Wind Turbines in Richmondville: Awesome!!!

As Joe C. likes to say, "the wind ain't just for blowin'!" In reference to the TJ's article on wind turbines coming to Richmondville, I can say, like my professor, "Very Nice!" I have visited several wind farms, and I must say that I was impressed.

What wind turbines offer:

1. Clean energy, with no pollution what-so-ever.
2. Jobs.
3. Extra tax revenue.
4. Tourist attraction.

Also, Joe, where are you! Call your mother and tell her you're okay! And good luck with the Snakess.

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How to Solve Our Dependence on Foreign Energy

Even with gas and oil prices dipping over the last six months, we have to keep in mind that unless we do something drastic this is only temporary. When the economy comes back online, expect the return of four dollar gas. Oil could again reach near $150 and a prolonged economic growth period could push gas near six dollars.

In order to attempt to reverse this potential future, the government and our business leaders need to make the decision that we should be less dependent on foreign energy. Everyone states how they'd like to do this, but it's imperative that we act boldly, especially while our enemies like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela have smarting economies.

So here's my plan. If you don't like it or feels that it doesn't go far enough, feel free to comment. If you think it's a good idea, email it to people you know to begin a chain that could end with Congressmen and Senators. It's time to act, and I think that it's about time.

What We Need to Do:

1. Relax restrictions on drilling for most domestic areas-- basically anywhere that won't really damage the environment. Make oil companies pay 25 cents on the dollar of profits from this new land opened in reinvestment, the "greening" of their facilities and automobiles, and the expansion of alternative energy.

2. Have the Congress invest $50 billion over the next 5-10 years in ethanol production in Brazil. Sugarcane in Brazil produces much more ethanol cheaper than corn, and avoids the fuel/food scenario. Have these fields owned by our government, with the ethanol being sent to the US tariff and tax free.

3. Create wind, solar, and geothermal energy on federal land, including solar panels on federal buildings. Phase out gasoline and diesel cars from federal and state vehicles, and phase in CNG, biodiesel, and ethanol cars.

4. Provide $50 billion over 10 years for the construction of ten synthetic coal-to-oil plants.

5. Eliminate most or all taxes on Compressed Natural Gas, and push for more drilling.

6. Mandate that all newly built homes and businesses be constructed with either solar panels or a small wind turbine OR have the owners pay a waiver to the federal government.

7. Allow the construction of more refineries and nuclear plants.

This plan is definitely expensive, but if carried out, could save us the amount it costs overall in just one year. This could be our ticket out of ALL energy entanglements with other countries (except Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.) Make this message count, send it to those who want to make a difference!

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Alaska Taking the Lead on Alternative Energy

Alaska, run by Governor Sarah Palin, has announced an ambitious new goal: 50% of Alaska's energy being renewable by 2025. Now there are not many people up in the Arctic Circle, but it's twice as ambitious as President Obama's:

That's from the governor who can't wait to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and who sunk $500 million into a yet-to-be built gas pipeline. But now, she said, she would move to wean the state's far-flung villages from diesel oil to wind and geothermal and make the state's six utilities cease their in-fighting to more efficiently serve populated areas.

Palin's 50% goal one-ups California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who touts himself as the nation's green governor: Two months ago, he signed an executive order requiring 33% of Golden State electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. President-elect Barack Obama, whose home state of Illinois is a major coal producer, has called for 25% renewable energy use nationwide by 2025.

Good for Sarah Palin and good for Alaska.

Jumping in Pools Investigation: Wind Farms

Jumping in Pools is reporting on wind farms in the North Country. These particular wind farms are at or near Brainardsville, Chateauguay, and Ellenburg, NY.
Enjoy.

Bush Environmental Contributions Ignored, Again

Know it or not, but George W. Bush may be the friendliest president to the environment we've ever had. Yes, he didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol, but my statement still stands.

Why? Well, Texas is the number one state in the Union as far as wind energy is concerned. This is because Governor Bush actively pushed for wind turbines throughout the state, even giving lucrative tax credits before it became en vogue.

Bush also has reversed an almost 30 year-old statute, so that homeowners can receive credit for installing solar panels on their houses. He has also asked Congress for billions of dollars to fund alternative energy.

President Bush has also signed into law the preservation of the largest wildlife preserve in United States history. And recently, he has established another large zone for ecological conservation.

“The monuments will prohibit resource destruction or extraction, waste dumping and commercial fishing,” President Bush said.
President Bush says the goal is to keep these delicate ecosystems intact, while gradually opening them up to scientific research and recreation.

“For sea birds and marine life, they will be sanctuaries to grow and thrive. For scientists, they will be places to expand the frontiers of discovery. And for the American people they will be places that honor our duty to be good stewards of the Almighty’s creation,” he said.

...

The three new marine monuments together equal an area roughly the size of Spain and are made up islands, reefs, atolls and underwater mountain ranges that are home to countless species.

Good for President Bush, credit or no.

Windmills Would be an Asset for the County

Over the last couple of years there's been a lot of talk about the possibility of massive wind turbines being built in the area. Between Schoharie and Otsego Counties is one of the richest wind environments in the state. Talk about windmills in Cherry Valley has started again, and hopefully this time it will go through. Unfortunately, it was the urbane democrats of the area which killed the discussion before, despite the majority of the town board supporting the wind turbines, along with local republicans.

Which brings us to our area. Near Madison, NY, there are wind farms in Madison and Fenner. In Madison, there are seven wind turbines which generate electricity for thousands of homes. The operators of the turbines also pay for a quarter of the school budget and a significant portion of the town budget. In Fenner, twenty windmills are on local farms, taking up little space and providing even more power for civilian purposes.

In Tug Hill, 195 windmills provide about 2% of New York State's electricity needs, and pay a handsome amount annually to each of the local towns. These windmills are quiet, having been under one-- touching it in fact. This was while the turbine was turning rapidly.

Sure, the windmills are only effective 20% of the time. However, most of the time, they do not require personnel on site. 20% of the time is still impressive, considering that even with this limited capacity, they still provide relatively large amounts of clean energy. Every windmill that is constructed is one less megawatt of power generated from oil or coal. When the windmills are not in service, the rest of the grid is easily able to compensate for the lack of energy. Any excess energy can be fed back into the grid, causing other energy sources to cut back on production.

As a local official, I would welcome and encourage wind farms in the area. Last year I attended a meeting of the Town of Fulton board and threw my support behind Phil Scowfoe's plan for wind turbines. These turbines will be able to pay a large portion of our local taxes through PILOT programs and will also decrease our energy prices. In Cherry Valley, the company which was to run the windmills offered the residents 25% off of their electricity costs, in addition to paying through PILOT programs. The incentives for putting in the windmills will cut our government overhead costs, further benefiting taxpayers. With school costs rising, any windmill benefits would slow or temporarily halt the rise in school taxes.

My family has went out of our way to visit all three windfarms, with Madison being visited probably 10 times. The windmills would become a minor sightseeing site and would bring in a few onlookers a day. Ten people per day in the summer coming from Albany to gawk at the windmills could inject hundreds of dollars per day into our local economy, which alone would be a nice jolt.

Windmills are not perfect. However, they're the closest thing we have to perfect for now.

Richmondville and the Wind issue

Politics in Richmondville New York, is brutal, well put, simply said, why I would ever want to run for a trustee position in this town is comparable to suicide, but I believe I can make a difference, as for the biggest political issue in Richmondville history :
The wind turbine issue
I have the following to say :
I am against wind turbines in Richmondville for different reasons then most, I am not concerned with the effect it will have on the environment, I am in favor of drilling all around the country for the last drop of oil we can get, I am against it because it has never been a proven energy source, the problem with wind energy is :
When its not windy, the turbines shut off, currently there is no major storage system for the energy it could potentially produce, in some areas such as the open plains or the ocean this is a brilliant idea, but in Richmondville New York? Its suicide of wasting town funds on a un-proven energy source, as well as bringing about the entire town screaming at you every minute of the day.
I have made this proposal before in a Letter to the Editor in the Times Journal, Richmondville has enough creeks and streams, and they have been used before, to do hyrdo-electricity, it would make us even more Independent, and it would end this entire "wind debate".

Until next time,

Timothy Knight

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Albania to Host Europe's Biggest Windfarm

Yes, yes, we all know how awesome Albania is. However, we have another bulletin. Albania will host the largest windfarm in all of Europe. This windmilltastic farm will supply power for and will be constructed by Italy. The farm will consist of 250 turbines, over 50 more than at Tug Hill.

The Albanian government has transferred more than 97 hectares of land to Italy’s Moncada Energy Group, which through its Albanian subsidiary, Enpower Albania, aims to build a 500 megawatt wind farm, comprising 250 turbines, in the south of the country. The biggest wind farm in Europe. The project will include the construction of a transmission line running from the port of Vlora in Albania to the Italian port of Brindisi. A cable, stretching 145km under the Adriatic at a depth of over 900 metres, will allow electricity to be transmitted in either direction. Construction is expected to start in 2010.

Good for Albania. They're joining NATO and are still cool. How can they get any cooler?