The Politics And Potential Of Wind Power
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-08-16/politics-and-potential-wind-power
The role of subsidies for wind energy has become a hot-button issue in the presidential campaign. Governor Romney opposes extending tax credits for the wind industry. President Obama has re-doubled his commitment to them. In a rare show of bipartisanship last week, the Senate Finance Committee voted to extend the credits for another year. The debate over their fate will likely surface again in the fall. Supporters of the extension argue all major sources of energy have received federal help. Opponents say it’s time to let the free market take over. Diane her guests discuss the politics the future of wind energy in the U.S.
Guests
Coral Davenport
energy and environment correspondent for National Journal.
Denise Bode
chief executive officer of the American Wind Energy Association.
Daniel Simmons
director of regulatory and state affairs at the Institute for Energy Research.
John Gimigliano
principal-in-charge of KPMG’s Energy Sustainability Tax practice and former senior tax counsel for the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Comments
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"ecgberht wrote:
GRAVITY is an undisputed fact!"
PROVE IT!!!
"The earth revolves around the sun is an undisputed fact!"
PROVE IT!!!
August 16, 2012 - 8:19 pm
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
mchaun wrote: "Tail hook pussy shavers"
That's your best comment today!
Good show, but I was somewhat disappointed that a prime reason to subsidize wind power was never really discussed. There is an urgency to move away from carbon-based fuel, because carbon-based fuel is destroying our climate. We can't wait for market forces to move us off carbon-based fuel, we need government incentives.
I think it's great to have alternative energy sources to meet our needs. If you got the money and you want to help the environment, then move close to a wind farm or put your own one up nearby. It is your right to choose for yourself. Just don't be using my Government as your personal piggy bank and forcing me to join you. (That goes for all subsidies, companies, industries, etc.) The great thing about Liberals is their ability to embrace change and try new things. I just hate the fact that it comes with that "elitist snobbery" attitude that anyone who disagree's with them is a neanderthal. Looking down your nose at the majority of American's in this Country is your achille's heel! Obama and the Dems continue to fail miserably at "selling" their ideas. A little bit of sugar will go a lot further than the @#$% you've been shoveling!
mchaun wrote:
"ecgberht wrote:
GRAVITY is an undisputed fact!"
PROVE IT!!!
mchaun, here's a free piece of advise ... though not original with me.
When you find your self in a hole (of stupidity), the first thing to do is stop digging.
Then take your computer, walk over to the window, and drop it out.
That will accomplish two things; it will prove that gravity is an undisputed fact, and it will improve the tenor of this mb.
Hi mhklein , Back on page 3 I wrote (also checkout my economic argument close to this one): To argue against windmill and solar power sources our representatives must know (1) that global warming is global and even if all the states participated the resultant reduction in global temperatures by 2050 would be at best hundred's of a degree based on the IPCC formula; (2) that countries like China or India will not fully participate in a global solution because of the negative economic impact (3) since only about 1% of our oil is used to generate power, it will have no impact on our dependency on oil (4) there is no proof that our present level of pollution is killing anybody (as declared by the EPA, i.e., Asthma attacks have increased in spite of the pollution improvements made since the seventies per a CDC study.) (5) carbon dioxide is plant food and absolutely required for life, (6) there has been no global warming for the last 15 years in spite of a steady increase of carbon dioxide, (7) history indicates that extreme weather has always been with us and is caused by natural causes, (8) carbon dioxide is approximately 0.04% of the atmosphere and 95% comes from natural sources, (9) cheap energy is the source of our economic success; the middle class and especially the poor are negatively impacted by high energy costs (hello Mr Obama!).
The first thing we need to understand is that wind power and fossil fuel energy are not in competition. The intermittent and unpredictable nature of wind power is incapable of replacing the use of fossil fuel. Whatever the merits of subsidies, fossil fuel has earned them by providing needed services at lower cost. The PTC is a waste of taxpayer money that provides income to an industry that has failed to deliver on any of its promises.
Those of us, who have taken the time to study wind energy, have come to understand the following about industrial size wind turbines:
• They are not environmentally friendly.
• They do not reduce greenhouse gases.
• In addition to being very expensive, they are an add-on to our system for providing eclectic power.
• They are a net job loser.
• The annoyance and ill effects they cause is for nothing in return.
• Large numbers of birds and bats are dying for nothing.
• They cannot and will not replace coal.
• Even if they do, the coal they replace will go to China to create worse world pollution.
• You cannot trade the health of wind turbine abutters for those affected by coal.
• The high added cost will not decrease in time
• The money wasted on wind can better be spent researching for real alternatives.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
I hope Diane Rehm has the integrity to air a show that levels the playing field and shows why the PTC is wasting US tax payer dollars. Also I hope that Diane Rehm has the integrity to air a show that tells the truth about how wind turbines adversely impact human health. Is this a public health disaster that is rolling across America? Check out the film: www.preservelenoxmountain.org/pandora to see that there are BIG PROBLEMS WITH WIND TURBINES. It is happening all over the world, even on the other side of the globe. So, if you ask me about the PTC, my answer is stop wasting our money on this industry and lets start working together to find responsible solutions.
It is absurd that a representative of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Denise Bode can say anywhere that she does not know what infrasound is. This is a big problem with wind turbines. In our research we found that people living more than 6 miles from the nearest turbine on 2 continents reported to us their experiences of severe adverse health impacts. Furthermore, for Ms. Bode to say" In Massachusetts, they recently did a study to talk about the impact of wind turbines and found that it did not have a health impact, you know?" is an outright lie and she knows this. You know even though there was a 'cherry picked' panel with people clearly biased in favor of wind energy, and the report has been widely classified as junk science, this panel did sign their names to the following statement: “It is acknowledged that noise from wind turbines can be annoying to some and associated with some reported health effects (e.g., sleep disturbance) (p. 29) “Given the effects of sleep deprivation on health and well-being, including problems with mood and cognition, it is possible that cognitive and mood complaints and other medical or psychological issues associated with sleep loss can stem from living in immediate proximity to wind turbines, if the turbines disrupt sleep.” (p. 32-33)
Although the MA Dept. of Environmental panel's scope included visiting victims in MA in one or more locations, they never did conduct any site visit even though there are now approximately 70 people living in Falmouth, MA that are speaking out about their adverse health impacts. (They are located approximately 45 mins. from Boston) There are currently 19 locations in MA alone where people are reporting adverse health impacts.