(shaking head - rolling eyes)
Posted on 02/23/2006 9:38:16 PM PST by ncountylee
BOSTON It's a story you heard about first on CBS4. There's an effort by Washington insiders to kill the wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound. Political analyst Jon Keller has been following this unfolding story.
A congressional committee could vote as early as Monday on a late amendment to the Coast Guard budget that would wipe out the wind farm plan by extending the buffer zones between the turbines and shipping lanes.
And here at home, politicians are quickly forming battle lines.
As the countdown to that crucial committee vote continues, so does furious lobbying and last-minute maneuvering by both sides of the wind farm dispute.
CBS4 News has learned that Maine Senator Olympia Snowe is trying to broker a compromise amendment that would shorten the required 1.5 mile buffer zone between wind turbines and shipping lanes, a move that could keep the project on track.
Meanwhile, the controversy spilled over into the Massachusetts governor's race Thursday, with wind farm opponent Tom Reilly, who is also a candidate for governor, saying it's time the project was brought to a halt.
"We do need to increase our energy supply," says Reilly. "There's a right way to do things and there's a wrong way to do things."
Reilly says he won't be disappointed if the project were to fall apart. "I think it's the right answer," he said. "I think it's the right decision for Massachusetts."
But Deval Patrick, a wind farm supporter and candidate for governor, says that's dirty pool.
"That is exactly the kind of government, the kind of behavior in government that has caused so many people to check out and to give up and have a certain amount of disgust, frankly," he said.
And some other key players in this political drama aren't talking at all.
Cape congressman Bill Delahunt, a staunch wind farm critic, didn't return repeated phone calls Thursday. Some think he's playing a role in the 11th hour amendment.
And Senator John Kerry, a staunch environmentalist and wind power proponent, also did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. He's believed to be staying clear of the issue out of deference to Senator Ted Kennedy, a wind farm opponent.
If you saw Kennedy's nervous comments Wednesday about the poison pill amendment, you can tell this thing is a major hot potato.
Why? Because despite the near-total opposition of the local political establishment, polls are showing strong public support for wind power and concern over soaring energy costs.
So, stay tuned.
Neither Kennedy or Kerry had the guts to even comment.
The hypocrisy of liberals is stunning.
Good for Olympia for working to save this project. Why there are so few areas hosting wind turbines is beyond me.
I heard an audio clip of Kennedy denying any involvement in the 1.5 mile ban.
But why would the Coast Guard have an interest in the wind project?
If a ship was out of the shipping lanes in this area by 1.5 miles, it would run aground.
More of the demorats being hypocrites. First on security and now on alternative energy.
Kennedy produces large gusts of hot air..
Not in my backyard.
The democrats are fighting LPG terminals in New England too.
Just like all those idiot demlibs blaming Bush for high oil prices, but refusing to allow oil exploration anywhere in the US.
All because they buttkiss the check writters at the Sierra club to fund thier campaigns.
The wind farm stuff doesn't work long term.
The pistons and bearings of the blades constantly break down and are more cost than they are worth.
Then there is the slight issue of them falling off and possible doing not only damage to other wind machines, but hurting people as well.
Isn't that something investors and private companies should decide, that is whether or not it is cost affective?
Well, several times in life the IRS after the fact had gone back in time and denied them here and there as being able to write off, which has screwed many investors.
Then it has been established at this current time that the sand destroys the device and they need expensive maintenance. More so than they are worth.
I don't know of any current research that has found them at this time a worthwhile investment.
Kennedy hasn't commented and they don't work well anyway.
It is my understanding that Kennedy was strongly against, and that is why it is in trouble. According to earlier reports he thought they would ruin the view.
I don't know how they work in this country, but I understand that Spain is getting 10% of its electricity from off shore wind turbines and plans to move up to 20 or 30% in the next decade. How does sand get in the way if they are out a sea. I would think that sea salt would be more of a problem, if there is a problem.
Another thought I had after a bought a little old book about windmills is this. The book showed a horizonal windmill using a wide wheel that looked like a horizontal water wheel. I wounder if this could work off shore, but not stick up so high as to disturb the view.
With the way the whole world oil situation is deteriorating, we need to develop our own energy sources asap. There have been several good FR posts this week on E85 autos (cars using 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), ethanol production, and biodiesal. Check these out. I think there is about to be a major take-off in these products. Bill Gates has just invested $85 million in Calif. ethanol energy plants.
Kennedy hasn't commented and they don't work well anyway.
It is my understanding that Kennedy was strongly against, and that is why it is in trouble. According to earlier reports he thought they would ruin the view.
I don't know how they work in this country, but I understand that Spain is getting 10% of its electricity from off shore wind turbines and plans to move up to 20 or 30% in the next decade. How does sand get in the way if they are out a sea. I would think that sea salt would be more of a problem, if there is a problem.
Another thought I had after a bought a little old book about windmills is this. The book showed a horizonal windmill using a wide wheel that looked like a horizontal water wheel. I wounder if this could work off shore, but not stick up so high as to disturb the view.
With the way the whole world oil situation is deteriorating, we need to develop our own energy sources asap. There have been several good FR posts this week on E85 autos (cars using 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), ethanol production, and biodiesal. Check these out. I think there is about to be a major take-off in these products. Bill Gates has just invested $85 million in Calif. ethanol energy plants.
Kennedy's view reason is petty.
Most of those things go in sandy areas like California, and though we have wind farms, they have been a bust because the can not hold up to all the turning of the blade and the sand. They need constant repair, parts wear out fast.
Too costly and not worth the time and effort.
IRS also screwed lots of people who invested in projects concerning wind power in the past. Left a bad taste in lots of people's mouths.
PS:
Here is a cancer cure article I just left elsewhere on FR:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4446435,00.html
Soon people can all live to 120 and collect SS at 110. :)
Pistons? You may need to take an engineering class. As for hurting people, don't fly your plane into the props.
(shaking head - rolling eyes)
Composites and Inconel or Monel would take care of the NaCL issue.
(shaking head - rolling eyes)
Porblems with pistons and bearings.
Are we talking about two different uses of windmills. Yes the water pumping windmills have pistons. But do the 2 bladed electric wind mills have them or does that have a completely different kind of operation?
Anyone know?
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