(10 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)
Wind Farm Makes Money While Rancher Sleeps
Grover, CO – CBS4 — Jan 25, 2008
Rancher George Ehmke said he was eager to be part of the wind project.
“Never dreamed we’d ever have anything like this out here,” Ehmke said. “We have been putting up with this wind all our life. We might as well make something off of it.”There are 35 massive turbines now perched on his land. The blades spin almost constantly.
[…]
Old time ranchers had one use for the wind — to fill their stock ponds.“Well we live in a changing world,” Ehmke said. “I’m just glad to see it. We’re using the wind for something besides pumping water.”
[…]
Ehmke said his payout from producing wind power will keep his family’s ranch profitable for the next generation.“Yeah, I make money in my sleep I guess,” he said.
Nice ‘Work’, eh? … if you can get it.
Even those “folks in High Places” are starting to get a clue!
Maybe achieving National Security is about more than just building ‘firewalls’ and ‘early warning systems’?
Maybe it’s about Energy Independence?
Pentagon drops opposition to big Oregon wind farm
By Scott Learn, The Oregonian — April 30, 2010
The project is projected to supply 700 construction jobs, $130 million in local taxes in the next two decades and $2.7 million a year in royalties for 10 years to about two-dozen farmers and ranchers for allowing wind turbines on their land.
“This is a big, big deal, not only for the landowners but for the counties and all the people that are out of work,” Loren Heideman, a wheat farmer outside Ione who is in line for Shepherds Flat royalties, said earlier this week.
[…]On Friday, Oregon Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., announced the Pentagon had agreed to allow the project, the largest in the United States, to go forward.
Their lobbying of the Obama administration included discussions with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Rahm Emanuel, White House chief of staff. Wyden and Merkley also placed holds on three Defense Department nominees in protest.
Good for them, it’s about time those Military Installations, went green. I think their Radar Operator, can ‘handle it’. And it’s nice to see our Senators and Reps(R) lobbying on behalf of the People for a change.
But seriously, what about NIMBY? … you haven’t met my Zoning Commission.
Cedar Point Wind Power frequently asked questions FAQ
Will A Wind Farm Affect My Property Value?
Studies Have Shown That The Typical Impact On The Value Of Land And Tourism Near Wind Farms Is Positive. A study conducted by ECONorthwest on the impacts of wind energy development in Kittitas County found that in five counties (including Walla Walla County) there were no negative impacts on property values for lands adjacent to or within view of wind energy projects.
SO Maybe, ‘Farming’ the Wind and Sun, CAN Work, after all?
Maybe it’s becoming — gasp! — “socially acceptable”?
Well it’s about time, since …
In some places, There’s actually Gold, in them thar hills —
It’s just there for the taking Tapping.
(… and there for an ‘agenda topic’ at your next neighborhood association meeting, too?)
Washington was the first US state to implement a statewide Renewable Energy Production Incentive. Per SB 5101, Utilities pay grid-tied pv system owners $0.15-$0.54/kWh for all the electricity they produce.
The incentive starts at a base rate of $0.15/kWh.
The base rate is multiplied by 1.2 ($0.15 * 1.2 = $0.18/kWh) if the inverter is manufactured in Washington state.
The base rate is multiplied by 2.4 ($0.15 * 2.4 = $0.36/kWh) if the solar modules are manufactured in Washington state.
If both the inverter and modules are manufactured in Washington state… you guessed it. ($0.18 + $0.36 = $0.54/kWh)
Originally, the payout was capped at $2,000/yr. and the legislation expired in 2014, but the law has subsequently been extended to 2020 and the cap increased to $5,000/yr. Pretty sweet.
For community solar projects, the deal gets sweeter because the base rate is $0.30/kWh and the same multipliers apply, bringing the maximum incentive payment to $1.08/kWh! Each investor in a community solar project is eligible for up to the $5,000/yr payout.
Hmmmm? Maybe I should be buying a few Acres and start mining this ‘gold’? Could make a nice “retirement plan”.
I wonder if those Energy Utilities have “Direct Deposit”?
What’s that you say? … “Yeah, That’s the Pacific NW, the land of fruits and nuts. …
What about your neighborhood? … you know, Middle America, cookie cutter suburbia?”
Well it seems there’s a bit of a “land rush” going on in Middle America too … well actually a bit of a “rebate-tax-credit rush”.
New Jersey’s solar rebate program deluged
By James M. O’Neill — May 14, 2010
“People slept outside the office the night before so they could hand in their application,” said BPU spokesman Greg Reinert.
[…]
The BPU [the state Board of Public Utilities] disagrees. “The rebates are not what’s driving demand in the solar market,” said BPU spokesman Greg Reinert. “Solar contractors say that while the rebates are nice, it’s really federal grants and SRECs [state energy credits] that drive demand.”While most state rebates have been phased out for larger solar installations, residential installations of up to 10,000 watts still qualify for a rebate of $1.35 per watt.
In addition, the federal government offers a tax credit of 30 percent of a new system’s cost. The rebate program extends through 2016.
That clean energy, easy on-ramp clock … is ticking …
Alright, let’s get down to some brass tacks.
How do you find out what kind of Energy Rebates “you can farm” in your neck of the woods …
Solar & Wind Energy Incentives, Rebates, Tax Credits (click link for your State’s programs)
Find-Solar.org
State Solar/Wind Incentive or Rebate
Alaska (AK) 1 solar & wind energy incentives in Alaska
Alabama (AL) 9 solar & wind energy incentives in Alabama
Arkansas (AR) 5 solar & wind energy incentives in Arkansas
Arizona (AZ) 26 solar & wind energy incentives in Arizona
California (CA) 103 solar & wind energy incentives in California
Colorado (CO) 141 solar & wind energy incentives in Colorado
Connecticut (CT) 5 solar & wind energy incentives in Connecticut
Delaware (DE) 42 solar & wind energy incentives in Delaware
Florida (FL) 17 solar & wind energy incentives in Florida
Georgia (GA) 15 solar & wind energy incentives in Georgia
Hawaii (HI) 11 solar & wind energy incentives in Hawaii
Iowa (IA) 11 solar & wind energy incentives in Iowa
Idaho (ID) 3 solar & wind energy incentives in Idaho
Illinois (IL) 2 solar & wind energy incentives in Illinois
Indiana (IN) 2 solar & wind energy incentives in Indiana
Kentucky (KY) 7 solar & wind energy incentives in Kentucky
Louisiana (LA) 2 solar & wind energy incentives in Louisiana
Massachusetts (MA) 12 solar & wind energy incentives in Massachusetts
Maryland (MD) 15 solar & wind energy incentives in Maryland
Maine (ME) 4 solar & wind energy incentives in Maine
Michigan (MI) 26 solar & wind energy incentives in Michigan
Minnesota (MN) 7 solar & wind energy incentives in Minnesota
Missouri (MO) 5 solar & wind energy incentives in Missouri
Mississippi (MS) 5 solar & wind energy incentives in Mississippi
Montana (MT) 5 solar & wind energy incentives in Montana
North Carolina (NC) 12 solar & wind energy incentives in North Carolina
North Dakota (ND) 1 solar & wind energy incentives in North Dakota
New Hampshire (NH) 4 solar & wind energy incentives in New Hampshire
New Jersey (NJ) 8 solar & wind energy incentives in New Jersey
New Mexico (NM) 8 solar & wind energy incentives in New Mexico
Nevada (NV) 6 solar & wind energy incentives in Nevada
New York (NY) 25 solar & wind energy incentives in New York
Ohio (OH) 27 solar & wind energy incentives in Ohio
Oregon (OR) 46 solar & wind energy incentives in Oregon
Pennsylvania (PA) 6 solar & wind energy incentives in Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico (PR) 7 solar & wind energy incentives in Puerto Rico
Rhode Island (RI) 3 solar & wind energy incentives in Rhode Island
South Carolina (SC) 5 solar & wind energy incentives in South Carolina
Tennessee (TN) 53 solar & wind energy incentives in Tennessee
Texas (TX) 27 solar & wind energy incentives in Texas
US (US) 3 solar & wind energy incentives in US
Utah (UT) 16 solar & wind energy incentives in Utah
Virginia (VA) 6 solar & wind energy incentives in Virginia
Virgin Islands (VI) 3 solar & wind energy incentives in Virgin Islands
Vermont (VT) 9 solar & wind energy incentives in Vermont
Washington (WA) 19 solar & wind energy incentives in Washington
Wisconsin (WI) 11 solar & wind energy incentives in Wisconsin
West Virginia (WV) 1 solar & wind energy incentives in West Virginia
Wyoming (WY) 2 solar & wind energy incentives in Wyoming
Hey — West Virginia, N. Dakota, Alaska — how about getting with the Program!
And Hey CONGRESS!
It would really be nice, if we had one consistent “ENERGY Buy Back Program” for the whole Nation!
A patchwork Quilt, may be OK for a weekend picnic —
but it’s NOT OK for — a truly, SMART Energy Policy!
What are you guys waiting for?
Why do you legislators make it SO easy for the BIG guys to make a bundle — and SO confusing for us REAL “Moms and Pops” — out here in the hinterlands ??? … to just get by?
Someone give me a Clean Energy Database, please!
Well, OK, since you asked nicely …
The government is literally handing out money all over the country to help you finally say goodbye to high electric bills.
Solar Rebates will help you to reduce or even eliminate your electric bill by taking advantage of many generous cash rebates for the installation of a solar system on your home or place of business.
Maybe the 21st Century — is closer than we think?
Maybe George Jetson, and his electric transport, are just around the corner?
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
(Larger Image) (or go to the site with previous link)
Financial Incentives for Renewable Energy (AVAILABLE in your State)
(Larger Image) (or go to the site with previous link)
The Potential is huge. In so many different ways.
And it’s still just barely being tapped.
In recent years, the US has added more wind energy to its grid than any other country, with a growth in power capacity of 45% to 16.8 GW in 2007[55] and surpassing Germany’s nameplate capacity in 2008. California was one of the incubators of the modern wind power industry, and led the U.S. in installed capacity for many years; however, by the end of 2006, Texas became the leading wind power state and continues to extend its lead. At the end of 2008, the state had 7,116 MW installed, which would have ranked it sixth in the world if Texas was a separate country. Iowa and Minnesota each grew to more than 1 GW installed by the end of 2007; in 2008 they were joined by Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.[56] Wind power generation in the U.S. was up 31.8% in February, 2007 from February, 2006.[57]
The average output of one MW of wind power is equivalent to the average electricity consumption of about 250 American households. According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind will generate enough electricity in 2008 to power just over 1% (equivalent to 4.5 million households) of total electricity in U.S., up from less than 0.1% in 1999. U.S. Department of Energy studies have concluded wind harvested in the Great Plains states of Texas, Kansas, and North Dakota could provide enough electricity to power the entire nation, and that offshore wind farms could do the same job.[58][59] In addition, the wind resource over and around the Great Lakes, recoverable with currently available technology, could by itself provide 80% as much power as the U.S. and Canada currently generate from non-renewable resources,[60] with Michigan’s share alone equating to one third of current U.S. electricity demand.[61]
The Potential is HUGE. … Only 1% tapped so far.
SO, What are folks waiting for?
Exxon and BP to give us “the Schematics”, to a Clean Energy Future!?
Haaah! … Don’t hold your breath, on that plan.
There will be a Gold Rush toward a Green, Clean Energy Future —
Will you be a part of it, or simply a by-stander … huddled by your hour-timed space heater,
Wondering … What Happened?
(Psst! … Why should WE pay through the nose for “traditional” Carbon Energy,
when we really should just be “growing our own” … Clean Energy? )
If a Rancher can do it — Why not you? … Why not your Neighborhood?
Sooner, or LATER, we WILL go through the Withdrawal of Oil Dependency.
Sooner, is better.
Since that may help us NOT TO poison all the world’s oceans,
while we are desperately busy trying to “Kick the HABIT”
(that thoughtless Habit, known as Gallons-Per-Day.)
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we’ll all learn to kick the habit.
congrats to those who already have!
Right now on TVA’s Generation Partners program, we have a credit of $192 (they pay us 12 cents more than their current rate for electricity we produce with our solar panels).
It makes me think of the Donovan lyrics of the 60’s where you can think of nature as a nurturing feminine presence:
To feel you all around me
and to take your hand along the sand
Ah but I may as well try and catch the wind
and either wind or solar could do around %50-75 maybe more of my power needs, with supplemental propane for cooking or refrigeration.
here on Staten Island recognize the feasibility of Wind Turbines to generate power.
Windmills for Staten Island from Borough President's Office on Vimeo.
We have solar panels on our house which have reduced our energy costs considerably.