Posted on 07/01/2011 6:35:07 PM PDT by neverdem
For all the talk about getting more renewable energy projects going on federal lands, the policies in place don’t move projects to the industry’s liking.
The push hasn’t come hard or fast enough. For all the talk about getting more renewable energy projects going on federal lands, the policies in place don’t move projects to the industry’s liking.
That seemed to be the consensus at a recent hearing of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee [3] hearing, "American Energy Initiative: Identifying Roadblocks to Wind and Solar Energy on Public Lands and Waters."
The amount of time a project can be delayed by its opposition is one of the complaints. At 11 years and counting before the Cape Wind offshore project [4] in Massachusetts ever gets going, developer Jim Gordon is an expert o the topic.
“One fundamental defect is that it lacks any legal requirements that would limit the duration of the review period,” Gordon said. “As a result, with no required end point, opponents can use regulatory stalling and delay tactics to try to financially cripple even a project that meets all statutory standards and serves federal and state policy objectives.”
Gordon suggested a three-pronged approach to move projects through the permitting pipeline:
- Environmental review pursuant to specific statutory timeframes that prevent delay tactics from financially crippling projects
- Projects that require federal approvals would be expedited significantly if all such reviews were consolidated in a single appellate proceeding
- Federal investment incentives for long lead time renewable energy projects are typically put in place for time periods far shorter than the time required for permitting, environmental review and construction
Frank DeRosa, senior vice president for project development at First Solar [5], commended federal officials for making progress in some areas of review for projects on federal lands...
(Excerpt) Read more at energybiz.com ...
How about a fourth prong?
Liberal Democrat Senators with luxurious compounds on Cape Cod are not allowed to voice objections to projects?
It's all just part of overwhelming the system.
These delay tactics have been in place for decades impacting all sorts of energy projects. The fundamental problem is that environmental laws grant standing for non impacted parties. The left loves this obstruction except now some of the left see these tactics stopping their pet projects. Take away standing to non injured parties and most of the problems will disappear.
These projects, are, very simply, luxuries. They are hugely expensive and, for all the propaganda about “sustainability,” are economically unsustainable. In a debt-crisis environment, we have no more money for them.
More wind power?
I guess the existing windmill things aren’t killing off the birds fast enough.
Wow, talk about eating your own. Obama’s own alphabet soup agenicies shut down the green interests, the very ones he supposedly supports. Obama wants to cripple us by shutting down EVERY means of energy production.
This is where the whole fraud comes in.
They are trying to sell the lie to liberals who drive super clean SUVs and drink bio soy milk or what not, that we can live happy like indians without the inadequacies of dealing with the dirt, the rain and the awful conditions of the jungle.
Well, I got news for idiot liberals: these industries only work for very few people because they rely on huge real estate, while the rest of us will be in the streets scrapping bottom.
THis is when the fun begins and liberals will be screaming for meds that they will not get. HEnce population control and abortion and people deciding against marriage commitments and what not. Watch it. Civilization is going to end for sure.
For every “green” job created, two “non-green” jobs will be lost.
Then, if let go unchecked, when it’s too late, it will finally be evident even to these commie idiots that “Green energy sources” are woefully inadequate.
This “green” nonsense has to be nipped in the bud right now.
It is the job of the GOPS. Guess what? They are AWOL.
The wind project on Block Island RI just contracted to sell its power to National Grid at a little over $0.24 per Kilowatt hour.
Watch your electric bills go up-——(but you’re saving the planet).
Are they willing to apply these same conditions to
nuclear power plants? I doubt it.
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