Unintended Consequences for Midwest Wind Power

[skids]

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Last week we reported on the latest hiccup facing the wind power market in the U.S. -- a sudden concern over how military radar installations are affected by current and future wind power projects. A back-story is starting to emerge, leading to accusations that politics have played at least some part in bringing as many as 15 wind power installations in the Midwest to a temporary halt. And ripples being felt in the farm belt may have originated over a thousand miles away in the waters off Massachusetts.

The current radar issue stems from The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, signed into law January 6, 2006 (PL 109-163), which contained a last-minute amendment inserted by Senator John Warner (R-VA) requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to study and report on the effects of wind projects on military readiness.

By all accounts, the original Congressional language was aimed at one project, Cape Wind, a 420 MW offshore wind project proposed off the coast of Massachusetts. However, DOD and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have decided to expand upon the original study directive and apply it to all proposed wind power installations in the United States.

...

"It's hard to dismiss that, given one of the sponsors of the bill," said Luck, referring to Warner. But Luck admits it would be impossible to prove the move was politically motivated. Furthermore, he doubts the FAA actions in the Midwest had anything to do with local, or NIMBY (not in my backyard) opposition because wind power faces relatively less local opposition in the Midwest than in the Northeast and coastal communities.

http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=45199

[Trajan]

1. What is the implication here ?

That GOP forces are working on behalf of their campaign-supporting energy giants, who would use the power of the federal government to limit their economic competition, and thereby fatten their wallets all the more ? ....

Yet MORE quid pro quo for these theives ? ....

[AnOhioan]

5. The implication is plain

Alternative power equals less profits for the oil industry which equals less profits for the Neo-cons. Answer? Drum some BS about military readiness and how wind farms damage that "readiness".

Complete unadulterated nonsense.

[Up2Late]

7. You got it!

That about sums up the BS "RADAR interference" argument exactly.

[Roland99]

13. Why doesn't it affect "military readiness" around Tehachapi Pass or

just east of San Fran?

[myrdred]

2. Interfering with navigation?

I assume they are worried that the wind turbines will interfere with navigation equipment. I just don't understand why they would interfere? Or is that the point? They don't really interfere and this is all about the big power companies preventing renewable from taking some of their market?

[Poiuyt]

6. Welcome to DU!

[myrdred]

8. thanks

glad to be here!

[UpInArms]

3. interesting twist: NRG agrees to acquire Padoma Wind Power

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B94768003%2DB344%2D4BAB%2D85DF%2DFB8541560643%7D&dist=newsfinder&symbol=&siteid=mktw

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- NRG Energy Inc. (NRG : 47.09, -0.79, -1.6% ) said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire privately held Padoma Wind Power LLC. Financial terms were not disclosed. Princeton, N.J.-based NRG said Padoma's principals have developed more than 40 wind farms since the 1980s. La Jolla, Calif.-based Padoma currently has three projects under development independently, along with a pipeline of more than a dozen projects it is developing with others. The projects are in development in nine states and are expected to bring 1,000 megawatts of new wind-based generation to market by 2015. NRG expects the deal to close by the end of July.

Will they shut them down like the auto industry did to the trolleys and trains?

[truthisfreedom]

15. no, not if they're extremely profitable. think about it...

when oil prices and natural gas prices explode and start getting to the multi-hundred dollars per barrel level, if they own wind farms everywhere, they can charge the same extraordinary rates for power as they are charging for fossil fuels. THEY DON'T WANT COMPETITION. that's why they're making offers nobody can refuse. if we're not careful, the oil companies will all own solar cell manufacturing companies as well.

[UpInArms]

16. they can also keep them offline until they extract every penny

from our pockets for the less than environmentally friendly fossil fuels.

[pooja]

4. Unless the oil giants own the wind too....this development

will be haulted. It is much more practical to study the implications of bird migrtory paths that may be affected by the turbines than anything.

oops...spelling error.

[amandabeech]

11. It has been reported on an energy-related forum,

theoildrum, that Shell is contemplating a move into wind power. Shell sold its interest in a PV company earlier this year citing difficulty in obtaining sufficient silicon products.

Shell is testing a very unique technique of obtaining natural gas and light oil products from shale oil in western Colorado. The technique involves heating the the shale oil where it sits--no mining and no above-ground processing. The technique uses electric heaters to do the job. Shell has indicated an interest in using wind power to generate some of that electricity. The process is still very experimental.

Frankly, I'd rather see Shell invest its immense profits in renewables rather than paying its executives immense salaries.

[Ian David]

14. Don't forget the bats. They get chewed-up in the things too

And many species are threatened or endangered.

I think we need to start moving away from large-scale windfarms, and start concentrating on small, local ones and on residential units.

[Lindacooks]

18. No they don't.

The new large windmills have three blades, which move so slowly you can easily watch them turn. There is no way that bats or birds are killed by these machines. If you've ever seen a bird fly through a forest, or watched a bat swoop around objects at dusk, you'll understand why these windmills aren't a threat to birds or bats.

[Kolesar]

9. The US Military is spending big $$$ on alternative power generation

...because they realize that the military infrastructure would be in deep sh!t if there was an embargo or a problem in the electricity generating infrastructure. NASA is doing the research for them.

[m0nkeyneck]

10. invest in alternatives

get in early:

VWSYF
VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS SHS ISIN #DK0010268606 SEDOL #5964651

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Military radar in the midwest at low altitudes?

What are they looking for? 5 O'Clock Charlie?

[Eric J in MN]

17. Good question.

Are enemy planes flying through Minnesota?