Ten developers are interested in building massive wind farms off the coast of Massachusetts that together could generate nearly 10 times the amount of energy as the controversial and long-stalled Cape Wind project.
The wind farms would be built in an expanse of federal waters larger than Rhode Island, about 14 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and identified by the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as an ideal place for such development. After more than two years of talks with local and state officials, environmentalists, fishermen, and tribal leaders, the bureau last week refined the boundaries of the so-called wind energy area, whittling it down to 1,160 square miles from an initially proposed 3,000.
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Isn't the opportunity for politically connected wind developers to make billions worth an extra $20 on your electric bill?
Start building it now. Build it quickly. Turn it on. If it costs more I don't care. Sign me up. The advantages of wind power are too great to sit on this opportunity for America. This isn't about Massachusetts so much as it is a message to the world that we are willing to be innovative, smart, considerate and forward-thinking. If some companies make a buck with government contracts I say good for them. Go get it Hoss. If you are against this project you are a cut-it-down, rip-it-out, wipe-it-out, tear-it-up, burn-it-up, f#&k-it-up, laugh-it-off Republican dullard.
If the international offshore wind industry considers offshore wind too expensive, why does the Patrick Admin consider this tax and ratepayer burden will benefit us? This reckless strategy is about crony capitalism and corporate welfare, not merit. GE Dumps Offshore Wind-Power Plans AFTER Collecting $125 Million In Stimulus From Taxpayers For Wind Projects http://dailybail.com/home/ge-dumps-offshore-wind-power-plans-after-collecting-125-mill.html Update: Nordex to exit offshore wind A statement says: "Nordex aims to sell the assets of the offshore business to other interested parties in the short to medium-term. "The business unit Offshore will be discontinued. The employees of the unit will be assigned to other Nordex business units." http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/wind/article311111.ece Vestas Offshore Wind President: Costs May Kill Industry By Felicity Carus Published: December 13, 2011 The founding president of the offshore division of the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer said that if the industry does not drive down costs, then it risks killing itself off in its nascent phase. "Offshore wind is a higher cost energy because we are where we are in the learning curve," said Anders Søe-Jensen, president of the offshore division at Vestas. "We are at risk but we all have to commit to bringing down costs otherwise we're going to kill our industry." http://energy.aol.com/2011/12/13/vestas-offshore-wind-president-costs-may-kill-industry/ MORNING ROUNDUP: Dominion Will Not Choose Offshore Wind Until Price Drops Wed, May 11, 2011 http://offshorewindwire.com/2011/05/11/roundup-va-utility-waits-for-price-drop/ March 11, 2011; Source Offshore Wind Biz: Headline: KENTISH Flats operator Vattenfall has warned that the offshore wind farm industry must reduce its costs or risk "dying out." http://www.offshorewind.biz/2011/03/11/vattenfall-warns-that-offshore-wind-industry-needs-to-reduce-costs-or-risk-dying-out-uk/ Constellation Opposes Offshore Wind Power Mandates March 7, 2011 2:40 PM BALTIMORE (AP) — Constellation Energy says requiring utilities to buy offshore wind power will cost customers billions at the expense of more cost-effective clean-energy alternatives. http://baltimorethen it risks killing itself off in its nascent phase. "Offshore wind is a higher cost energy because we are where we are in the learning curve," said Anders Søe-Jensen, president of the offshore division at Vestas. "We are at risk but we all have to commit to bringing down costs otherwise we're going to kill our industry." http://energy.aol.com/2011/12/13/vestas-offshore-wind-president-costs-may-kill-industry/ MORNING ROUNDUP: Dominion Will Not Choose Offshore Wind Until Price Drops Wed, May 11, 2011 http://offshorewindwire.com/2011/05/11/roundup-va-utility-waits-for-price-drop/ March 11, 2011; Source Offshore Wind Biz: Headline: KENTISH Flats operator Vattenfall has warned that the offshore wind farm industry must reduce its costs or risk "dying out." http://www.off
Man, the Demohack zealots are already swarmng out of the woodwork, led by this Giermund, who cares naught what this offshore Marthas Vineyard generating station costs him after he moves to Arizona to escape the ocean storm aura around Massachusetts. And of course the dozens or so deskbound bueaucrats who make up the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management help the Glob reporter evade a couple of rather important issues: potential kilowatt hour costs for power from this far-at-sea project in today's rate structure; depth of waters where the desk-bound ones want these ugly windmills put up; and construction standards for windmills the feds want built in ocean storm-prone waters.
The same group of NIMBY asshats will stall this one just like Cape Wind.
Barbara when you cut and past something twice in the same post does that mean you really, really think people should read it? Here, I'll cut and paste it again for you. "Offshore wind is a higher cost energy because we are where we are in the learning curve," said Anders S�e-Jensen, president of the offshore division at Vestas. "We are at risk but we all have to commit to bringing down costs otherwise we're going to kill our industry." Did that give you tingles? I hope so.
Great news let get it built before the wealthy NIMBY coal barons destroy any more land strip mining coal or poisening the water while fracking.
This article fails to mention that the main objection to Cape Wind is the "economic boondoggle" that it is, causing a $4 Billion rate hike to Mass. households, business, and cities. A typical MA community would pay an extra $28 million for Cape Wind over the life of the 15 year contract. Natick would pay an extra $14 million; Barnstable $38 million more; Barnstable school system $867K more; Boston $281 million more. These significant extra costs for all citizens cause a net job loss. Because of increased costs for businesses, the price of goods and services goes up. Offshore wind is 2 1/2 times more than on land wind. It does not provide significant energy at peak demand. The estimates in the article on homes powered is misleading, because it is based on 100% capacity during peak demand, and of course that is not possible. Wind cannot stand alone as baseload. Check out how offshore wind is doing in England. Also the Netherlands- poor this year and it requires so much money in subsidies that the government has decided to put those costs on taxpayers since they cannot afford to keep paying it every year. Who can? The wind developers lining up here in MA are after the subsidies and federal money - the money of hard working citizens who have already had enough with the high gas prices. We need to STOP Production Tax Credits NOW before these companies drain our economy dry.
Why are Massachusetts politicians and officials still enraptured by the illusion of wind energy, refusing to face the truth of reality? The reality is: these large scale wind energy farms, especially offshore installations, fail on all levels - unreliable energy, subsidy-dependent business models, and negative environmental impacts. The wind energy firms, their lobbyists and bought-and-paid-for politician friends are attempting to supress and distort the truth. Taxpayers, consumers, and businesses can no longer afford to waste more money propping up government energy policies that drive up electricity costs, damage the environment, and primarily benefit foreign conglomerates and a privileged few. The truth is out there. Do your own research about the myths of wind energy. Then contact your senators, congressmen and state representatives – to demand science-based energy policies.