Too much money put into wind subsidies 

“Fiscal cliff” amounted to last-minute gifts to special interest groups, such as Rock Island Clean Line, by a one-year extension of wind subsidies.

These special groups are assured “free” taxpayer money before the federal budget approval in October. All “fiscal cliff” achieved was to rack up more outrageous debts and political corruption.

Take the $12 billion to wind for 2013:

1. On top of 20-year subsidies, the 2009 stimulus gave $44.3 billion for “preferred energy projects.” Ten percent of these companies are bankrupt, such as Salyndra (solar), that cost taxpayers $60 million. Counting various government gifts renewable subsidies are up to $80 billion. Still, wind is only 2 percent of our nation’s electricity. (Heritage Foundation).
2. Subsidies for energy per megawatt hour: nuclear, $3.10; hydro, $0.84; coal, $0.64; natural gas, $0.63; wind, $56.29; solar, $775.64. (Data from Federal Energy Department).
3. Returns from subsidies: “Oil, coal, gas, paid more than $10 billion in taxes in 2009. Wind and solar are drains on U.S. Treasury.” (Wall St. Journal Aug. 18, 2012).
4. Costly transformation of grid resources: Illinois utility users already have spent $3.5 billion to upgrade smart grids in coping with wind energy fluctuations.
5. Since wind is only 30-percent reliable, it needs backup generated from coal or gas energy plants. Each wind turbine requires a constant source of coal or gas energy for operation (regulate, turn on and off, turn windward and de-ice blades. Wind environmental benefit is zero.)
6. Wind has been harvested since the Greek empire, for 2,000 years, and still is not profitable on a large, industrial level. The productivity rate is 15 percent besides being the most costly form of electricity in the world market.
7. In spite of millions in research, there has been no breakthrough on storing wind energy or developing a small, cheap, long-lasting electric car battery. (Wall Street Journal Dec. 26, 2012).
8. Chicago is home to 50 wind energy companies. Illinois’ 18 wind farms are mainly owned by foreign companies who sell after short ownership. Our 2,864 wind turbines produce only 4 percent of Illinois’ electricity.
9. The White House says 240,000 jobs are created by clean energy stimulus. An independent study from Brookling Institute says it’s closer to 70,000 jobs. (25,000 in United States.) These jobs are based on production, installation and technology.
10. Wind On The Rails, a wind and transmission project like RICL posted there job statistics: 21 percent manufacturing (domestic or overseas); 11 percent construction; 63 percent lawyers, lobbyists, engineers; 5 percent maintenance. These treacherous jobs, pay $35,000 to $40,000 a year, are the only local long- term jobs. Usually one worker per 10 turbines.

As Congress plans to cut entitlements as Medicare, Social Security and social programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, they extend billions to wealthy venture capitalist groups such as RICL, with wind subsidies. Go to blockrich.com. Click politicians for information on how to contact your representatives. Request wind subsidies be addressed before October budget.

All research was done at Peru Public Library. This information is available to anyone.

Due to space limits, I could not go deeply into issues and had to delete others: productive tax credits; investment tax credits; negative pricing; misleading and exaggerating statements from America Wind and Energy Assessments; failure of European wind subsidies; and millions just for propaganda.

If you disagree about wind energy, don’t worry, they are planning to be around.

“Wind companies are starting to see a shift in their support, so they are now starting to look at other large pools of public money as pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, bonds.” (“Wind Lobby Seek PATH Beyond Boom or Bust” Mike Muro. Dec. 20, 2012—director at Brookling Metropolitan Policy Program.)

These wealth, wind and transmission company owners are experts at using other people’s money, not their own in ineffective projects. To paraphrase one of RICL Texas’ owners, wind is a great opportunity to increase profits with popular support, under the pretense it is good for the environment.