“Less expensive natural gas is a boon to drilling host communities because it is a boon to natural gas customers. Wind energy is a boon to local communities looking to make a buck off of forced government wealth transfers — aka ‘picking winners and losers.’ That government force comes in many forms, such as special taxpayer-funded production subsidies, local tax abatement, and state renewable energy mandates.”
Tom Stacy is, indeed, a “heroic Ohioan for affordable electricity.” Underpaid and overworked, he speaks truth to wind power at every opportunity in his state and beyond. His advice?
Protest loudly, politely, and often, and sue at every turn. Expose greed and support sound science…. Finally, always speak from a position of integrity and truth and NEVER exaggerate the way the wind industry does. It is possible, though not expected, that eventually truth will win the day. Be proud because you have the truth on your side – whether you win or not.
Ever vigilant, Stacy is quick to rebut the wind cronies. His latest is a letter-to-the-editor, “No Comparing Wind to Gas,” in The Courier, a newspaper covering Findlay, Hancock County, and Northwestern Ohio.
His 322-word letter says so much, it is worth reprinting in total.
NO COMPARING WIND TO GAS
I read the column written by Sen. Cliff Hite (Viewpoint, Aug. 24) that tried to make the case for compromising rural property rights in the name of proliferating industrial wind turbines in northwest Ohio.
Hite said wind power was akin to the development of shale gas.
As a published economist in the electricity generation sector, it is easy for me to see the flaws of his comparison — but it may not be so obvious to many Courier readers. So let’s examine the senator’s comparison.
Less expensive natural gas is a boon to drilling host communities because it is a boon to natural gas customers.
Wind energy is a boon to local communities looking to make a buck off of forced government wealth transfers — aka “picking winners and losers.”
That government force comes in many forms, such as special taxpayer-funded production subsidies, local tax abatement, and state renewable energy mandates.
Now Sen. Hite wants to impose uncompensated nuisance easements on private property and extort property value by reducing wind turbine setbacks.
Together, these transfers of wealth and rights sum up to more than half of the equivalent revenue accruing to (mostly foreign) wind investors.
Wouldn’t you love to own a business that taxpayers and customers were forced by the government to make profitable?
In the end, that hurts all of us and especially the elderly, handicapped, veterans, minorities, and our precious grandchildren’s future through misspent tax dollars and higher national debt service far into the future.
I love my sweet grandchildren, too. That’s why I feel compelled to rebuke Hite’s wind energy charade.
I have heard some call it “Hite-Way Robbery.” With Republicans like Cliff Hite in office, who needs a liberal party? For that matter, who needs socialist dictatorships?
Hite is the kind of politician that gives the Republican Party a particularly bad name through inept crony capitalism. The question is, will there be a viable challenger in the next primary election?
– Tom Stacy (Ottawa, Ohio)
As was said about another larger than life character, Tom Stacy stands for truth, justice, and the American way. He might not be faster than a speeding bullet (although his fancy pickup truck covers a lot of ground) or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound (he prefers to chip away one brick at a time). But he has a superlative sense of fair play and a commitment to right reason. When the wind industry began to tug on his cape, it messed with the wrong guy. And the rest of us are the beneficiaries.
Many cheers for who Tom Stacy is and for what he continues to do.
[…] Stacy is, indeed, a ‘heroic Ohioan for affordable electricity,’” Bradley later opined in a September 2017 blog post. “Underpaid and overworked, he speaks truth to wind power at every opportunity in his state and […]
[…] Stacy is, indeed, a ‘heroic Ohioan for affordable electricity,’” Bradley later opined in a September 2017 blog post. “Underpaid and overworked, he speaks truth to wind power at every opportunity in his state and […]