Majority of U.S. Governors Call for Increased Support for Wind Energy

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.allgov.com/Top_Stories/ViewNews/Majority_of_US_Governors_Call_for_Increased_Support_for_Wind_Energy_100327

Majority of U.S. Governors Call for Increased Support for Wind Energy

Saturday, March 27, 2010

A bipartisan group of 29 governors is calling for a national renewable energy standard which would mean greater use of wind-generated power. The http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/">Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition released a http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/assets/files/GWC%202010%20Recommendations%20%28FINAL%203-16-10%29.pdf">report that calls for streamlining the process of developing onshore and offshore wind farms and upgrading the interstate electric transmission system to access new sources of wind power.

The coalition wants the federal government to require utilities to draw a minimum of 10% of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, geothermal and biopower by 2012. Democratic Governor Chet Culver of Iowa, chairman of the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, wants the country to go even farther and establish a 25% renewable energy standard by 2025. The governors’ report points out that 42% of new power plants installed in 2008 are powered by wind and it claims that the wind industry would emply an annual average of 150,000 people.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

...

[kestrel91316]

1. ZOMG, they've all gone SOCIALIST!!!!1!!!11!!!

[Xipe Totec]

4. No, they just want to put Republican windbags back to work nt

[The Wielding Truth]

2. Hurray!Finally a positive forward movement. It's time to actually make

strides on the environment.There is so much to do and so much to overcome.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. We must be careful, too many windmills could reverse the rotation

of the earth, no?

[WhiteTara]

6. you mean we might float off to Oz

just like Dorothy? Or is this supposed to be a serious concern?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. Ehhhhhh no. Just playful musing.... but one never knows does one. n/t

[malakai2]

5. And why not?

There isn't yet much public resistance, and it generates money for those states. Win/win as far as those governors are concerned.

[PhD]

7. Maybe they can figure out how to make these things bird/bat friendly

You'd be amazed at the numbers of birds and bats that are killed by flying into wind turbines.

http://www.abcbirds.org/conservationissues/threats/energyproduction/wind.html

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. Another view

http://www.audubon.org/campaign/windPowerQA.html
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-213213
http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11935
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2009.02.011
http://www.awea.org/faq/sagrillo/swbirds.html
http://www.awea.org/faq/sagrillo/ms_bats_0302.html

[kristopher]

9. did you know that if you just read Phd it comes out FUD?

You obviously lack the basic analytic skills associated with the degree, and you just as obviously are pushing FUD related to renewables.

[PhD]

10. Maybe you need to practice critical thinking skills

I was not implying that renewable energy in general nor wind energy in particular is undesirable. I am pointing out a serious problem with wind turbines that needs to be addressed. For your edification, I worked for the DOE in the 1990s studying this very problem. The energy industry was very uncooperative, but we sent teams to count deceased birds in wind turbine fields. Based on our studies, we found that the mortality rate reported by the industry was being underestimated by as much as 50%.

Another point people need to remember is that there is no free lunch. No matter what method we use to generate power--fossil fuels, solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, biofuel, nuclear, hydrogen--there are environmental impacts. People focus on how awful carbon dioxide is but every alternative has significant issues of their own that are usually ignored.

Do some research with an open mind.

[kristopher]

11. Dear Ms/Mr. Fud, The research confirms tht there is no significant problem with avian mortality

You are the one pointing to supposed "studies" that have absolutely no relevance to the process of siting that is practiced today so please, explain again how you excel at critical thinking. Early experiences with poor siting has created a standard within the industry that takes avian mortality into account and as a consequence groups like Audubon are supporters, not opponents, of wind energy.

As to your admonition that I "do some research with an open mind" I could suggest the same to you, except I'd just suggest that you
"do some research".

[PhD]

14. I see

Personally going to wind farms throughout the Midwest and counting hundreds of bird carcasses clearly makes me unqualified to question the perfection of the wind power industry.

[Statistical]

13. Just ignore Kris.

Unless you believe wind is too cheap to meter, has no drawbacks, and once replace entire power grid in a year (if it were for nuclear shills) he will attack you relentlessly.

Any criticism no matter how slight of the all mighty wind father is bound to bring righteous vengeance by his highest disciple Kris.

[PhD]

15. Point taken

I shall bear this in mind in the future.