Dave Roberson (MA) has pointed out that the Helena, Montana, Independent Record published a highly biased story by AP writer Joe Kafka in its October 11, 2004, issue. http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/10/11/national/a01101104_02.txt Kafka often writes articles that are highly favorable to the wind industry. Since it's an AP story it almost certainly will be picked up by other papers. I have sent the following letter to the editor of the Helena Independent Record. If you see the story show up in other papers, feel free to use this letter (modified as you see fit) to respond. Unfortunately, my letter is too long and probably won't be published. The issue is complex. I will distribute it to others in Montana. Glenn Schleede **************************** Mr. Dave Shors, Editor Helena Independent Record Helena, Montana Dear Editor: AP writer Joe Kafka’s story about the potential for wind energy in the Great Plains (your 10/11/04 issue) tells us what the wind industry and a few regulators would like us to believe. You have an obligation to readers to supply the facts about wind energy that Mr. Kafka ignores. In summary, there is no realistic possibility that wind energy from the Great Plains can make a significant contribution toward meeting the nation’s electricity requirements. The wind industry is already receiving hundreds of millions of dollars each year in tax breaks and other subsidies – at the expense of ordinary taxpayers and electric customers -- while providing less than ½ of 1% of the nation’s electricity. Now the industry wants even more subsidies by forcing electric customers to pay the cost of expanding transmission capacity to serve the industry. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA - an “independent” part of the US Department of Energy) is being realistic about the potential for wind energy with its estimate that wind will still provide less than 1% of the nation’s electricity by 2025. The DOE “political” “goal” of 5% by 2020 is totally unrealistic. The “industry leader’s” estimate of 20% is misleading propaganda. Expanding electric transmission capacity to serve “wind farms” is a terrible idea because electricity from wind is a highly inefficient use of transmission lines. That is a fact because wind turbines produce electricity only when the wind is blowing in the right speed range. (They start producing when wind speed is about 6 MPH, reach rated capacity around 33 MPH and must be shut down at about 55 MPH.) The electricity from wind turbines is intermittent, highly volatile and largely unpredictable. Transmission lines to serve “wind farms” must be built with enough capacity to handle the “wind farm’s” full rated capacity but that would be used only a small portion of the time. The result is inefficient use of capacity and the cost is huge compared to transmission capacity used by reliable (“dispatchable”) generating units that can provide electricity whenever required by electric customers. It’s time to admit that expensive electricity from “wind farms” in the Great Plains that would have to be transmitted long distances will never be truly competitive with electricity from reliable generating units located near the areas where electricity is required. Ordinary electric customers and taxpayers should not be saddled with additional subsidies for the wind industry. Sadly, the interests of electric customers and taxpayers are not well represented in Washington DC or state capitals. Special interests such as the wind industry have “captured” many legislators and some regulators (who are supposed to be protecting electric customers). Writers such as Mr. Kafka are either badly uninformed or they, too, have been “captured.” Sincerely, Glenn R. Schleede 18220 Turnberry Drive Round Hill, VA 540-338-9958