January 1, 2006

THE VIEW FROM THE VINEYARD:

Debate swirls as wind power grows rapidly across country (JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, January 1st, 2006, AP)

Wind power grew rapidly in 2005, becoming more competitive as natural gas prices jumped and crude oil prices reached record highs. Improved technology, a federal tax credit and pressure on utilities to use clean energy sources helped fuel the growth from coast to coast. [...]

"The wind resource in the United States is comparable to the oil resource in Saudi Arabia," said Tom Gray, deputy executive director of the American Wind Energy Association, an industry trade group. "It's a major strategic national resource we should be making every effort to develop."

While windmills may evoke quaint images of yesteryear, they're sparking growing debate, particularly as the first offshore projects are proposed in popular tourist areas, such as Cape Cod, Long Island, N.Y., and the New Jersey shore. Critics, including a member of the influential Kennedy family, worry that some projects could harm national treasures.

"All of a sudden you're transferring an asset used by 5 million people into the hands of private industrial speculators," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmentalist who has objected to the Cape Cod proposal.

The industry added about 2,500 megawatts of wind power this year, a record 35 percent increase, according to the association. The country's wind capacity is more than 9,200 megawatts in 30 states, enough for 2.4 million average U.S homes.


Or transferring an asset used by a few wealthy white families to the entire community.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 1, 2006 3:52 PM
Comments

Oh, for the guts of the stupid party to say that against the Kennedys.

Posted by: Sandy P at January 1, 2006 4:09 PM

"All of a sudden you're transferring an asset used by 5 million people into the hands of private industrial speculators," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr,

Malefactors of great wealth don't build windmills. They speculate in currency, hide their operations in Curacao and write checks to the Center for America Progress

Posted by: David at January 1, 2006 4:23 PM

Bathrooms. It's all about bathrooms.

Look at how the few people who live on the "national treasures" welcome or exclude the riff-raff who would like to drive out to enjoy nature. Are there places to park, to eat, to go to the bathroom?

The privileged few will fight wind power tooth and nail, with every nimby ploy at their disposal. Let them. Make the next penny of public money to their part of the country conditional on participation in the energy program. We shall see how they feel about it when we stop using tax dollars to pump their beaches back together every spring.

Posted by: Lou Gots at January 1, 2006 5:04 PM

"Or transferring an asset used by a few wealthy white families to the entire community?"

-what exactly is your point? Are you being funny, serious, or both?

Once again, we could talk a lot more about opening private property to benefit the whole community, but I wouldn't want to do that because the it wouldn't be long before I'm called the leader of a marxist..I mean terrorist group and swiftly assassinated.

Posted by: Grog at January 2, 2006 3:35 AM

The problem with wind power is that the wind doesn't atart blowing the moment I flip the switch on my electrical light.

Posted by: jd watson [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 2, 2006 4:31 AM

Grog:

We aren't speaking of taking private property for a public use, but rather of erecting public-good infrastructure in public places, but where it might interfere with scenic views from private property owned by wealthy and/or powerful people.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at January 2, 2006 5:15 AM

Why not put the windmills where the wind in incessant like the middle of Kansas?

I don't have any property on the Cape, nor do I aspire to any, but why spoil a great piece of real estate with a magnificent view even if it's currently being enjoyed by a fat senator and his gene pool when there are plenty of places where there's no view and few people.

Posted by: erp at January 2, 2006 3:43 PM

That could and should be done, but it's a problem with transmission - the upper Midwest could generate enough wind-power to supply the entire U.S.' electrical needs, but transmitting all of that power would be very expensive and inefficient.

We need either high-temp superconducting power lines, or a way to store that energy in an easily transportable form - as hydrogen, say.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at January 2, 2006 6:13 PM

Michael: I know its not private property, but it is an infringement of the property rights of those who neighbor where the proposed wind mills might be built. Whatever the case, it is still a cold-day in hell when Republicans start calling for funding projects in the interest of a public good unless they pull an obvious, tangible, profit.

Posted by: Grog at January 2, 2006 11:31 PM
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