Friday, March 30, 2007
S.O.S. Issues Sharp Criticism of State Cape Wind Ruling
State Ignores Call for Comprehensive Environmental Review.
(Hyannis, Massachusetts) – March 30, 2007 – Today’s decision by the Secretary of Environmental Affairs on the Cape Wind Final Environmental Impact Report is wholly unacceptable, and reflects the current Patrick Administration’s willingness to sacrifice Nantucket Sound in order to advance its renewable energy agenda. In ignoring a chorus of important community voices that called for urgent supplemental information, the Secretary has failed to listen to local concerns, and turned his back on Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod and the Islands. Rather than setting a high bar for responsible development of offshore wind energy, Secretary Ian Bowles has opened the state door to gross developer exploitation of an irreplaceable natural resource.
This wrong-headed decision will threaten fishermen, tourists, and residents; place public safety in jeopardy, and endanger the marine environment of Nantucket Sound. The deficiencies that the Secretary overlooked in the FEIR include:
Substandard review of alternative sites
Significant harm to commercial fishing and the ocean environment
Daunting risks to public safety from navigational hazards and radar interference
Excessive negative visual impacts from the project
Fundamental access restrictions to the 25 square mile site
Potentially large impacts on birds and marine life
Potential for a petroleum spill on Cape and Island beaches
There is no debate about the need to develop alternative energy sources. However, we need to ensure that that the public trust is protected, not neglected, and that Nantucket Sound is not sacrificed for the benefit of one developer. We strongly believe that the Secretary's decision today is legally flawed and we will look at all alternatives to ensure that the state’s environmental laws are enforced.
Fortunately for everyone, the Secretary is not the final arbiter in the decision on Cape Wind. Other state agencies will have their say. And, the federal government has the essential and final authority over the permitting of the Cape Wind project. We will take our concerns and the supporting views of a broad coalition of public and private interests to the state permitting agencies as well as the federal government. We intend to carry on the fight and the cause for the future of Nantucket Sound.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Scientific Smackdown in NYC
Skeptics Voted The Clear Winners Against Global Warming Believers in Heated NYC Debate
By Marc Morano
Marc_Morano@EPW.Senate.gov
Just days before former Vice President Al Gore’s scheduled visit to testify about global warming before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, a high profile climate debate between prominent scientists Wednesday evening ended with global warming skeptics being voted the clear winner by a tough New York City before an audience of hundreds of people.
Before the start of the nearly two hour debate the audience polled 57.3% to 29.9% in favor of believing that Global Warming was a “crisis”, but following the debate the numbers completely flipped to 46.2% to 42.2% in favor of the skeptical point of view. The audience also found humor at the expense of former Vice President Gore’s reportedly excessive home energy use.
After the stunning victory, one of the scientists on the side promoting the belief in a climate "crisis" appeared to concede defeat by noting his debate team was ‘pretty dull" and at "a sharp disadvantage" against the skeptics. ScientificAmerican.com’s blog agreed, saying the believers in a man-made climate catastrophe “seemed underarmed for the debate and, not surprising, it swung against them."
The New York City audience laughed as Gore became the butt of humor during the debate.... [Click headline for more]
By Marc Morano
Marc_Morano@EPW.Senate.gov
Just days before former Vice President Al Gore’s scheduled visit to testify about global warming before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, a high profile climate debate between prominent scientists Wednesday evening ended with global warming skeptics being voted the clear winner by a tough New York City before an audience of hundreds of people.
Before the start of the nearly two hour debate the audience polled 57.3% to 29.9% in favor of believing that Global Warming was a “crisis”, but following the debate the numbers completely flipped to 46.2% to 42.2% in favor of the skeptical point of view. The audience also found humor at the expense of former Vice President Gore’s reportedly excessive home energy use.
After the stunning victory, one of the scientists on the side promoting the belief in a climate "crisis" appeared to concede defeat by noting his debate team was ‘pretty dull" and at "a sharp disadvantage" against the skeptics. ScientificAmerican.com’s blog agreed, saying the believers in a man-made climate catastrophe “seemed underarmed for the debate and, not surprising, it swung against them."
The New York City audience laughed as Gore became the butt of humor during the debate.... [Click headline for more]
Friday, March 09, 2007
Wind Farms Do Not Deliver What They Promise
March 8, 2007 by Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc.
Little Falls, New York, March 8th, 2007
Want electricity? Don’t count on wind farms to deliver. A recent analysis of transaction data filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the period July – September, 2006, shows that the large Maple Ridge wind facility in Lewis County produces electricity in a very erratic manner, and generally at levels far below promised output.
Richard Bolton, President of Environmental Compliance Alliance in Rushville, New York, stated that “Maple Ridge has a nameplate capacity of 240 MW, but for 40% of the third quarter of 2006, the wind farm produced a paltry 30 MW or less, or no more than 12.5% of nameplate capacity. At no time during that three-month period did the output sustain the full 240 MW. Indeed, the wind turbines produce more than half the rated output only 15% of the time.”
Mr. Bolton’s analysis shows that the promise of “green” power from industrial wind turbines is a sham. They produce little power during the period of greatest need, yet blight the landscape with their 40-story-tall structures. With wind unable to perform when demand is highest, power companies have to fall back on traditional sources of electric power, fossil-fuel and hydro power.
Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc. has been formed to bring public attention to the problems which may result if the proposed industrial wind facility is built, and to bring legal proceedings if necessary. To that end, Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc. has retained attorney Robert M. Cohen, of Ballston Lake, New York. Tax deductible donations can be sent to Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc. at P.O. Box 1013, Little Falls, NY 13365.
Little Falls, New York, March 8th, 2007
Want electricity? Don’t count on wind farms to deliver. A recent analysis of transaction data filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the period July – September, 2006, shows that the large Maple Ridge wind facility in Lewis County produces electricity in a very erratic manner, and generally at levels far below promised output.
Richard Bolton, President of Environmental Compliance Alliance in Rushville, New York, stated that “Maple Ridge has a nameplate capacity of 240 MW, but for 40% of the third quarter of 2006, the wind farm produced a paltry 30 MW or less, or no more than 12.5% of nameplate capacity. At no time during that three-month period did the output sustain the full 240 MW. Indeed, the wind turbines produce more than half the rated output only 15% of the time.”
Mr. Bolton’s analysis shows that the promise of “green” power from industrial wind turbines is a sham. They produce little power during the period of greatest need, yet blight the landscape with their 40-story-tall structures. With wind unable to perform when demand is highest, power companies have to fall back on traditional sources of electric power, fossil-fuel and hydro power.
Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc. has been formed to bring public attention to the problems which may result if the proposed industrial wind facility is built, and to bring legal proceedings if necessary. To that end, Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc. has retained attorney Robert M. Cohen, of Ballston Lake, New York. Tax deductible donations can be sent to Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc. at P.O. Box 1013, Little Falls, NY 13365.
