New York Wind Wars: Hiding the Facts (PTC allows Invenergy to desecrate)

“New York State’s installed wind factories averaged a pathetic 23.5% Capacity Factor in 2012….  It’s no wonder New York has earned the dubious distinction of having the highest electricity rates in the continental United States – 17.7 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) – a whopping 53% above the national average.”

The last minute extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC – aka: “Pork To Cronies”) within the December 31, 2012 fiscal cliff deal was good news for Big Wind corporate welfare profiteers, like Michael Polsky’sInvenergy. It was very bad news for rural/residential Towns being targeted by industrial wind developers here in New York State, and across the nation.

Despite the fact that the Wyoming County, NY Town of Orangeville’s conflicted Town Board approved Invenergy’s “Stony Creek” project in the Fall of 2012, Invenergy admitted they would not be going ahead with the project unless the PTC was extended – highlighting the fact that the only thing Invenergy is interested in ‘harvesting’ is taxpayers’ money.

Once Crony-Corruptocrats in DC extended the PTC in that midnight fiscal cliff deal, the once-beautiful rolling hills of the Town of Orangeville were doomed. As Michael Polsky enjoys his new mansion, many Orangeville residents are helplessly looking on in disgust as Invenergy turns their entire Town into a sprawling industrial wind factory — rendering their homes virtually worthless — all thanks to the legalized thievery of their own tax dollars for The Wind Farm Scam.

As Big Wind CEO, Patrick Jenevein candidly pointed out in his WSJ op-ed, “Wind power subsidies? No Thanks” and follow-up TV interview,“Wind farms are increasingly being built in less-windy locations” because the wind industry is focused on reaping the lucrative taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies, rather than on providing an efficient, affordable product.

Nowhere is this proving to be more true than right here in New York State. Orangeville borders the Town of Attica here in Western New York State – a town that ‘First Wind LLC’ pulled out of a number of years ago after admitting that the Attica area “was not a good wind area.” Seems Jenevein knew exactly what he was talking about.

Economics 101

According to NYISO’s Goldbook, New York State’s installed wind factories averaged a pathetic 23.5% Capacity Factor in 2012. New York State wind factories are not generating enough electricity to even pay for themselves over their short life spans.

Renowned energy analyst, Glenn Schleede, examined the data on New York State’s wind factories, and found that ONE 450 MW Combined Cycle Generating Unit located at New York City (where the power is needed in New York State), would provide more power than all of New York State’s wind farms combined, at 1/4 of the capital costs — and would have significantly reduced CO2 emissions and created far more jobs than all those wind farms – without the added costs of all the transmission lines to New York City.

It’s no wonder New York has earned the dubious distinction of having the highest electricity rates in the continental United States – 17.69 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) – a whopping 53% above the national average. A New York resident using 6,500 kWh of electricity annually will pay about $400 per year more per year for his or her electricity than if New York’s electricity prices were at the national average.

Despite making absolutely no economic sense at all, and the utter civil discord embroiling Towns across New York State for over a decade now, New York State continues to aggressively pursue further industrial wind development – with no effort at all to protect the well-being, and the pocketbooks of New York State citizens.

Governor Cuomo and Article X

In his time as Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo did nothing to protect New York State citizens from the predatory practices and collusion evident amongst Big Wind developers. Once Cuomo became Governor of New York, he actively began aiding and abetting Big Wind’s efforts to trample rural communities’ Constitutional private property rights in his pursuit of all things ‘green’ (aka: Agenda 21), by signing into law the new “Article X (10)” – contained within his 2011 “Power NY Act.”

Cuomo’s new ‘Article X’ put in place an ‘Energy Siting Board’ comprised of five Albany bureaucrats who will now have the final say regarding the siting of “power-generating facilities” in NY – redefined to be anything generating 25 MW or more. Cuomo’s intentions to clear the way for Big Wind developers could not have been any more obvious had he rolled out a red carpet.

‘Article X’ proceedings are already being pursued by British Petroleum (BP) in the Town of Cape Vincent, NY, and by Iberdrola in the Town of Clayton, NY, in attempts to turn the beautiful Thousands Islands, St. Lawrence Seaway area of New York State into sprawling industrial wind factories. Devastating some of the most scenic, historic areas in the nation in pursuit of the ‘green’ energy boondoggle of wind should have all Americans incensed – especially since they are paying for it!

In Lichtfield, NY, another Big Wind LLC was seeking to over-ride the Town’s restrictive zoning laws using Cuomo’s “Article X,” so that they could put 490-foot-tall turbines there. Lucky for Litchfield residents, the FAA struck down Big Wind’s plans there.

Robert Bryce, Senior fellow at The Manhattan Institute, reported on the lawsuit going on in Herkimer County, NY due to the intolerable noise problems associated with industrial wind factories, in his article, “Backlash Against Big Wind Continues”.

Other wind factories are in the works in New York, with unsuspecting Towns yet to realize the fate that is awaiting them.

Considering the growing list of problems associated with industrial wind factories in New York State (and worldwide), Governor Cuomo has displayed criminal negligence of his position as a duly-elected “public servant” by not demanding health studies in order to protect those he was elected to serve.

Location, Location, Location…

Adding insult to injury, Ben Hoen and his pals at the NRLB just came out with another “report” claiming industrial wind factories do not hurt property values. They can’t really be serious – can they?!? Do these people actually think everyone in the world is that stupid?
Real Estate 101: “LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!”

Any realtor who is not in bed with the wind industry, will tell you – Location is the most important factor when considering a home’s worth and value.

If you industrialize a neighborhood (in the case of industrial wind energy – entire Towns, and those neighboring it), you are going to devalue it. Pretty much a no-brainer, right?!? Not according to Ben Hoen, and wind enthusiasts like Mike Barnard.

Pro-Wind Media Controlling the Message

After reading Mike Barnard’s blog post perpetuating the “no depreciation of property values” myth in Hoen’s ‘new’ report, I attempted to post a comment. Barnard, like many other pro-wind blogs and media outlets I’ve encountered over the years, refused to post my comments on one of his previous blog posts – but I thought I’d try again since the ‘no property value loss’ assertion is so absurd.

Mr. Barnard finally did post my first comment – after I edited it a few times. However, he refused to post the facts contained within my follow-up comment and question, claiming they were not “relevant” to the discussion about property values.

If wind lobbyists and their benefactors actually believe all that they claim about the supposed ‘wonders of wind,’ then why do they need to control the message the way they do? The answer is evident. They are either so ideologically-driven that facts are not “relevant” to them – or, they are getting so rich via the wind scam, they must work to squelch factual information as much as possible so the “Emperor with No Clothes” doesn’t end up being exposed for what it is – a charlatan swindling taxpayers and ratepayers out of $Billions in the name of being ‘green.’

I thank Master Resource for allowing me the opportunity to post my comment to Mr. Barnard here, where readers can decide for themselves whether it is “relevant” information or not.

Comment to ‘Barnard on Wind’… “Relevant”? You decide.

Dear Mr. Barnard,

I am “mildly amused” that you consider eye-witness accounts of what is actually going on in rural/residential areas where these sprawling industrial wind factories are being installed to be “anecdotal arguments.”

So let me pose the same question to you Mr. Barnard — Would you buy and move your family into a home that is now surrounded by 45-story machines – with their 7-ton blades spinning overhead, only hundreds of feet from your home?

I have yet to meet any pro-wind enthusiast who would.

 Health issues associated with industrial wind factories are a major contributor to the loss of property values that is occurring around wind factories. There are thousands of valid complaints that continue to surface world-wide, and there is a growing body of video testimonies on the subject.

The Documentary “Windfall” was filmed in Upstate New York. (See the entire Documentary at NetFlix.)

Fairhaven, Massachusetts residents who are being negatively impacted by just TWO (2) industrial wind turbines sited “Too Close” to their homes have documented the negative effects they are living with in a YouTube video.
The article, “Rural Backlash Against Big Wind Continues“ discusses some of the lawsuits going on because of wind in New York State.

As a NYS-certified health educator myself, I was taught that the World Health Organization (WHO) is the ‘Gold Standard’ when it comes to health recommendations. WHO recommends night-time ambient noise levels no higher than 42 dbA for a good night’s sleep. The sound being emitted by industrial wind factories is much higher than that. As I told you, a friend of mine had the sound measured INSIDE his home to be above 70dbA.

At a NYSERDA Environmental Stakeholder’s Group Meeting specific to wind power that I attended in Albany, NY in June of 2009, Dr. Dan Driscoll – the former Noise Control Engineer for the PSC, explained the problems associated with the noise emitted from industrial wind turbines. Dr. Driscoll said that “infrasound” (sounds below 20 Hz) are the “sounds you can’t hear, but you can feel.” He said that “infrasound” is NOT blocked by walls of residences, and can very negatively affect the human body – especially after prolonged, continuous exposure. He said symptoms include headache, nausea, sleeplessness, etc. Dr. Driscoll recommended that setbacks be a minimum of approximately 3500 feet.

At the same meeting, NYS Dept. of Health official, Dr. Jan Storm, testified that though they were aware of the many problems associated with infrasound from wind turbines worldwide, New York State still had not embarked on any studies – despite having received $10 Million Dollars of Stimulus money intended for grants, and the National Institute of Health having a call out for submittals. Sadly, New York State officials still have NOT embarked on any health studies to assure the protection of New York State citizens from industrial wind turbines which are wrongfully being sited too close to where people live – despite the growing body of evidence of problems worldwide.
Frankly, Mr. Barnard, I consider this to be criminal neglect of elected officials #1 priority to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens.

 There are many more Doctors, sound specialists, and engineers worldwide who have testified on the problems associated with the infrasound and stray voltage associated with industrial wind turbines. Just a few more examples include: 

Sound Specialist Offers Expertise on Industrial Wind Installations

Residents near wind project attest to health woes

“Wind Turbines Can Be Hazardous to Human Health,” by Dr. Alec Salt

Epidemiologist Dr. Samuel Milham, adjunct professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, reports that the turbines produce enough dirty energy to sufficiently increase the risk of many diseases in his book, Dirty Electricity.
Furthermore Mr. Barnard, your claim that energy density is a “myth,” and “not relevant” to the discussion about property values is just plain wrong.

 As William Tucker’s essay, Understanding E = mc2 explains, the standard candle for an electricity generating facility is 1000 MW. Since contemporary 50-story windmills typically generate 1- 1/2 MW apiece, it would take 660 windmills to get 1000 MW. They must be spaced about half a mile apart, so a 1000-MW wind farm would occupy 125 square miles. Unfortunately, the best windmills generate electricity only 30% of the time [Here in NY they averaged a pathetic 23% in 2012], so 1000 MW really means covering more than 375 square miles at widely dispersed locations. 

Even after carpeting over 375 sq miles with industrial wind turbines in a futile attempt to equal just ONE reliable generating facility, those wind turbines still would not work at all much of the time – highlighting Big Wind’s inability to successfully replace our reliable, dispatchable power generators.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or a realtor) to figure out the fact that industrializing 375 sq miles — to try and equal what just ONE RELIABLE, conventional generating facility could provide (in a fraction of the space) – IS going to devalue that 375+ sq miles.

 Wind’s lack of energy density greatly increases property value impacts.

Since I understand that you are originally from Toronto, while now living in Singapore in your position with IBM, I believe you will find this older article still very relevant to the discussion: The New Civil War – Rural versus Urban.

It is quite sad that so many elected representatives, bureaucrats, media and misinformed green enthusiasts who are not being directly impacted by the installation of industrial wind factories — like Ben Hoen and you, Mr. Barnard — are so willing to dismiss the countless reports of problems to fellow human beings from inappropriately-sited industrial wind factories. Seemingly, the ‘Golden Rule’ to treat others as you would want to be treated, isn’t something that much matters to you.

When you and Mr. Hoen actually put your money where your mouths are, Mr. Barnard, and buy and live in a home within the sprawling footprint of an industrial wind factory, then perhaps your opinions on the subject might actually be deemed credible. Until then, as the Bible puts it, “If you have not love, you are but a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

Wishing you and your family the best of health,   Mary Kay Barton