Google’s $5 Billion Wind-Power Bid Draws Opposition on Return Guarantee

[phantom power]

A Google Inc (GOOG).-backed effort to build a $5 billion undersea power line supporting wind energy from New Jersey to Virginia faces opposition from state officials and utilities.

...

“They want consumers to pay for them to go through the planning process,” said Jay Morrison, vice president for regulatory affairs at the cooperatives group based in Arlington, Virginia, in a phone interview yesterday.

The power line buried beneath the sea floor would serve as a 300-mile (483-kilometer) transmission backbone linking to wind turbines off the coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Trans-Elect Development Company LLC, an independent transmission company based in Bethesda, Maryland, announced the project in October.

...

In addition to the guaranteed rate of return on equity, the Atlantic Wind Connection is asking that all costs of the project’s construction be included in its rate base and that it be allowed to recover its costs if the project is canceled for reasons beyond the sponsors’ control.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/google-s-5-billion-wind-power-bid-draws-opposition-on-return-guarantee.html

[Confusious]

1. Sounds like "big" wind is doing what "big" nuclear does

I'm sure if anti-nukes around here bend over backward, they can find SOME justification for it.

[phantom power]

2. Any business will attempt to negotiate reduced risk for itself.

Everybody knows that I am unkind, but I think it's easy to predict that as the wind industry becomes more powerful, their behavior will begin to resemble the behavior of every other powerful industry.

[Confusious]

3. Of course, but try to tell that to some around here

They'll act like you nailed jesus to the cross for the second time.

[madokie]

4. With wind there won't be a lot to be dishonest about

I wish I could say that about the others

[Confusious]

5. Oh please, there's always money

Unless you think the wind generators are built, installed and run by the wind fairy.

Who provides those wind turbines? General Electric. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/index.htm

Of course the wars won't be over oil anymore, just molybdenum.

[phantom power]

6. They definitely won't have any reason to be dishonest about problems with radioactivity.

It'll be something, somewhere, somehow.

(and because I'm a dick, I will eventually find out, and post about it)

[XemaSab]

7. You're unkind?

I think you're perfectly lovely. :)

[phantom power]

8. Technically, I'm just trying for "realistic," but reality has a well-known bias against kindness.

Flattery, by the way, will get you everywhere -- however I am legally obligated to inform all parties that I lack the authority to issue requests for grant proposals, receive grant applications, or disperse monetary grants.