Is it time to change our course?

I've been thinking about all of the wasteful expenditure of our energy for decades. Indeed, I've focused upon that almost exclusively for the past four years. And, I've found solace in realizing that I am not alone with my negative perspective. Ironically, I've been encouraged with assurances that my viewpoints have been right.

Junkie for dopamine highs, that I am, I have continued to focus upon what is wrong with the direction our society (school of fish) is heading toward. Just today, I experienced yet another high when I read my good friend Dan Smith's dissatisfaction with the loss of elderly journalists to the vague benefit of greedy young publishers and stockholders.

Another "downer" that I got a "high" from was a report that "The Crooked Road" foundation or organization was dumping its efforts to become designated as a "National Heritage Trail." Don't misunderstand, these highs I receive are not necessarily enjoyable to me. They merely confirm my addiction to being "right."

With that said, (apologies for the cliche), I decided it might be time to change course with the posts on the Bent Mountain blog. This will not be easy for me, but I will try to offer more positive, and hopefully more inspirational, perspectives regarding our community.

Apple Ridge Farm, one of our shining stars in our mountain community, has requested my volunteer assistance in developing the world's third e-Base. The world's first e-Base was established on King George Island in Antarctica as a vision of Robert Swan, OBE, the only human to walk to both the North and South poles. The mission of the e-Base is to educate about balancing the accelerating human appetite for energy while preserving our wonderful natural environment.

The second e-Base was opened in the Interpretive Center of the Pench National Park in India in 2011.

And now thanks to the leadership of James Bray of Akzo-Nobel, LLC, we eagerly look forward to establishing the world's third e-Base USA at Apple Ridge Farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains.




E-Base USA Blue Ridge from Eldon Karr on Vimeo.
Inspired by Robert Swan, polar explorer, who established the world's first eBase in Antarctica to serve as a self-powered educational center to balance our energy demands with a commitment to protect our remaining natural environment; this video features a local effort at establishing the world's 3rd eBase in the USA in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Cape Cod community considers taking down wind turbines after illness, noise

By Molly Line

Published February 26, 2013
FoxNews.com

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2189054120001/

Two wind turbines towering above the Cape Cod community of Falmouth, Mass., were intended to produce green energy and savings -- but they've created angst and division, and may now be removed at a high cost as neighbors complain of noise and illness.

"It gets to be jet-engine loud," said Falmouth resident Neil Andersen. He and his wife Betsy live just a quarter mile from one of the turbines. They say the impact on their health has been devastating. They're suffering headaches, dizziness and sleep deprivation and often seek to escape the property where they've lived for more than 20 years.

"Every time the blade has a downward motion it gives off a tremendous energy, gives off a pulse," said Andersen. "And that pulse, it gets into your tubular organs, chest cavity, mimics a heartbeat, gives you headaches. It's extremely disturbing and it gets to the point where you have to leave."

The first turbine went up in 2010 and by the time both were in place on the industrial site of the town's water treatment facility, the price was $10 million. Town officials say taking them down will cost an estimated $5 million to $15 million, but that is just what Falmouth's five selectmen have decided to move toward doing.
"The selectmen unanimously voted to remove them. We think it's the right thing to do, absolutely," Selectman David Braga said. "You can't put a monetary value on people's health and that's what's happened here. A lot of people are sick because of these."

Now the matter will go to a town meeting vote in April and could ultimately end up on the ballot during the municipal elections in May.

"It's highly likely that what the voters will be determining is are they willing to tax themselves at an appropriate amount to cover the cost and dismantle and shut down the turbines?" Falmouth Town Manager Julian Suso said.

In the meantime, the turbines are being run on a limited schedule as the selectmen respond to the concerns of nearby neighbors. The turbines only run during the day -- from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- which means they're operating at a loss.

The dispute has been a bitter three-year battle in the seaside town where officials argue the project was thoroughly vetted, researched and put to public vote multiple times.

"To say 'let's let the voters decide' -- it sort of flies in the face of what we went through all these years," said Megan Amsler of the Falmouth Energy Committee.

"We never tell somebody 'hey, you're going to have to take that coal plant down or you're going to have to stop mining the mountain tops.' These are very visible and a lot of other ways that we get our energy are invisible to the average American," Amsler argued. "People don't even know how much energy they consume on a yearly basis so I think it's good for people to be able to see where their energy comes from and know that it's coming from a clean source."

"I think if we end up taking these turbines down it will be a shame. It will be an embarrassment for the Town of Falmouth," said Amsler.

Town leaders say the state bears some monetary responsibility for the situation because Falmouth was granted renewable energy credits and received advice from state level energy officials through an ongoing partnership.

"They certainly have been involved and have a tremendous stake in this process," said Assistant Town Manager Heather Harper. Harper said the Mass Clean Energy Center "provided the technical assistance to conduct all of the feasibility studies."

"I feel the state is responsible because they were really pushing for more wind power which, believe me, the whole board of selectmen are supportive of renewable energy. I am. Maybe wind, but not in this location," said Braga.

Ultimately, town leaders are hoping the controversy will be resolved and the community will find a way to move forward together.

"It's imperative to the community that we do have a coming together and a healing and find a resolution one way or the other," said Suso. His advice to communities considering a similar project to the one causing strife in Falmouth is "move cautiously, communicate well, have extreme public dialogue and listen well."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/26/cape-cod-community-considers-taking-down-wind-turbines-after-illness-noise/#ixzz2M75bYYQP

Governor signs repeal of renewable energy incentives

 

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/governor-signs-repeal-renewable-energy-incentives

By Kathy Adams
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 22, 2013

Gov. Bob McDonnell signed legislation Thursday repealing certain financial incentives for electric utility companies that use renewable energy sources.

The change means utilities, such as Dominion Virginia Power, will no longer be eligible for a bonus for obtaining a certain portion of their energy from renewable sources, such as solar power. Reduced incentives remain for nuclear and offshore wind power.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli proposed repealing the "adders" after a study showed they were increasing consumers' bills without having the intended environmental impact.

Opponents of the repeal, mostly environmental groups such as the Virginia Chapter Sierra Club, argued the law needed to be changed, not done away with altogether.

Dominion still plans to meet the goals of the program, even without the financial incentive from the state, and is pursuing projects to that end, said spokesman Jim Norvelle.

"We are looking for ways to get onshore wind generation, and we are launching a pilot program to add a large amount of solar-generated electricity to our grid that will begin this year as well," he said.

Also under consideration is an offshore wind farm for Virginia Beach and an expansion of Dominon's nuclear facility in Louisa County, Norvelle said.

Clean Energy SHOULD NOT be a Debatable Issue

All we need is:
A MAJOR PARADIGM SHIFT IN APPLICATION
I would like to share a recent email communication with a politically oriented friend:

An email from my friend:

Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 9:06 PM
To: Myself
Subject: RE: America Zealots, an existential threat to America and the world...... Whose responsibility?

Eldon,

Sunday I spoke brieftly with Dr. Jill Stein at the climate rally in DC about using the RW previously acquired for the pipeline as an energy corridor.  She liked the idea, saying so twice.  Your thoughts?

I think every room should have an led glow from simple collectors.... so don't have to have the ceiling light on sometimes.

Don't we need to strive for wind and solar?

_____________________________________________________________________________

My reply to my friend:

Dear (Friend),

How would you see the “energy corridor” being utilized?

LEDs are a superior and world changing development for lighting. It’s not even necessary to try to expend the energy to shape them into the form of obsolete technologies, like A-19 bulbs or fluorescent tubes. I have used them on projects as indirect lighting in reflective lighting troughs like crown mold. LEDs can be purchased in tape strips very inexpensively.

Yes, we do need to continue to pursue wind and solar. The real problem is that we are stuck in the idea of pursuing these resources within the outmoded paradigm of mass production utilizing the power grid. Surprisingly, it is analogous to trying to make LEDs look and perform like antiquated light bulbs. Both wind and solar generated electricity is far more efficient in smaller installations where we do not have to contend with the “convenience” costs of mega-scale transmission and distribution.

I am advocating a major paradigm shift here that would put hundreds of thousands of construction worker back to work installing small property based generating systems to supplement our growing energy demands. We already have in place in many states a sustainable loan program that could accomplish such an effort. Look up the P.A.C.E. program (Property Assessed Clean Energy) on Google. Currently, big banks and mortgage institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are opposed to such programs because they might stand even further back than local governments on mortgage defaults. The current stumbling block could easily be overcome by Congress.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to express my ideas,

Bald Eagle Habitat Destroyed for Wind Turbine Construction

by Susmita Baral • January 8, 2013 • Animals, Science & Nature •

 

NextEra Energy Canada, a subsidiary of an American energy company, has destroyed a bald eagle habitat in Haldimand County in Ontario, Canada for wind turbine construction on Saturday. The ministry, which approved this act on December 31st, 2012, defended its actions by stated that the new energy center will allow for 56 turbines which will produce energy for 32,000 homes.

“Expanding clean and renewable sources of energy is key to the government’s plan to phase out coal-fired generation, mitigate climate change, create green jobs and support technological innovation in renewable energy,” the ministry wrote. “Bald eagles typically start to look for nests in early winter and have been known to use more than one nest. By removing the nest before Jan. 6, it is anticipated they will find another suitable nest location and will avoid disturbing them during their critical nesting period.”

Needless to say, environmentalists are opposed to this. Tom Wasilewski, co-ordinator of an eagle conservation association in northwestern Pennsylvania, according to The London Free Press, stated: “The Ontario government continues to blindly accept inaccurate information from wind companies as the truth without providing an investment in truly independent, scientific studies of bird, bat, butterfly migration before and after these projects are built.”

Check out more pictures at the Ontario Wind Resistance website.

In Response to Dan Smith: Treasonous Efforts are not solely the purview of the Republicans

In a recent Blog by respected Roanoke blogger Dan Smith: he reported the following issue:

Another Treasonous Effort From Virginia Republicans

The damn Republicans simply won't quit trying to jimmy the voting system in this country so they can win elections without having to win the majority of the vote.

 

Here's the latest outrage, just out of committee (on a tie vote because one Republican has some modicum of morality). If this passes, the gerrymandered district lines in Virginia--which heavily favor Republicans--will be far more important than the popular vote and a tiny, rural county like Lee will have the same impact as huge, populous county like Fairfax.

These guys just don't know when to quit trying to take away our rights. It is a simple case of treason and we're going to need to start charging these anti-Americans with the worst crime we can.

 

Senator Saslow (D) of Fairfax and, John Watkins(R) of Midlothian have become "bi-partisan patrons" of a bill to withdraw local autonomy over the corporate financial interests of corporate energy industry; an equally treasonous act in Jefferson's Commonwealth of Virginia:

SB 1341 Renewable energy facilities, certain; exemption from local zoning and land use regulations. Summary as introduced:

Renewable energy facilities; exemption from land use regulations. Exempts certain electrical generation facilities powered by renewable sources of energy from local zoning and land use requirements. The exemption applies to a facility that is owned by an electric utility, has a capacity of at least four megawatts, is on a parcel of at least 25 acres, and has received all required approvals and permits from the State Corporation Commission and environmental regulators.

Full text:

01/18/13 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 13104194Dpdf

Status:

01/18/13 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 13104194D

01/18/13 Senate: Referred to Committee on Local Government

Please, as concerned citizens of our right to self-govern; contact your state senator and the Chairman (Sen Ralph Smith, R) of the Committee on Local Government prior to Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 to oppose this "treasonous withdrawal of  the public's constitutional right" to self-govern. 

Here is a message if you want to send email to Ralph Smith:

 

 

Wind Turbine Acoustics: In-Depth Joint Study

Evaluation of Harmful Acoustic impact is far beyond the concept of Offensive Nuisance Sounds that you can hear.

 

 

In a just released study (12-27-2012), conducted for the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, a study panel of nationally recognized acoustic experts ( one, biased for the Wind industry, two, independent of previous studies, and one biased against the wind Industry) the findings of this panel unanimously confirm that infra sound produced by industrial scale wind turbines (1.5 MW and larger) can and do produce harmful acoustical impacts to humans and other life forms in range of their operation.

 

While the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors continue to focus upon "sounds" that are measured in the audible decibel range, they remain completely uninformed regarding potential negative health impacts to the citizens of Roanoke County in the infra sound or ultra-low frequency ranges. While these issues are abnormally abstract, it is understandable that lay people are typically incapable of evaluating such issues. However, it is not acceptable for our leadership to naively dismiss such concerns of their constituency.

 

For details on the Highland case see:

http://psc.wi.gov/

 

Enter the Docket ID as shown below to go to the document archive.

 

Docket ID: 2535-CE-100

(Highland Wind Farm)