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Against the Wind

Devoted to informing people about choices for wiser decision-making concerning wind power with the hope that they might find a needed balance to pro-wind arguments, some answers to questions and information on things people can do to help
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Clean Energy? Nothing 'Clean' About it!

The clock is ticking. And I know we are all holding our breath, at least, I am.

It's called KARMA

What goes round, comes round. At least I hope it does.

Cape Wind found a loop-hole, literally, in the State waters and has been attempting to slip slide itself into that little piece of federal water inside Massachusetts State waters in the Nantucket Sound ever since it began. Then it mounted a HUGE public relations campaign in an attempt to convince the public that we NEED their services. We don't. And we can spot insincerity and BS when we see it.

Now, Cape Wind is like the thief who cries "Stop Thief"! For weeks now they have been crying to the media about their so called unfair treatment. But what about the unfair treatment they have given the good citizens of Cape Cod and Massachusetts by attempting a private takeover of 24 square miles (the size of Manhattan Island) of one of our most precious and historic natural resources, the Nantucket Sound whether we like it or not. A takeover that would net the people nothing but would fill the coffers of Cape Wind to the brim. 

There is nothing CLEAN about the spin of Cape Wind.  Let's hope the government sees that and puts a stop to them.  We have the will and we have the brains to figure out our energy needs. And to do it in such a way that does no more harm to our precious and fragile ecosystem here on Cape Cod.

 

Please, if you are able, call the following representatives and let them know you support this vital amendment. Those who would destroy the Nantucket are on the phone as I write. Our voices need to be heard.

 

Senator Harry Reid (NV)(202) 224-3542
Senator Ted Stevens (AK)(202) 224-3004
Senator Olympia Snowe (ME)(202) 224-5344
Senator Trent Lott (MS)(202) 224-6253
Senator Gordon Smith (OR)(202) 224-3753
Senator Daniel Inouye (HI)(202) 224-3934
Senator Maria Cantwell (WA)(202) 224-3441
Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ)(202) 224-3224


30 comments
Blog posts and comments are entirely the thoughts and ideas of the people who write them and in no way represent the views of CapeCodToday.com, eCape, Inc., or its employees or owners.

04/04/06 @ 5:17 pm
Eagle [Visitor] writes:
I guess this is a good thing. If we use a loop-hole to close down cape wind then, we can use another one to open up all the parts of the country for oil drilling. Either way we win. The US will be less dependent on overseas oil. This ammendment will force some people\'s hands to do something to get more energy.

As for the birds, we can either chop \'em with the turbines or, cover \'em with oil. Either way the birds lose. Oh well, sorry birdies....
04/04/06 @ 5:26 pm
Fishin" for Answers [Visitor] writes:
Rock on, Magical! I will do my share of the calling. At least the federal government is doing something positive to stop this monstrosity from getting any closer to fruition.
04/04/06 @ 5:30 pm
Karma [Visitor] writes:
Thanks for the phone numbers. I just called all of them to tell them I support cape wind.
04/04/06 @ 5:33 pm
Magical Eye [Member] writes:
no problem Karma.. i got those from some one who forwarded the numbers from cpn. But i am sure EVERONE is oh so tired of the Cape Wind cry babies.
04/04/06 @ 5:34 pm
Fishin" for Answers [Visitor] writes:
Does that mean that instant "Karma's" going to get you? Or...
Are you a "Karma Chamelion?"
04/04/06 @ 5:46 pm
Little Fish, Th. D. [Visitor] writes:
Are there no other wind faithfuls across this country wanting to put this great idea in their "back yards" and bring the oil industry to their knees. As Jack Coleman says this isn't exactly a Gold Rush. If it was that "viable" they would pop up just like the land based farms. So what is the problem?
04/04/06 @ 6:07 pm
Maverick [Visitor] writes:
Magical...Bravo.

Called them all and they were very supportive.

Thanks for giving the time and energy to point out the little loophole they thought they had found to exploit Nantucket Sound.

Are we all in jeopardy...A definition of Cape Wind Karma! " What is Gold Rush"?
04/04/06 @ 6:26 pm
Barbara Durkin [Visitor] writes:
Cape Wind has been from the begining, and is still is, the "school yard bully." They have contemptuously thumbed their nose at the state during this entire process. Cape Wind's adverse impact would be most felt by the state, accordingly, it makes sense that the state should have veto power over this proposal.

You meet the same people going up the ladder as you do coming down.

Healy, Mihos, and Reilly are all watching and waiting for Cape Wind to descend the "ladder." Each candidate is hopeful that Young's action, and their good fortune, will put them in a position to act in the interest of the public.

You have to be a friend to have friends. Cape Wind has never been our friend.

Great take on the events as usual, Magical. Thank you for your very many contributions, and for your hard work.
04/05/06 @ 9:48 am
Magical Eye [Member] writes:
Barbara, how true. Cape Wind has never been our friend and it proves it by paying no attention whatsoever to what the people want. Now we are to feel sorry for them because they spent all of that money attempting to cram that project down our throats?
04/05/06 @ 12:11 pm
RFM P. E. [Visitor] writes:
Nothing clean after a hurricane 'Katrina' blows the wind mills and the oil platform over.......remember the devastation in the Gulf of Mexico after over 75 oil/gas platforms were destroyed. Protection from the Islands is wishful thinking. I haven't seen who's resposibility it would be to clean up the mess.
04/05/06 @ 12:15 pm
Magical Eye [Member] writes:
Good point RFM P.E. those monopoles with snap like twigs.
04/05/06 @ 4:13 pm
Green Energy [Visitor] writes:
Nice job Magical Eye I hope it does some good.

I have written and called every single member of Congress, U.S. Senator, every Governor and almost every single NE State Legislature many, many times about the massive amount of "Surplus" Energy on the grid just going to waste and how this Energy can be stored in our homes for use during the next days "peak".

And with the exception of MA State Senator Richard Moore not one has understood it yet, and yet I have been able to explain this to the 10 year old children in my neighborhood in less than 5 minutes.

It may take the National Enquiror to get the point across.

Were talking about adding a timer/switch to a 50 year old technology (an Inverter/Charger) charging Golf Cart Batteries on low cost "off peak" Energy then using the Energy during the "peak".

This will raise the Energy Conservation level of all the appliances to 100% in so far as the "peak" is concerned. The net result will be lower cost more reliable Energy and closing power plants not building more.
04/05/06 @ 4:59 pm
CapeGuy [Visitor] writes:
Green Energy
Have you considered the cost of the inverter and batteries?? If an idividual homeowner uses energy in the middle of the night or during the highest demand peak... the homeowner still pays the same price for the kilowatt consumed. All your talking about is dispatchable power and the ability to lessen the load at peak usage. The entire industry would have to change to electric meters that could be controlled by the ISO to switch back and forth... it works for huge consumers that pay demand charges but not for residential.
04/05/06 @ 6:08 pm
Green Energy [Visitor] writes:
Dear CapeGuy,

The Utility simply swaps out your meter for a dual clock smart meter, then reads both meters for billing you.

Another blog today is talking about the Energy options on the Cape, one of them is NSTAR.

NSTAR has a residential (R4) rate plan.

The "peak" is from 8 AM until 8 PM with the rest of the time including 24 hours a day on the weekends and holidays as "off peak".

I find this 8 to 8 to be unreal and not trying to solve the Energy problem.

In N. CA the PG&E "peak" is from noon until 6 PM. This is very real to work with.

In S. CA the "peak" is from 10 AM until 6 PM. with S.D.Gas &Electric Both areas also have the weekends and holidays 100% "off peak".

On the Cape the Cape Light Compact should be encouraged to request an "off peak" rate from a "Green Energy" provider such as late night Canadian Hydro.

Then the Cape could lead the Nation with real "Green Energy" that cost less than the standard offer for dirty generation and a lot less than the premium now being paid for "Green Energy", such as wind and solar farms.
04/05/06 @ 6:27 pm
Maverick [Visitor] writes:
Green Energy...we are wasting our time with this crowd.

You are debating with paid lobbyist's.

Keep trying with bought politician's and I wish you the best.

Regards,
Capt. Jack
04/05/06 @ 8:24 pm
Peckham [Visitor] writes:
How succinctly appropriate & ironic you should offer it yourself Green Energy... A great place for you to post your ads:

The National Enquiror.

You would fit right in with all the other bogus stories.

Mav... Wondering why you haven't bought one for your boat or barn.
04/05/06 @ 9:10 pm
Anonymous [Visitor] writes:
Green Energy, when nanotube batteries come out you'll be on to something. http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/wtr_16326,303,p1.html

Current battery tech is to dangerous and costly. How long do those batteries last? 5 years at the most...
04/06/06 @ 8:44 am
Carl B. Freeman [Visitor] writes:
I install inverters and battery banks, they are pretty costly. Mostly we install them for poeple with solar panels who want to be off the grid or just in case the grid goes down.

What the real issue is 'phantom load', when you turn an appliance off, it is still drawing eletricity due to its resistance, what needs to be done is for appliance makers to install a cut off that phyiscally switches off the circut so the appliance doesnt 'draw', some calulate almost 1/2 of america eletricity is wasted this way.

In this we need better regulations.

Also we need better regulations to only install 110/220 in kitchen and laundry rooms, and the rest of the house be wired with 22guage wire to run LED lighting in our houses, as well as building houses to be passive solar (oriented to solar south) for winter heat and day light lighting.

Heck while we're at it, how about banning oil burning furnaces and water heaters. These measures (along with floresent bulbs) are the biggest conservation steps we can take.

If we did all of these today, it would equal abour40%-50% of the windfarm.
04/06/06 @ 8:47 am
Carl B. Freeman [Visitor] writes:
Sorry, ran out of room, the last line above should read: If we did all of these today ON CAPE COD, it would save eletricity equal to about 40%-50% of the windfarm.

But that would mean EVERY HOUSE ON THE CAPE.
04/06/06 @ 9:35 am
Green Energy [Visitor] writes:
Wow,

Now were talking about real solutions and not just mud slinging bull.

Maverick. thank you for your support. Anonymous, See the comments from Carl B. Freeman people have been doing this for as long as we have had Solar Panels and off grid living in remote locations including Countries all over the World.

It seems our Government and Institutions like the International Alliance to Save Energy are missing something you know???

As a Backup Power system the batteries should last 6 to 8 years, as an "off peak" Renewable Energy System 3 to 5 years. Replacement cost about $300.

By contrast I have read in Mother Earth News Magazine the battery in a Hybrid Car lasts 6 years and cost $5K to $7K to replace. This will be a hard choice to make on a six year old car, or it's value as a trade-in if the batteries are ready to be replaced.

The next time the car will be 12 years old and if everything holds the same I predict junk yards full of Hybrid Cars you can't give away.

And yet the Federal Government offers a $3,400 tax credit for Hybrids Cars.
04/06/06 @ 9:50 am
Green Energy [Visitor] writes:
Costly???

I have given up on the MA Energy Trust for the moment after talking with three of their Directors. At the end of each conversation they all said " We don't have anyone working for the Trust that can evaluate a new Energy saving Technology".

So I don't know how much ratepayers money they offer as rebates on a Solar System, or how much they are contributing to the Wind Farm.

Perhaps Carl knows the Solar answer? The Trust should start giving a rebate for the Inverter & batteries since the DOE released a study showing the Inverter and batteries when used as a backup power system (not grid tied) doubles the payback on a Solar System.

In CT news: A 5 KW Solar System cost $45K, the State offers a $25K rebate, The Federal Govt. offeres a $2K tax credit, and CT is considering eleminating the sales tax another $1.8K

The problem is Solar like Wind is not always going to coincide with the "peak" load problem or on some days any Energy produced at all.

On top of that SW CT has a power line congestion problem. The Solar SYS. may be on the CT/MA Border not SW CT.
04/06/06 @ 10:10 am
Green Energy [Visitor] writes:
Costly??? Cont.

For 1/10 perhaps 1/15 the cost of the un-predictable 5 KW Solar System a 15 KW "off peak" Energy Storage System can be installed providing a dependable guaranteed "peak" load reduction we can count on everyday, WHERE YOU WANT IT, and WHEN YOU WANT IT.

The Homeowners will also be gaining an automatic, silent Backup Power System for Power Outages.

A presentation was recently given to the CT Energy Conservation Management Board (ECMB) that left them speechless.

Nobody moved not a head or even a finger and no one spoke, they just stared.

The presentation was focused on raising the entire home to 100% Energy Conservation in so far as the "peak" power line congestion time is concerned on lower cost "Green Energy" stored during the "off peak".

A motion was made for the NE Power Grid ISO Engineers to research this claim and report back to the Board at their next meeting.

When asked what was the goal? Recognition and Rebates to Homeowners from the Energy Trust and Energy Conservation funds,this would propel the technology and solution.
04/06/06 @ 10:51 am
Anonymous [Visitor] writes:
Green, The power companies have a better way to store power. It's called pumped storage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity

The Northfield Mountain Facility in Mass. is equal to 70,000 of your battery systems. I assume your systems cost around around $5000 so thats $350 Million Dollars.

I don't think your idea is gonna catch on any time soon. My electric bill is only $135. How much am I really gonna save, $20/month? It's not worth the effort.
04/06/06 @ 11:31 am
CapeGuy [Visitor] writes:
Im not a paid lobbyist...period. Im a contractor that builds wastewater systems and I have worked installing MET towers for land based windfarms, and I even designed and built a vertical axis wind turbine. Im not a lobbyist...

Green-
I know all about bi-directional metering, the problem with your idea is the ability to switch from grid to stored energy(whatever kind) at each individual home. I have worked with electronic meters that have billing ability and can be connected to a network. This is what is needed at every home to make your idea possible. It could work, however the utilities HATE this concept. check this out..
http://www.electroind.com/
There are other companies that offer similar products.
Green- my advice is focus on emerging technologies like the internet, zigbee wireless components, new storage batteries... I give it 10 years before every single meter is internet connected and we buy enegy on a minute to minute basis... just like stocks are being trade so will energy and credits.
04/06/06 @ 11:37 am
CapeGuy [Visitor] writes:
cont.
You would also need a regulatory framework to allow each and every home to be demand based on their costs. It makes no sense for a homeowner to invest any money unless the utility is willing to charge based on the current demand load not just on a montly reading. They make money by charging huge demand costs for large commercial users when the grid is peaking. Electricity costs more as all those backups systems come on line...peak demand is most costly across the board... its based on a price stacking system. Thats why wind energy makes the most money at peak demand on a windy day.
04/09/06 @ 12:42 pm
Anonymous [Visitor] writes:
Here’s the problem, neither side has publicly presented independent studies regarding the affects of a Wind Farm, rather the issue has become about money and power. So where does that leave me - undecided.

Both sides are playing dirty and sadly, because the Alliance’s dirty play has been more visible (Libel suit, Coast Guard Bill, the new “Green” affiliation) I have leaned toward the wind farm. The wind farm has provided more environmental information – right or wrong. They have provided supporting information from other communities that have wind farms – right or wrong.

What I have read about from the Cape Alliance folks are not the issues, but rather their biggest supporters - the rich and powerful who just don’t want their view impinged upon. Given that, what I have taken away from the Alliance’s case is - I don’t want my view disturbed and I have “money to burn” so who cares how much oil and gas costs – go buy a Hummer mentality, this is all about me.

Both sides need to show a bit more substance and both sides need to stop playing dirty!!!!
04/09/06 @ 6:32 pm
Stephen Peckham [Visitor] writes:
Anony... I encourage you to visit Cape Winds & Clean Power Now's sites as there is a lot of information you might find of interest.

Nice to see an independent observation such as yours... And that you have an understanding of some of the issues that divide us...

As well, nice to read you grasp the obvious disservice the d'Alliance is bent on polluting the minds of the unsuspecting.

Please excuse at least some of the 'misbehaviour' on these sites...

Some of us are haveing some fun at the same time while we do in fact discuss and enjoin in serious debate...

Of course... There are many times when someone like Magical or Fish looses it and we have to reign them in...

And it can get a little out of hand if there is too much of a struggle;~)
04/15/06 @ 7:12 pm
Rhode Islander [Visitor] writes:
Anonymous,

Interesting to see you mention the "...go buy a Hummer mentality."

Mr. Stephen Peckham bought a Ford Expedition.

He tells us it is a-

"...'99 vehicle... (Eddie Byer edition by the way) was purchased used 3 years ago with 27,000 miles on it... Is registered on & remains on island..."

Do you see any hypocrisy here?

Go to-

http://freedomfromoil.com/watch_the_animation/
12/04/06 @ 11:34 pm
Northshore [Member] writes:
As long as the sun shines causing the winds to blow we will have this source of energy forever. And a further advantage is that wind energy produces no health risks and contributes nothing to air pollution. And unlike nuclear energy, wind energy creates no wastes requiring disposal. By harnessing this form of energy we can be sure that future generations will have a source of clean, cheap power for the rest of their lives. I think people are all caught up in the issure of aesthetics and money. A single wind turbine can prevent up to 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere each year. Furthmore, we are completly dependent on OPEC nations for our nations sources of energy. At this rate will will 75% depenpent on foriegn sources for energy. Thats just OUTRAGEOUS! FOR CAPE WIND PROJECT
12/05/06 @ 9:31 pm
Northshore [Member] writes:
Sorry it wasn't clear to me that everyone that left a comment on the discussion board was an expert on Energy....right
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Annie
Honored as NY State's first Master Wild Life Rehabilitator, Dona Tracy is a Freelance Photographer, Wildlife Advocate, Writer, Public Speaker and Dreamer. She lives in Ostervile and also writes another blog called Magic Eye.
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