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Wind Energy Dead in the Water Off Cape Cod
breitbart.com ^ | 1/12/2015 | Marita Noon

Posted on 01/12/2015 8:35:39 AM PST by rktman

Cape Wind, touted as “America’s first offshore wind project,” became one of America’s most high-profile and controversial wind-energy projects. Fourteen years in the making, estimated at $2.6 billion for 130 turbines, covering 25 square miles in Nantucket Sound off the coast of Massachusetts, the Cape Wind project has yet to install one turbine—let alone produce any electricity. Now, it may be “dead in the water.”

On January 6, the two power companies, National Grid and Northeast Utilities, that had agreed to purchase most of the electricity Cape Wind was to generate, terminated their contracts with the developers due to missed milestones.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: alternatenrg; capecod; donquixote; energy; wind; windenergy; windmills; windpower
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Is it bad that this brings a smile to my face? The IPOS continue to buy into this crap and somebody ends up tossing billions down the drain. I'm sure they'll get some sort of reimbursement from tax payers somehow.
1 posted on 01/12/2015 8:35:39 AM PST by rktman
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To: rktman

I love the smell of Schadenfreude in the morning.


2 posted on 01/12/2015 8:41:49 AM PST by LibertarianLiz
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To: rktman

Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end for this overpriced, pie in the sky BS.


3 posted on 01/12/2015 8:42:08 AM PST by headstamp 2
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To: rktman

IIRC, RFKjr was against the project as it was an eyesore from their beachfront property


4 posted on 01/12/2015 8:44:47 AM PST by newfreep ("Evil succeeds when good men do nothting" - Edmund Burke)
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To: rktman

I live on Cape Cod. When I first heard about this project, I thought it was a great idea. Interestingly, the fight about the project was about sacred Indian grounds and views of the ocean. For example, people like the Kennedys and Kerry were against it, even though it was green, because it would ruin the skyline view from their south-facing estates.

What I never understood is why the actual cost details were held from public view. It was very difficult to find out what was really going on, and what side deals were involved.

It turned out that if this project was done, the local electric companies would be forced to take all the electricity it could generate at high rates (not sure exactly, but something like 25 cents/kwh), which they would then blend in with their other generation costs. Including their markups and grid management costs, this was 30+ cent per kwh electricity to the consumer. Our electricity rates are currently around 21 cents/kwh as it is.

The sneaky, one-bid contract negotiations are what sunk this, not the elitist complaints about the view. F’n Ted Kennedy even had a Senator from Alaska try to sink it on the grounds that the windmills would be within so-many miles of navigational routes (he didn’t want to do it himself).

Of course I’m glad it’s dead. But I’m angry that these things are never debated on real economic grounds—in either direction.


5 posted on 01/12/2015 8:46:31 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: rktman
Besides the ruining the view issue, the unreliability of wind turbines is why they shelved the whole idea.
6 posted on 01/12/2015 8:47:45 AM PST by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: rktman

Turbines need to be on land so the shredded poultry downstream can be harvested to feed the hungry victims of the Obama Depression.


7 posted on 01/12/2015 8:49:31 AM PST by nascarnation (....)
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To: newfreep

Yeah, it’s okay for them to interrupt our “view shed” but heaven forbid it should be placed anywhere near their back yards. When we drove across country during our move we were subjected to the sight of huge wind mills in the middle of nowhere in Kansas stretching for miles. Disgusting sight to me. Yes, I was offended by them. Who do I sue?


8 posted on 01/12/2015 8:49:49 AM PST by rktman (Served in the Navy to protect the rights of those that want to take some of mine away. Odd, eh?)
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To: LibertarianLiz
I love the smell of Schadenfreude in the morning.


Is it, or does it just show “Kennedy Power” is still alive and well in MA?

9 posted on 01/12/2015 8:51:19 AM PST by az_gila
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To: rktman

T. Boone Pickens


10 posted on 01/12/2015 8:53:46 AM PST by Mercat
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To: rktman

It will be rescued. Some nice free money will come along.


11 posted on 01/12/2015 9:02:55 AM PST by ltc8k6
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To: rktman

I remember an article in the Wall Street Journal. I think it referred to this project. The investor who wrote it was originally in favor of it and ready to invest huge dollars. Then he asked his analysts to re-run the numbers without government incentives and the profit margin was so thin that any delay or any one turbine that failed would make it a negative investment. Wind is not financially viable.


12 posted on 01/12/2015 9:06:40 AM PST by cyclotic (Join America's premier outdoor adventure association for boys-traillifeusa.com)
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To: newfreep

I love windmills...as long as they're in your backyard, not mine.

13 posted on 01/12/2015 9:07:56 AM PST by JPG (The GOPe will always find a way to surrender)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Which part of it would be the great part? The maintenance costs for those monstrosities basically zeroes out any energy benefit they could provide. Look up how much PETROLEUM-based (Oh the Horror!) lubricants it takes to make those stupid things work! Why do commie/socialist wannabes always want monuments erected to their stupidity. If I was that dumb, I would want to hide!


14 posted on 01/12/2015 9:09:13 AM PST by gr8eman (Bill Carson...meet Arch Stanton!)
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To: rktman

Wind Power doesn’t blow, it just sucks.


15 posted on 01/12/2015 9:20:00 AM PST by AU72
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To: az_gila

I think that the “Kennedy power” is quite diluted at this point. I do seem to remember, though, that the Kennedys were not in favor of this wind project, as it would have affected their views from Hyannis Port. Typical lefty hypocrisy -— “What, you mean I have to follow these ridiculous environmental rules, too?”


16 posted on 01/12/2015 10:16:43 AM PST by LibertarianLiz
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To: rktman
On January 6, the two power companies, National Grid and Northeast Utilities, that had agreed to purchase most of the electricity Cape Wind was to generate, terminated their contracts with the developers due to missed milestones.

Undoubtedly this was forced on the utilities by the government. Electricity bills here in Massachusetts have doubled this year. Yes, doubled.

Thankfully, it looks like a smart lawyer got them an out. Good for them, good for us.

17 posted on 01/12/2015 10:19:58 AM PST by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: St_Thomas_Aquinas

Dumb question, what kind of base did your rates double from?
Was is cheap before relative to other states?


18 posted on 01/12/2015 10:21:34 AM PST by nascarnation (....)
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To: nascarnation
I'm sorry, it FEELS like, double. Rates are up 37%.

Details here.

Attributed to the diversion of natural gas to home heating, the closing of coal-fired plants, and the closing of a nuclear plant.

No mention of Cape Wind.

Not surprisingly, Massachusetts has been holding up the completion of new natural gas pipelines.

19 posted on 01/12/2015 10:29:39 AM PST by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: St_Thomas_Aquinas

Although I have ancestral roots in NE, I’ve always felt it was far too expensive to live there.


20 posted on 01/12/2015 10:31:37 AM PST by nascarnation (....)
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