Powerful politicians want to kill wind energy

Why?
Utopia is a Greek word which literally means “no place”. It is considered by many to mean something quite wonderful-- especially among those who consider themselves to be idealistic Utopians out to create a better world, a new world order, or, to borrow Aldous Huxley’s title, a “Brave New World.” I have never been comfortable with most of these self professed Utopians because they rarely have a clue about the needs and aspirations of most Americans and are so busy trying to do for them that they do them in.

That may be what is wrong with the Alliance for the Protection of Nantucket Sound and their dissembling allies. They may have succeeded in bring Wind Power to a state of Utopia which is where they would site all of those magnificent wind turbines which have the promise of leading America to energy independence and clean, non polluting electrical energy. Take a look at what has been happening because of the nefarious tactics of the Alliance and their powerful friends.

They have made it clear that they will fight to death to drive Cape Wind’s proposed wind-park on Horseshoe Shoal onto the rocks at any cost. Put it there, put it where, just don’t put it here.

Those who have been touting Massachusetts Military Reservation as the perfect alternative to Nantucket Sound for the first major wind park better start questioning who it is that the Alliance really wants to protect.

Among their strongest political allies is Old Bull Republican John Warner, senior Senator from Virginia, who tried to sneak an amendment into the defense appropriation bill last year to cripple the Nantucket Sound Wind Park.

Mr. Warner is more intent to do the bidding of friends and relatives along the Oyster Harbors-Wianno “gold coast” than protecting the interests of the American people.

Anyone with an ounce of sense must admit that lessening America’s dependence on foreign oil and natural gas is far more important to our future than any privileged minority’s uninterrupted view of an empty horizon. Yet Old Senate Bulls of like John Warner and our own Senator Ted Kennedy continue to do what they can to destroy prospects of a wind energy project off our shore. If it is allowed to move forward observing all the safeguards that are available, it could open the way for future offshore wind farms to generate electricity without polluting the air and fouling the seas with oil spills. We could kiss our OPEC “allies” goodbye and good riddance.

The Alliance and its supporters, funded by well-heeled contributors with ties to fossil fuel producers and traditional power generating utilities, have maneuvered skillfully to delay approval of the Nantucket Wind Farm.

Their game has been and continues to be delay, delay and delay. And they have done a job on Cape Wind seeking to drain the private developer of funds and support.

As long as money keeps coming in, they will pursue this course of action plotting to make something bad happen to Cape Wind. People calling the shots for the Alliance have had a lot of experience killing projects that might produce jobs and wages for middle class workers.

Well, something bad has happened. They dug up another forgettable fossil politico to make mischief. Their new ally is a Republican Senator from Tennessee—former presidential candidate Lamar Alexander whose biggest contribution to presidential politics was wearing flannel shirts. The symbolism was lost on me and most voters who totally ignored the Tennessean’s presidential bid..

What do John Warner, Ted Kennedy and Lamar Alexander have in common? Not much except, apparently, a visceral hatred of wind turbines. The former two U.S. Senators hold the mistaken belief it might devalue family property values. The latter Senator from Tennessee objects for no valid reasons except, perhaps, to protect the TVA’s lock-hold on power generation in the Tennessee Valley and to guarantee a captive market for coal from Appalachia which produces 376-million tons annually-- half of it from strip mining.

Tennessee is a small fry in coal production compared to Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. But coal revenues are still important. Read production statistics of coal producing states and you will begin to understand just how big the coal industry looms in the national picture. Since coal is king in many states you can bet your boots the big coal money interests don’t want to see development of wind power except as a token toy prop. Now you see what Cape Wind is up against.

Coal, oil and natural gas producers as well as nuclear power utilities have all taken billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies over the years. Should wind power receive the same kind of treatment? Industry opponents who nearly stampede to collect government subsidies say no.

The Warner-Alexander Amendment does what the fuel industry wants. They would deny all subsidies to wind energy development interests including the PTC or Production Tax Credit without which wind power projects cannot get off the ground. That alone could kill not only the Cape Wind project, but also most viable wind energy sites being considered in these United States.

What about the marvelous scheme to put wind turbines at Otis Air Base? Not if the Warner-Alexander amendment passes. Wind turbines would be banned within 20 miles of all military bases, “highly scenic locations and offshore.” That leaves “no place”-- the literal translation of utopia.

Whose fault is it? Utopian Susan Nickerson of the Alliance told the Cape Cod Times that Cape Wind is partly to blame because it is the pre-eminent offshore wind project in America. She said she supports continuation of the PTC but if its demise works to kill the Nantucket Sound project, I imagine that bridge will have to be built before we can cross it. Ms Nickerson, like Sen. Kennedy, also says she supports wind energy—but not in the crowded, already damaged Nantucket Sound which is about as pristine as a parking lot in a upscale shopping mall filled with boutiques.

So what is the Alliance solution? Let’s kill it. We have money to burn and that doesn’t create air pollution.

With leadership like this we will always be over a barrel,