A Free-Market Energy Blog

Monhegan Island Offshore Wind: New DOE Should Decline $40 Million Subsidy

By Jim Lutz -- March 14, 2017

“A consortium of grant seekers, organized under the name ‘Aqua Ventus,’ vies for $40 million in Department of Energy grants to build a demonstration wind project within three miles of Monhegan Island. They do so under the higher moral purpose of saving the planet, but that is simply to camouflage what is but a callous quest for ‘free’ government money, taxpayers and ratepayers be damned.”

Will the new, improved US Department of Energy (DOE) just-say-no to a massively uneconomic proposed wind project offshore?

I call your attention to a situation in Maine which I believe is a poster child for how the forgotten American is being robbed and disrespected by the renewable-energy special interests and their coterie of shills. The issue is this: DOE is presently considering grants of $40 million for a project which would never exist absent tax-and-spend government largesse to this point.…

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‘Combined Heat and Power’ Distributed Generation: Beware of Government Mandates, Subsidies

By Donn Dears -- March 13, 2017

“In cities, piping exhaust steam to closely packed buildings can make sense. But trying to impose CHP in typical American suburbs where there are no industrial uses, or to where buildings are widely spaced, is irrational.”

“Combined Heat and Power has become a political football in the service of government energy planning to cut CO2 emissions. CHP can be used effectively in specific applications where it can be justified economically, but it shouldn’t be forced on Americans by government edict.”

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is dragged out periodically by anthropogenic global warming (AGW) activists who want to replace central-station electricity with distributed power from wind and solar. Power Magazine recently highlighted this movement in the section, “Global Developments Giving CHP a Much Needed Boost,” with two articles devoted to CHP installations.…

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Protect the Eagles: End USFWS’s 30-Year ‘Take’ Permits

By -- March 9, 2017

“The 30-year eagle take regulations are another example of the Obama White House rushing poorly considered policy that will have significant impact. Given the history of collaboration between Big Wind and FWS officials, the motives behind this push should be questioned by Congress and the public.”

“Making American Great Again means restoring our appreciation and respect for America’s Symbol – The Eagle!”

Editor’s Note: This essay is the final in a series aimed at highlighting the most harmful wind energy-related policies of the Obama era. In this piece we examine the relationship between the wind industry and US Fish and Wildlife Service officials, which has led to reckless ‘midnight rules’ that support 30-year permits to destroy America’s symbol – the Eagle. We recommend Congress roll-back the permit regulations under the Congressional Review Act.

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‘No Left Turns’ (self-interested conservation at UPS)

By -- March 8, 2017
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Alex Epstein Wants to Debate (and he is a polite debater)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 7, 2017
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DOE’s EERE: Reform Ideas for Secretary Perry

By Mark Krebs and Tom Tanton -- March 6, 2017
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Denial is a River in California: Can Oroville Spark New Dam Building?

By -- March 3, 2017
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Wind Energy and Aviation Safety (Part V)

By -- March 2, 2017
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Fracking Becomes the Centerpiece

By William D. Balgord -- March 1, 2017
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US Offshore Wind: Tax Machines Offset Bad Economics

By -- February 28, 2017
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