U.S. Wind Energy Policy: Correcting the Abuse in 100 Days (Part I)

By -- February 2, 2017 13 Comments

“Obama’s green energy agenda meant advancing wind interests at any cost, and it shows. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) now estimates the total cost of the wind production tax credit in the years 2016–2020 at $23.7 billion.”

“Public opposition to projects has significantly intensified as turbines standing over 500-feet tall were repeatedly sited near homes and sensitive natural habitats. Still, the [Obama] administration remained unequivocal in its advocacy.”

Land-based wind energy experienced the fastest growth in installed capacity under the Obama presidency, achieving a three-fold increase from 25,000 megawatts (MW) in 2008 to over 75,000 megawatts today. By the end of 2016, wind represented about 5.5% of total U.S. generation (megawatt hours). [1]

The Obama White House, in concert with Senate Democrats, systematically pushed through regulation that dramatically raised wind subsidies, fast-tracked project development, funded policy reports that benefited the sector, and generally placed industry interests ahead of public interests and assets.…

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Energy & Environmental Newsletter: January 2, 2017

By -- January 2, 2017 No Comments

The Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national, state, and local energy and environmental policies. Our premise is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science (please consult WiseEnergy.org for more information).

A key element of AWED’s efforts is public education. Towards that end, every three weeks we put together a newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and the environment. We appreciate MasterResource for their assistance in publishing this information.

Some of the more important articles in this issue are:

Irish High Court Finds Wind Turbine Maker Liable for Noise Nuisance – Seven Irish Families to Get Millions in Punitive Damages

Outstanding podcast on Energy and Climate Change

Excellent Study: Energy Deregulation

Per Capita Energy Productivity for Primary Sources of Electrical Energy

China Closer to Harnessing Clean, Limitless Energy from Nuclear Fusion

Trump Has Better Ideas on Energy

Cutting the Crap at DOE (See new Newsletter section on Trump & Energy)

Sweden Denies Permit for World’s Largest Wind Project, Due to its Military Interference

Obsolete Calculations of Cost of Carbon

The Social Cost of Carbon

Southern Baptist leaders defend Trump’s pick to lead EPA (See new Newsletter section on Trump & AGW)

100% Of US Warming Is Due To NOAA Data Tampering

New Study Casts Doubt on Key Climate Change Predicting Metric

97% Consequential Misperceptions: Ethics of Consensus on Global Warming

Biggest Fake News Story: Global Warming and Phony Consensus

Skeptical Climate Scientists Coming In From the Cold

 

Greed Energy Economics:

The Social Cost of Carbon

Per Capita Energy Productivity for Primary Sources of Electrical Energy

Energy Subsidies

The $3.5 Trillion Fracking Economy Is About To Get A Lot Bigger

More IRS Wind Energy Shenanigans

 

Turbine Health Matters:

Irish High Court Finds Wind Turbine Maker Liable for Noise Nuisance – 7 Irish Families to Get Millions in Punitive Damages

Ontario Wind Turbine Health Study Begins

EPA’s Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources

 

Renewable Energy Destroying Ecosystems:

The Environmental Toll of a Netflix Binge

Final US wind-turbine rule permits thousands of eagle deaths

EPA Finds No Widespread Water Pollution From Fracking

Fracking-Contaminated Groundwater: The Myth that Failed

UK Court Gives Fracking Green Light

 

Miscellaneous Energy News:

Outstanding podcast on Energy and Climate Change

Excellent Study: Energy Deregulation

China closer to harnessing clean, limitless energy from nuclear fusion

Sweden denies permit for world’s largest wind project, as it would interfere with its military

Wind turbines hinder military readiness, Texas state lawmaker argues

Look at Reviving a Discounted Source of Energy

Three worthwhile SMR presentations

UK Electricity Part 3: Wind and Solar

Why Big Mining Loves Big Green

NYS Cuts 2017 Renewable Energy Targets by 94%

NY County Passes Broad Resolution Against Wind Turbines

 

Trump and Energy:

Trump Has Better Ideas on Energy

Cutting the Crap at DOE

Trump Signals Push for American Energy Boom

Trump Opens The Door To U.S.

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Energy & Environmental Newsletter: December 12, 2016

By -- December 12, 2016 1 Comment

The Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national, state, and local energy and environmental policies. Our premise is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science (please consult WiseEnergy.org for more information).
A key element of AWED’s efforts is public education. Towards that end, every three weeks we put together a newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and the environment. We appreciate MasterResource for their assistance in publishing this information.

Some of the more important articles in this issue are:

The Obama administration lawlessly rewards its supporters and punishes its enemies

Renewables Should No Longer Have Grid Priority: E.U. Energy Commissioner

View from the Third World: The World Needs More Energy

House Bill would penalize any wind project within 40 miles of a US military base (HR-6397)

GAO: The Renewable Fuel Standard program is unlikely to meet its targets

Go Big: Eliminate the US Department of Energy

Questions for New DOE Head Person

Scientists Turn Nuclear Waste into Diamond Batteries That’ll Last for Thousands of Years

InvEnergy owes Champaign County (IL) $480,298 in unpaid taxes

Actual wind energy costs are over 31¢/KWH

NY Households with alternative energy suppliers paid $817 million extra

Effects of Wind Turbine Acoustic Emissions (Schomer: 2015)

Are Wind Turbines Too Close To Communities?

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Shelter Ontario’s Citizens from Industrial-Wind’s Tempest: III

By Sherri Lange -- December 9, 2016 3 Comments

Following is the third and final part of a letter adapted from one sent to the Office of Ombudsman of Ontario, on November 28, 2016, by Sherri Lange, CEO North American Platform Against Wind Power (NA-PAW). This part concerns the exploitative character of industrial wind. The first part of this letter was published on Wednesday, December 7, and the second part on Thursday, December 8.

The definition of “exploitation” is “to take advantage of (a person, situation, etc.) especially unethically or unjustly for one’s own ends.” In every sense, the wind industry in Ontario has taken advantage of the Green Energy Act’s pervasive powers to subvert, for its own ends, every protection of our citizens’ health and the environment

Having focused earlier on the health effects of industrial wind, we wish to impress upon you, more briefly, its impacts also on the environment, the economy, communities, property values, and water.

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Shelter Ontario’s Citizens from Industrial-Wind’s Tempest: II

By Sherri Lange -- December 8, 2016 15 Comments Continue Reading

Shelter Ontario’s Citizens from Industrial-Wind’s Tempest: I

By Sherri Lange -- December 7, 2016 8 Comments Continue Reading

Vanishing Vacationland (wind turbines roil the wild)

By Jim Lutz -- December 5, 2016 7 Comments Continue Reading

Energy & Environmental Newsletter: November 28, 2016

By -- November 28, 2016 2 Comments Continue Reading

Ohio State Senator Seitz to Ohio Power Siting Board on Wind Externalities

By Thomas Stacy II -- November 2, 2016 2 Comments Continue Reading

Wind Power: Our Least Sustainable Resource?

By Craig Rucker -- October 25, 2016 21 Comments Continue Reading