For a Change in the Wind, We Must Change Congress

INCREASINGLY AFFORDABLE WIND POWER PRESENTS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE FUTURE PROFITABILITY OF BIG ENERGY, WHICH PRESENTLY DICTATES U.S. ENERGY POLICY THROUGH ITS PROXIES IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND CONGRESS. BUT NOW, AS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GEARS UP FOR A COSTLY AND DANGEROUS NUCLEAR EXPANSION ACROSS AMERICA, THEY TOSS A CURIOUS CRUMB TO THE POTENTIAL OF CHEAP WIND POWER BY WAY OF DOE'S UNDER-FUNDED, OFT-IGNORED AND UNDER-STAFFED BASTARD CHILD, THE OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY.

ALTHOUGH THE NEWLY-RELEASED DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY REPORT "20% WIND ENERGY BY 2030" IS BEING VIEWED FROM WITHIN THE WIND INDUSTRY AS A BREAKTHROUGH, ONE NEEDS TO COMPARE THIS LACKLUSTER PROPOSAL TO WHAT WE COULD ACTUALLY DO WITH VISION, WILL AND COMMITMENT. HARRY BRAUN'S CALL FOR A "PHOENIX PROJECT" AND JACOBSON AND ARCHER'S OBSERVATION THAT THE ENERGY IN AMERICA'S WIND COULD SUPPLY FIVE TIMES WHAT WE NOW USE ARE CLEAR EXAMPLES. FOR THOSE WHO THINK WE ARE WITNESSING A SUDDEN EPIPHANY BY DOE, ONE SHOULD EXAMINE DOE'S REAL PRIORITIES TO UNDERSTAND THAT AGENCY'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO RATIONALIZE THE LEGITIMACY OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS BY ENCOURAGING THE EXPANSION OF THE NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY.

IF A REAL ENERGY DEPARTMENT EXISTED, IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY SEIZE UPON THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT EXISTS - WHICH IS CLEARLY WIND - AND LEAD A NATIONAL PROGRAM OF WIND EXPANSION IN THE SPIRIT OF APOLLO AND THE MANHATTAN PROJECT TO FREE US FROM THE LOOMING HANGMAN'S NOOSE OF IMPORTED OIL.

THIS STUDY USES A PREPOSTEROUS, UNREALISTIC AND RIDICULOUS PRICE PROJECTION FOR NUCLEAR AND FOSSIL FUEL WHICH SERVES TO PRESENT DIRTY, OVERPRICED AND DESTRUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AS COMPETITIVE WITH WIND. FOR INSTANCE, THE STUDY SETS A VALUE (p187) FOR NATURAL GAS AT $7 IN 2030! YET IT MAKES CLEAR THAT THE COST OF WIND POWER, EVEN THOUGH PRESENTLY COMPETITIVE, WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE. IT WILL BE ENTERTAINING TO COMPARE THIS TO THE INEVITABLE RE-WRITE ONCE THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATURE AND UPPER DOE MANAGEMENT ARE REPLACED WITH PEOPLE FOCUSED ON THE SURVIVABILITY OF THE COUNTRY RATHER THAN ON VENUES FOR BIG ENERGY PROFITS.

WITH THE ABSURDLY MIS-NAMED AND UNFUNDED Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, DESIGNED TO DELAY RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPANSION, THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDITS FOR WIND ARE EXTENDED ONLY A FEW MONTHS RATHER THAN FOR THE MANY YEARS REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH A HEALTHY FINANCIAL BASE FOR THE FINANCING OF LARGE PROJECTS. ONCE AGAIN, A CONGRESS OWNED BY FOSSIL AND NUCLEAR ENERGY PROVIDES PATHETIC LIP SERVICE TO RENEWABLE ENERGY WHILE DISCOURAGING THE DYNAMIC PROGRESS AMERICA DESPERATELY NEEDS TO COST-EFFECTIVELY REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION. BY PERPETUATING THE FOSSIL AND NUCLEAR POWER MONOPOLY, CONGRESS IS ENCOURAGING FOREIGN OIL DEPENDENCE AND MILITARY ADVENTURISM, AND INVITING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE U.S. ECONOMY. THESE PEOPLE ARE TRAITORS AND CRIMINALS WHO HAVE SOLD INFLUENCE TO FOREIGN NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS IN VIOLATION OF THEIR SWORN DUTY. CITIZENS SHOULD BE OUTRAGED!