the final report. http://miideas.dtmb.michigan.
And last week I returned from my trip to Washington DC where I was joined by Lisa Linowes from windaction.org as well as Tom Stacy from Ohio.
We were hosted by the Institute for Energy Research. We spoke before maybe 60 congressional staffers, the press and AWEA’s Michael Goggin.
Video of my testimony is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
I have video of the other presenters as well but have not had time to edit them. But their excellent written testimonies are here: Lisa Linowes- http://www.masterresource.org/
And I left a present at AWEA’s HQ-which then strangely disappeared J
Tom, Lisa and I were able to interact with many congressional staffers and several members of congress.
I attempted to meet with Rep. Dave Camp’s staffer Adam Pradko but he would not see me. That was disappointing. It is deeply disturbing to me that Rep. Camp will speak to AWEA but not speak to his constituents about wind energy. Neither will Rep. Camp share his video presentation from the East Lansing AWEA event with his Michigan constituents.
There is not as much support for extending the Wind Energy PTC as there was last year. But AWEA has deep pockets and they are everywhere- from Lansing to Columbus to DC. But this year-thanks to your support- IICC was right there with them!
Senator’s Lamar Alexander (R) and Joe Manchin (D) have signed a letter opposing the extension of the PTC.
Michigan Senators are MIA on this matter. You may want to forward this letter to them and ask why their name does not appear on it.
(The price of liberty is eternal vigilance…..but what a pain! J)
I have been contacted by another community in the Thumb asking for our support to adopt a safe wind energy ordinance. We will do all we can.
There are many legal actions taking place around the state. I do not have time to recount them all at this time.
But one major blow to Big Wind is that Consumer’s Energy’s Lakewinds project was found to be out of compliance with the county zoning ordinance and the county’s third party consultant determined that Tech Environmental’s Peter Guldberg had designed the plant in such a way that it would never comply with the ordinance in the first place. Jack Spencer of the Michigan Capitol Confidential covered it well here: http://www.
CMS Energy has appealed to the Mason County ZBA to overturn the zoning board’s unanimous decision that declared Lakewinds out of compliance. Let us hope the Mason County ZBA concurs with their own zoning board.
IF CMS loses at the ZBA we expect them to bring suit.
If CMS loses in court, their only apparent recourse would be to curtail the turbine operations to comply with the noise ordinance-which would be very expensive-or buy out the surrounding properties. Let us hope it is the latter. Or both!
Looking back over this list of events I realize there are so many people across Michigan and Ohio who helped us spread our message in so many ways.
And at a time when our federal government on both sides of the aisle seems so out of touch with the values of ordinary citizens, it is a real joy to be a tiny part of changing our state and nation for the better.
And better yet is the fact that we work together on these matters despite our different life experiences and party affiliations.
Many of us have sacrificed years of hard work in the battle for a sane energy policy. I am humbled to be numbered among you.
And I am humbled by the fact that when you folks hear of another community under threat, you stand prepared to fight again-even though that community may be hundreds of miles from your home.
Remember-you cannot be a NIMBY when you fight irresponsible wind development in someone else’s backyard! J
I am often asked about the status of renewable energy mandates in Michigan.
I do not believe the governor or legislature is interested in increasing a renewable energy mandate that results in far more wind turbines across the state.
They know that Michigan wind is expensive compared to our regional peers, the instate mandate is illegal and turbines are driving people from their homes while doing essentially no environmental good.
I have met only a couple legislators in Lansing that do not appear to understand that essential truth.
Finally:
We have done a lot with a little this year.
The truth is that we have only meager financial resources and little political clout. We cannot buy politicians or threaten to move voter blocks of hundreds of thousands of people.
All we have is truth and science on our side.
But I still believe that if we can continue to be clever, accurate and persistent with our arguments, we will change the world and stop the turbine madness.
From the bottom of my heart and on the behalf of the directors of the IICC: I wish you all health, peace, joy and justice for 2014.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah!
Kevon Martis
Director
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Please contact your representative
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.
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.
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.
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