Senator Brownback did make a strong statement on the floor of the senate about protecting the Flint Hills from wind turbines. He included the following comment in the official record:
My letter to the woman who decides whether Searsburg's expansion goes ahead or not
UPC Wind spent $6700+ on four full page ads this past weekend in Batavia NY where Genesee County is looking at over 600 turbines. The reason for the ads was to counter 'misinformation' being spread by anti-wind people. Zilkha also wrote to all the participants in the area that they need to use their 'templates' to write their OWN letters to all the local editors. So I looked up as many editors as I could find in western NY to warn them in advance. My letter's below.
Have you heard Kermit the Frog (The Muppets Show) mournfully sing It's Not Easy Being Green. Well, Kermit, in today's politically correct world it's easy being `green'. Green is synonymous with clean, renewable energy and the fight to halt global warming. What's tough is when you're seen as not subscribing to the entire green agenda even when truth is on your side.
FAX MEMORANDUM FOR: Congressman John W. Olver SUBJECT: Why you should not be “perplexed” about Opposition to “wind farms”
I’ve read with interest the letters concerning the wind plant proposed for Lempster Mountain. Lyman, NH spent last year publicly debating a proposed wind site atop the town’s defining ridgeline. After all the discussion, the response from the town was near unanimous – NO TOWERS!
Noise may not be your first concern when looking at wind turbines, but for neighbors, it is tormenting. Dave Pevec, who lives more than a quarter-mile from the Waymart wind power plant in rural Pennsylvania, complains that the noise keeps him awake at night.
http://www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9043~2674703,00.html
Note: Eleanor Tillinghast of Mount Washington is co-founder of Green Berkshires Inc., a group formed to oppose wind-power projects.
Wind energy will probably be the fastest-moving renewable energy story in 2005. In October 2004, President Bush extended the production tax credits (PTC) for renewable energy sources through December 31, 2005. This ushered in a fresh gust of ambitious wind farms around the US. Many projects are planned, but due to uncertain subsidies past 2005 many may never actually be built.
http://notes.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.nsf/0/80ea581dbb3fa16086256f8000827b02?OpenDocument
"Senator James M. Inhofe Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works As I said on the Senate floor on July 28, 2003, "much of the debate over global warming is predicated on fear, rather than science." I called the threat of catastrophic global warming the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," a statement that, to put it mildly, was not viewed kindly by environmental extremists and their elitist organizations. I also pointed out, in a lengthy committee report, that those same environmental extremists exploit the issue for fundraising purposes, raking in millions of dollars, even using federal taxpayer dollars to finance their campaigns.
Eyesores or clean machines? Environmentalists are split over the giant energy-producing towers popping up in Maryland and other states.
The Wichita Eagle column that this letter challenges can be found (courtesy of David Roberson - MA & Larry Patton - KS) can be found at: http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/news/local/10503909.htm
You might find this statement I’ve just written as part of a much larger piece of interest, for it distills for me the essence of our problems with the wind industry. The text forms the basis for other issues—tax sheltering schemes, coal plant efficiency, property devaluation, noise and light nuisances, destruction of heritage views, etc. Perhaps others will find it useful:
In Washington, sometimes all you need to do to find out lobbyists' latest schemes to bilk the unwary taxpayer is attend a public meeting. What brings this to mind is Greenwire reporter Ben Geman's December 7 story recounting a recent Capitol Hill conference for journalists and congressional staff, sponsored by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE).
http://techcentralstation.com/121004G.html
Note: analysis of ACORE's (American Council on Renewable Energy) latest attempt to force niche "renewable" energy technologies "down the necks" of consumers and taxpayers in the United States. It is a sad commentary that huge, profitable organizations or their subsidiaries -- such as General Electric, FPL Energy (Subsidiary of FPL Group), and BP Solar (Subsidiary of BP) -- should ask the electricity customers and taxpayers of the US to provide them with even more subsidies. They now want even more than the billions that have already been spend for R&D and the hundreds of millions that are continuing to be dolled out each year via tax breaks and other subsidies. The ACORE-promoted "renewable" technologies now appear to be among the most heavily subsidized of all US energy sources WHEN THEIR EXISTING AND POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO US ENERGY REQUIREMENTS IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT (based on US EIA forecasts through the year 2025). Glenn Schleede
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13505645&BRD=1304&PAG=461&dept_id=180485&rfi=6
Note: This was pertinent when considering our local 35-foot height ordinance. UPC Wind Partners claimed the purpose of the height limit was only for reach of fire safety equipment and didn't apply to wind towers. (In fact the ordinance is also to protect the rural character of the town).
FYI from Michigan - this can happen to you
Ladies & Gentlemen: Here's something very clever from Mike Winkler that should brighten your day! Glenn Schleede
http://www.geocities.com/toniwinkler/Stop_taxfarms.html