In Germany the country is setting records in its reliance on alternative energy sources like solar power and record wind power installations. Japan is now building the country’s biggest solar park which make it one of the world’s largest markets for solar power (Newscientist). Here in the United States, of course, we continue to let the world take the lead in such efforts. Mitt Romney’s campaign has announced that he intends not only to reject calls for greater investment in our wind power industry but to actually kill federal support for wind power.
Romney wants to end long-standing tax credits for wind farm projects. This would result in the death of the production tax credits (PTCs). Shawn McCoy, a spokesman for Romney’s Iowa campaign, says killing PTCs is merely creating “a level playing field on which all sources of energy can compete on their merits.” That would be good news for our oil and coal industries.
I understand (and generally agree with) the preference to rely on the market to favor the most efficient industries. However, our reliance on oil and coal has produced continuing environmental harm and oil imports fund some countries with extreme policies on civil liberties as well as terrorism ties. Our European allies have seen the value to investing heavily in these alternative and clean energy sources. Cost/benefit analysis is only as accurate as the underlying data. When the myriad of benefits are considered, these credits are highly efficient. Indeed, the ability to maximize our use of alternative and clean energy is both a public health and national security priority.
With the world rushing forward, we appear to be rushing back (lead by an army of lobbyists).
Source: Newscientist
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It is amazing, even disturbing, that we continue to see these articles suggesting that wind and solar make sense OR have any significant part of our energy future. This is public relations at its worst. OF COURSE those getting enormous government subsidies want them to continue, but that misses the point. Math is required here. Have wind and solar made a measurable difference in our energy mix and have they helped to reduce C02 emissions?
No. Not at all. It has been a huge disappointment and waste of public funds. We are just beginning to learn that developers make money when the deal is done, not based on performance. This sounds a lot like sub-prime mortgages.
I think we all need to start telling the truth – especially journalists.
Solar and wind schemes have not reduced CO2 emissions and they have only raised electricity rates. “Energy farming” (wind and solar) will NEVER replace coal (or oil) and they are simply an over-priced supplements, not “alternatives.” Incentives gave people false hopes about solving the problem and we are now beginning to learn the truth. Polls demonstrate that nearly 60% of Americans “believe solar will replace our dependence on oil,” yet it is impossible.
Despite significant subsidies in the last 5 years ($1 trillion worldwide) wind and solar are less than 2% of our total electricity generation (solar is .1%). Plus, because they are unreliable any attempt to accept their unpredictable electricity generation requires us to ramp down our base load electricity generation, creating additional costs and more CO2. This 2% addition of renewables hasn’t changed CO2 emissions at all – even new demand has been 3X wind and solar. These schemes have made NO difference at all.
Cheerleading for wind and solar might extend the incentives, but it won’t solve the energy problem. We need clean, affordable electricity.
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Albastru Voronet 1, August 4, 2012 at 3:38 pm
But the Obama administration has never prosecuted the wind industry despite myriad examples of widespread, unpermitted bird kills by turbines.
Last June, the Los Angeles Times reported that about 70 golden eagles are being killed per year by the wind turbines at Altamont Pass, about 20 miles east of Oakland, Calif. A 2008 study funded by the Alameda County Community Development Agency estimated that about 2,400 raptors, including burrowing owls, American kestrels, and red-tailed hawks—as well as about 7,500 other birds, nearly all of which are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act—are being killed every year by the turbines at Altamont.
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Millions of birds die every winter from starvation. Get out your bird feeder if you have a problem with that.
CLH 1, August 4, 2012 at 3:15 am
That’s hilarious. Germany as a model for electricity. Their average cost per kw/h is 27.81 cents. The US? around 11.0 for domestic users, a little lower or higher depending on locale. So, who wants electricity prices in the US to double? Maybe triple? Anyone? Buler? Buler? Oh, that’s right, Obama does. A rather famous quote of his, I believe. “Under my plan, energy prices will necessarily skyrocket.” There goes the liberal arguments that they’re the party for the poor. I agree with Romney on ending federal aid for clean energy, though I would also end federal aid to the oil industry (except general tax incentives that apply to heavy industry generally, instead of a single industry specificallly).
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You’re an idiot. How many hundreds of billions have been spent on the wars to secure oil? And all the dead and maimed people. Do you know why the U.S. wants to secure Afghanistan? To secure an oil pipeline.
US Citizens would be better off dividing all the federal funds used to support wind power between each citizen. Wind Power is a Lose Lose
candidate Obama supports clean coal – “will create 5 million new jobs.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GehK7Q_QxPc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt2rUgxzXwE
What happened??
Windmills kill nearly half a million birds a year, according to a Fish and Wildlife estimate. The American Bird Conservancy projected that the number could more than double in 20 years if the administration realizes its goal for wind power. For years, the wind energy industry has had a license to kill golden eagles and lots of other migratory birds.
Over the past two decades, the federal government has prosecuted hundreds of cases against oil and gas producers and electricity producers for violating some of America’s oldest wildlife-protection laws: the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Eagle Protection Act.
But the Obama administration has never prosecuted the wind industry despite myriad examples of widespread, unpermitted bird kills by turbines.
Last June, the Los Angeles Times reported that about 70 golden eagles are being killed per year by the wind turbines at Altamont Pass, about 20 miles east of Oakland, Calif. A 2008 study funded by the Alameda County Community Development Agency estimated that about 2,400 raptors, including burrowing owls, American kestrels, and red-tailed hawks—as well as about 7,500 other birds, nearly all of which are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act—are being killed every year by the turbines at Altamont.
So keep on pushing on this “green energy” while species are going extinct because people refuse to see the main reason why we are running out of fuel: OVERPOPULATION. We shouldn’t focus on how we can rape our planet of more resources we should focus on reducing the world population and then all the problems will be solved.
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