CLEAN ENERGY NOW

Even Vila Believes

I'm astounded!

Bob Vila has a post on his blog encouraging his readers to invest in wind energy-- plus there's a link to a U.S.  Department of Energy website that catalogs wind energy development in every state.

Guess what?

We're getting smoked by just about every other state in the Union!

Hey, if they called it "black gold" when they discovered oil in Texas, what do they call their wind discovery? (Because you know that with nearly 4,300 turbines to date, those Texans are rolling in revenue from their wind investments right now.)

You know the argument, of course: the NIMBYs say that Florida isn't a suitable location for wind power.

Tell 'em, Bob:

Maps include installed wind power (no surprise, California is head and shoulders above the rest) and wind resource potential on both a national and state-by-state scale. It looks as if the coasts and mountainous states show the greatest potential for development.

What's it going to take to get some wind energy in Florida?

Let the Sunshine In

A great article at Palm Beach Post points toward a refutation of one the NIMBY arguments.

People who fear wind energy can't stand the recent study which shows that the proposed turbines on Hutchinson Island, at over 400 feet, will encounter plenty of wind to produce a substantial amount of energy.

So they say things like this:

So at BEST it isn't as good as the alternative of using solar panels on the houses.

Hey, solar power is great. Who could disagree? But what does a favorable stance toward solar power have to do with an un-favorable attitude regarding wind energy? What kind of mental somersaults does someone have to go through to even make that kind of argument?

Fortunately, school kids are around to bring us back to sanity:

Outside the classroom stand two 30-foot wind turbines and a cluster of solar panels. A breaker box inside allows the teacher to switch from electricity to the alternative sources, Sellepack said. The wind turbines and the solar panels send power to batteries that run the lights and a television.

Say it with me, now: SOLAR AND WIND.

It's like having your cake, and eating it too.

The People Have Spoken

--And the people of St. Lucie County want wind power.

Today's  Palm Beach Post reports on studies undertaken by two agencies-- one from the Republican polling outfit McLaughlin and Associates, and another by legendary Democratic pollsters Penn, Schoen, and Brand-- indicating that over 81% of the population supports the new turbines going up on FPL's Hutchinson Island property. Five hundred St. Lucie County residents were selected at random and contacted by telephone.

"'We're pleased, but not surprised,' FPL spokeswoman Amy Brunjes said. 'We've heard all along that there's quite a silent majority in the county that are in favor of bringing renewable energy to St. Lucie County, and this polls substantiates that.'"

That's great news!

I mean, that's great news for anyone who wants to save the planet.

It would be hilarious, if it weren't so terribly sad, to see the way the NIMBY squad is spinning this:

"Lisa Linowes of the Industrial Wind Action Group, which has opposed wind turbine plans,called the poll a "classic" tactic, designed to pressure commissioners. . . .It's unlikely FPL would have taken this step had public opinion been running their way," Linowes wrote in an e-mail to opponents of the FPL plan."

 

As tempting as it is to ask just what Ms. Linowes means by the term "public opinion"-- since she apparently doesn't have "the way most people are thinking" in mind-- don't you sort of expect that you'd do just as well asking her what the meaning of "is" is?

Two Roads Diverged...

Over the last few weeks I've had my attention diverted to a number of things aside from the St. Lucie wind power initiative-- and during that time the NIMBY squad has mobilized effectively, cornering public officials and even turning the very commissioner we'd most been counting on. Chris Craft became the third St. Lucie County commissioner opposed to building power facilities at Blind Creek, and with only five commissioners total, that aspect of the project is now at an effective dead end.

He grounded his opposition on the proposed location-- the location he himself had suggested-- and he claimed to have experienced his *conversion* when a teenage girl spoke to him.

Moving along past the creepiness factor, let's assess our current situation:

1) There was the prospect that if the entire, 9-turbine, project was not approved-- 6 on FPL's nuclear facility campus and 3 on adjoining, state-owned, land-- the effort would be lost completely, and Florida might miss out on wind power altogether. Thankfully, the power company still wants to move forward.

2) With no public land at stake, the project no longer requires state approval. However, the turbines, at approx. 400 feet, exceed current height restrictions on Hutchinson Island. The project will thus require a waiver from the county.

3) The relative aesthetic value of six towering turbines on a barrier island has already been much debated, and it's not exactly settled. Reactions run the gamut from fascination to disgust. You know how I feel: these things are majestic monuments to responsible science in practice, a perfect complement to the scenic ocean view. I like to think I'm in the majority. We'll see. How is this relevant, you ask? The answer is that it's far less an issue for public contention, now that state lands are out of play-- but NIMBY's will be NIMBY's, and they will argue against the project on every point, aesthetics included.

But really, to the extent that there is opposition to the St. Lucie wind power initiative, there is plenty of talk, but it all seems grounded in a feeling: a certainty that people are never happy once wind power has come into their communities.

Well. Let's take a look at a case in point, shall we?

(Hat tip: Eco Scraps)

Set the Chickens Free

In what must be some half-baked nod to Saturday Night Live ass-clownery of yore, a group of folks opposed to wind power in St. Lucie County have gotten together to perform the worst song of 2008-- it's about turtles, or something, I guess, man. Man, don't bogart the weed, man.

You didn't click on that, did you? You listened to it to? I'm sorry; I guess I set you up for it. Here, take a moment for a Q-tip and a glass of water.

Then watch this. It's so much better.

(Hat tip: Filamentasyncopation)

You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

I saw a funny thing over at TCPalm the other day.  In the same day wind energy opponents argued both that there isn't enough wind in St. Lucie County for wind turbines, and they argued that there was too much...  But wait, it gets even better - this video keeps getting posted:

Awesome - I don't think it gets any better than this.  The same kids saying that we're not going to have enough power to justify the wind turbines are also fear-mongering: trying to scary you that wind is going to cause them to destroy your homes and possibly hurt you.  In my humble opinion, it really doesn't lend your argument much creditability when you try to argue against it from both sides at the same time.  But hey, thats just me.

The Long and *Wind*ing Road

In searching about the internets over the last several days for examples of other communities in our nation rising to the challenge of sustainable energy, I found this fascinating scenario:

By adding local infrastructure to capture storm-water runoff and supply renewable energy, the neighborhood will reduce its dependency on the city's sewage and power systems without getting rid of old pipes and lines. Part of the plan is to radically "green" district streets, by creating new open space, wildlife corridors, and the construction of bioswales at intersections. Lloyd Crossing is sponsored by the Portland Development Commission (PDC), and will be developed by a multidisciplinary team led by Mithun architects.

The article, written in 2005 by a Virginian writer about a planned project in Oregon, indicates that there are places where the people have already embraced clean energy. They’ve embraced it so much that they’re continually developing newer, more innovative ways to implement Green strategies into their urban planning—in long-standing communities far more dense than that of St. Lucie.

It’s so frustrating: now that St. Lucie County has pledged to lead the State of Florida in alternative energy production, we’re held up by those who protest a mere nine wind turbines. How can we lead if we can’t catch up?

And lest you think that it’s just a few West Coast hippies who care about alternative energy, here’s a comment posted to that article—you might be surprised which state this reader is from:

I'm scanning the websites late at night for info on Seattle or Portland...I grew up in Lauderdale, FL and am considering a move. If you guys read this and want to tell me why YOUR city rocks...

Great Letter to the Editor

From this:  http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/feb/18/letter-why-head-winds-turbines/

As a resident of St. Lucie County, and a ninth-grade science teacher, I am astounded that residents would not want the wind turbines. As the world’s fastest- growing renewable energy source for the past decade, wind power is a clean and green energy. It’s energy of the future, and we would be moving forward as a green community.

I would rather see nine wind turbines on Hutchinson Island than a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plants have several disadvantages.

First, the mining of uranium can cause damage to environment. Second, the water that is released from the power plant has to be cooled before it’s dumped into the ocean or it can cause damage to the fish. Finally, a nuclear meltdown could occur. Radiation could escape from a power plant and cause harm to animals and humans through the millions of tons of air pollutants emitted into the air each year.

On the other hand, wind energy is clean and green. It’s a renewable resource, which means it can be used over, and over, and over again. The electricity generated by these turbines won’t pollute our air, or emit pollutants, like other energy sources. I understand that wind turbines do not consistently create enough energy to continuously power homes, but it’s a renewable resource that doesn’t pollute the Earth, so why not take a chance on clean energy?

Global warming has become an issue in the news lately, and this is just one step toward a cleaner environment. I strongly believe that we should give an inexpensive, clean, green, renewable resource a chance in St. Lucie County. I feel that this is an excellent opportunity for the county to make a step in the right direction toward becoming a green county of the future. 

Jessica Monti 

Port St. Lucie 

Florida Wind Power

Here's a great map from the "Wind Energy Atlas".  As you can see- wind has to come from the coast.  The 2's are strong wind, the 1's are weak wind.

What makes this project so perfect is the power infastructure is already at the nuclear plant on the coast, so wind power can be hooked in directly into those lines. 

Hmm... less coal and nuclear power and more wind.  NO BRAINER.

CLEAN ENERGY NOW ST. LUCIE.

My new Blog

I never thought I would become a blogger, but after this week I am finally motivated.  St. Lucie County had a public hearing on the proposed wind energy plan by Florida Power.  ON A COUPLE DAYS NOTICE. 

Hey County Board- SOME OF US WORK FOR A LIVING AND CAN NOT ATTEND A MEETING ON A WORKDAY ON A COUPLE DAYS NOTICE.  This is shameful and I think this meeting was held as a way to silence those of us in the community who support Clean Energy.  So this blog will be dedicated to following this issue and everyone involved with it- and holding our Democratic Board accountable to their campaign promises of being environmental. 

Clean Energy has a chance to start here in St. Lucie, and the SILENT MAJORITY on this issue will not tolerate it being stopped.