Obama, Durbin: Upping the Ante in Fight for Midwest Wind Farms

[mia]

Obama, Durbin: Just Upped the Ante in Fight for Midwest Wind Farms
this just in.....


WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) Monday announced that they will put a hold on the nomination of Andrew Steinberg to be Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues a conclusive determination as to whether the operation of wind farms under construction in the Midwest will interfere with radar systems. A hold has the effect of blocking a nomination.

“The Administration’s promised response on windmill construction is long overdue. It is time for a straight answer,” said Durbin. “Windmills have become an important source of clean alternative energy throughout the country and are particularly important in the Midwest which has more cumulative wind energy potential than any other area in the country. If there are real problems, we should find ways to mitigate, reduce or eliminate them, but our wind farm owners deserve an answer today.”

“While I take very seriously any concerns that these structures could interfere with military readiness, I also believe that with mounting instability in the Middle East and energy prices at record levels, we must begin investing in alternative energy sources today,” said Obama. “Wind farms are an important part of our ongoing efforts to make the United States more energy independent, which is why the FAA needs to immediately clarify its position so that investors feel comfortable putting their money into these projects and construction crews can get to work.”


The 2006 Defense Authorization Act called for DOD to submit a report to Congress on the effects of windmill farms on military readiness. In particular, the report sought to determine whether wind farms could interfere with military radar....

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2006/07/obama_durbin_just_upped_the_an.html


What's holding up the Department of Defense, I wonder?

[jaxx]

1. The utility companies who want no competition.

This adm doesn't want alternative power, they like it just the way it is.......one sided and expensive for the users.

[Bobbieo]

2. Some Environmentalists groups are also agaisnt wind power!

[MadHound]

3. And those "enviromental groups" are either foolish, behind the times

Or simply front groups for the conventional electric generating industries. What possible objection could one have against wind power? Bird and/or bat kills? Sorry, solved that problem years ago with better placement of windturbines and much lower tip speeds. Spoiling the view? Oh fucking well, hell, it isn't like our view isn't spoiled by all those damn cell phone towers, oil derricks, huge transmission poles.

As far as interference with radar, that's just another snow job being put out by the conventional electricity generating industry in order to try and bury wind power. And with this oily administration in power, sadly they'll probably succeed. Oh well, I'm putting up my own turbine next year, to hell with paying ever increasing money for electricity, and polluting the enviroment. And somehow I doubt that any radar operator will notice.

[jaxx]

6. We need alternative sources and if they get in the view,

I guess they'll have to move their chairs to the other side. Everything affects the environment someway.......this seems better than digging rigs, nukes, coal smoke, and oil spills.

[MadHound]

8. Hear, hear

I'd rather have my view blocked due to a wind turbine than to have no view at all due to smog.

[mia]

7. Sierra Club v. Department of Defense

I didn't know that some environmental groups are against wind farms. Here's some info about one that supports them:



Sierra Club Calls on the Department of Defense to Stop Unlawfully Blocking the Construction of Wind Farms

Sierra Club v. Department of Defense


Most recent update
July 2006


A virtual moratorium on the construction of new wind power plants has been in place for nearly two months as a result of actions taken by the Pentagon. The Sierra Club has filed a suit against Donald Rumsfeld and the Department of Defense for their failure to complete a congressionally mandated study of the impact that windmills have on radar. The Department of Defense Authorization Act of 2006 ordered that the study into the effects that wind farms have on military radar be completed by May 8th 2006, however currently no release date is in sight. While the study languishes on the horizon, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration are continuing to prohibit wind farm construction "within radar line of sight" of any military radar. The Pentagon’s failure to meet their obligations has effectively halted the construction of new wind energy projects across the country, damaging the growth and stability of this industry.

Both the wind industry and the American people are paying the price for the Pentagon’s tardiness. Wind turbines are not only a clean and efficient way to generate electricity but also a long term solution to America’s energy needs. According to the American Wind Energy Association the wind power available in North Dakota alone could supply over 40% of the nation’s electricity. By halting these projects the Department of Defense is exacerbating America’s dependence on non-renewable, dirty sources of energy.

http://www.sierraclub.org/environmentallaw/lawsuits/viewCase.asp?id=318

[mia]

5. Good point.

I just figured the DOD was too busy covering the profiteers of Middle Eastern oil.


Now maybe if the powers that be could figure out a way to own the wind...

[Uben]

4. Must be the towers....

....because the huge propellors are made of fiberglass, and I don't think fiberglass reflects radar, does it?