The wind is blowing the wrong way

Our country is making big moves towards green energies to combat "global warming". Most of these projects are wind farms. Here in New England there are two such projects being proposed for offshore locations. Cape Wind, which is a project located in Nantucket sound on Horseshoe Shoals. Then there is one called, Deepwater Wind located near Block Island. Both of these projects are massive and cost BILLIONS.

My view on these projects is along the same lines as "The False Green Movement". The intent presented to the people is very appealing. Why not make a wind farm to create clean energy? There are many things to take into consideration. The cost is such that some company is paying to create their means to sell energy to the market. Much of the cost will be covered by government subsidies and grants - yea those come from tax dollars. After they are finished being built with your tax money, the energy will be sold to you - forcefully - by power suppliers such as National Grid. Oh and that clean energy comes with a huge price increase. click the title link to read a news article about that.

Cape Wind's problems start with it being a project too strongly supported by Governor Deval Patrick. This project has become his Legacy. Even with all of Cape Wind's horror he will make it happen. The timing for this project couldn't be worse. In the middle of a depression (yea not a recession anymore) Cape Wind will increase the already burdened MA resident with higher electric rates. Cape Wind's electricity will cost near $0.18 more per kilowatt hour than the electricity produced now. Cape Wind's location is also a poor choice. A Shoal is a shallower section of the ocean similar to a reef. These area tend to be areas rich with sea life. The foundations could seriously damage that eco-structure. Well said by this guy.

Deepwater Wind is somewhat new to me. Though I learned that it is an older idea that has recently been reintroduced on a much larger scale. The title link better explains the magnitude of this project. Again, Deepwater Wind along with Cape Wind is an offshore wind farm. The problems are similar and the added cost of maintenance adds to the stupidity of the projects.

What we need to learn is to step into clean energies with cost in mind. It is too easy to come up with an idea half-heartedly and plunge headlong into a disaster. We need clean energy but we need to consider cost. Why not develop new technologies and make the costs less. Cape Wind and Deepwater Wind are two projects that are going forward in the wrong direction. With political motivation and the greed of the developers they will likely become serious burdens and thorns in our sides. Go green but, go smartly.

One step forward. Two steps back

Lately I have been noticing a lot of talk about helping the environment and going green. Don't get me wrong, I think this is great. But, at the same time, I'm also noticing something disturbing. For every step we take in the right direction towards self sustainability and the reconnection with our planet - we seem to take too many steps back. Right now, in our country, there is a perfect example of this...

- One Step Forward -
For years, there has been a proposal in the making to build a wind farm, Cape Wind, about 5 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Recent happenings, such as the newly shown support from our government, have brought this project closer to a reality. I, personally, see many benefits in building a wind farm in MA. First, the obvious; clean energy produced in our own country which, in turn, brings about self sustainability. Secondly, taking on a job of that size will create numerous job opportunities. As we all know, that couldn't be better in our current state of economic floundering. Third, the farm will become a safe haven for ocean wildlife with the underwater portions of the wind turbine columns providing a base for reef growth. I don't know about you.. but, to me, that seems to be one huge step forward.

- One Step Back -
I'm sure you have seen the news about the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico just off the coast of Louisiana. (If not, you seriously need to get in touch with current events.) I read the article and could feel my blood starting to boil in my veins. Not only should this have NEVER happened, our government and our people should be much more involved in a solution. Let me put something out that I think needs to be said, but may be offensive to some... Why can we, the great people of the United States of America, raise MILLIONS OF DOLLARS (in a recession, mind you) to help the people of Haiti BUT when a disaster happens in our own country that will likely have irrevocable effects on our oceans and wildlife... those same Americans turn a deaf ear??? It seems we have the capabilty to love and care for other humans, but lack the capacity to show the same respect for our own environment. We, as a country, should be racing to get in line to find a solution to the problems within our own country FIRST; then help others. A BP (British Petroleum) oil rig has exploded and pumped thousands of gallons of oil into the Gulf. I haven't heard more than barely a peep from the people of our country... SERIOUSLY?! That is the first step back and, honestly, it makes me sick.

- Another Step Back -
During the small amount of care going into the BP oil rig disaster, a little blurb came out about our "administration's" intentions to further look into off shore drilling. The idea behind this being to allow Americans to free themselves from foreign oil dependency. Great, but that is not a solution. We'd still be drilling in the water... and the same problems that have arrised with this BP disaster are still going to be major problems no matter what water the oil is in. So, with that in mind, what was wrong with drilling in Alaska? At least if we brought it on land, those problems could be solved more quickly and more easily. Ultimately, I would love to see wind and solar farms in our country as our primary energy sources. However, I do know that taking a drastic leap like that is nearly impossible. But, I also know, we can't solve one oil problem by drilling another. And with that, we have our second step back.