From the TOMMYWONK BLOG, Sunday, January 06, 2008
http://tommywonk.blogspot.com/2008/01/please-somebody-else-somewhere-else-do.html
The opponents of offshore wind power in Delaware are scrambling to make it look like they're actually in favor of renewable energy. The News Journal reports that they've hit on a diversionary tactic to make it look like they might actually consider doing something:
On Friday, [Sen. Harris] McDowell announced that three senators had asked him to schedule hearings to look at all of the state's options for "affordable, environmentally friendly energy," including on-shore wind. Those senators were [Thurman] Adams, Majority Leader Anthony DeLuca, D-Newark East, and Majority Whip Patricia Blevins, D-Elsmere.
So what do you do if you're a legislator who fervently opposes the Bluewater Wind agreement, but still wants to look like a proponent of renewable energy? You hold hearings about somebody else, somewhere else, doing something else, some other time.
To be fair, most members of the General Assembly, including Senators DeLuca and Blevins, probably haven't had a chance to make up their minds. Rep. Dick Cathcart sounds like he hasn't:
House Majority Leader Richard C. Cathcart, R-Middletown, said the majority of the discussion at the leadership meeting was what the wind farm would cost, and that remains uppermost in legislators' minds today. The PSC staff report came out too soon before the vote, he said.
Cathcart said legislators are more cautious given their experience with deregulation and the big rate increase that followed. They don't want to get bitten twice, he said.
"A lot of us are gun-shy," Cathcart said. "I'm a big believer in wind as an alternative source of energy. It's something we should pursue aggressively. I think it's something that we should be proud of being the first state to do it. I think that we need to make sure that we've explored every option we have in order to reduce the ultimate cost to the consumer while we're getting there."
Here's a thought: Instead of holding hearings about doing anything but what the Public Service Commission (PSC) staff report recommended, how about holding a hearing reviewing the findings of the PSC staff, and then acting on those findings?
POSTED BY TOMMYWONK AT 5:00 PM
WIND POWER FACT SHEET
WHY WIND POWER?
· HEALTH: STATEWIDE DE is 4th in the nation for cancer deaths, 8th in the nation for stroke, & 34th in overall heath. 11.8% of Delawareans have lifetime asthma.
o In addition those who live within 30 miles of the Indian River Power Plant (most of Sussex) have a 25-50% greater increase of: cancer, stroke, heart attack, heart disease; neurological problems; infant mortality rate; children with special education needs lung disease & asthma.
GLOBAL WARMING: Oil, natural gas, & coal increase carbon loading into air & ocean.
Nuclear power is not the answer, yet the new Federal energy bill contains a $50 billion taxpayer subsidy for new nuclear plants which must deal with toxic nuclear waste that must be guarded & stored for untold generatios, against nuclear accidents, & sabotage.
ACTION: We want the Public Service Commission to stay in negotiations with Bluewater Wind so that citizens can have a clean, renewable, energy supply with a stable price for the next 25 years. Delmarva Power doesn’t want to negotiate because they want the ability to control the pricing structure (last year’s 59%rate hike). (This agreement would lock them into a stable rate.)
DECISION date: The PSC has scheduled a Tuesday, Nov. 20, 10 AM meeting at the House Chambers at Legislative Hall where the parties will testify as to their positions. Public comments will not be allowed but clean air activists ask that the public attend this important meeting.
NEWS JOURNAL Letters to the Editor
Wind power would help clear up lung illnesses
We are registered nurses who applaud the willingness of Bluewater Wind to address recent concerns and revise its cost proposal. As members of an environmental health task force, we support this project.
As nurses, we are concerned about
Coal-burning power plants are one of the nation's dirtiest sources of energy and producers of fine particulate matter. Despite this, the majority of
Wind farms are an important step in a long journey toward a healthier environment benefiting all Delawareans and future generations. Wind energy is clean, price stable, affordable and does not contribute to global climate change. Let's lead the way to a cleaner future.
Ann Darwicki, R.N., Michelle Lauer, R.N., Moonyeen Klopfenstein, R.N.,