IMPORTANT ALERT:
HB 1072 AND SB 566 WOULD EXPEDITE WIND PROJECTS WITHOUT PUBLIC REVIEW

HB 1072 and SB 566 are really bad bills that exempt wind generating stations (read 450 foot turbines) from the obligation of obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). What that means is that all an applicant for a wind project has to do is request a construction permit from the Public Service Commission that doesn't require any public review or notification of the public or adjacent land owners whose property values will plummet. Nor would there be any environmental review of such impacts as those upon wildlife, endangered species, or forest fragmentation. The bills look innocent enough. It is just a matter of adding some new language to the existing Public Utility Companies Article in the Annotated Code of Maryland and the wheels are greased for the wind industry.

Another reason to be alarmed is that by squashing any public input, the truth about the ineffectiveness of wind energy is never considered. Wind power is generally accepted as a viable solution to global warming and those of us who oppose the projects such as those in Western Maryland's Allegany Ridges have been condemned as heritics. My initial opposition was based on Chan Robbins' testimony about those ridges serving as major corridors for migrating birds. Erecting 450 turbines has the potential to serve as gauntlets through which the birds and bats would have to navigate. I also opposed the idea of creating large clearcuts and further fragmenting forests that are becoming rare, yet are necessary for successful breeding of interior dwelling creatures.

I have since learned more about the true nature of wind. Because the winds are so variable and produce the least amount of wind in the summer when the demand for electrical power is the greatest, wind energy is simply not a reliable source of energy for the electrical grid that supplies power to Maryland and multiple other states. In order to make up for the lack of wind generated power when the winds aren't blowing, substitute sources of energy must be added which would most likely be more power plants driven by fossil fuels. Why then, construct such an energy source in the first place? Large tax incentives seem to be a driving force.

Both bills are scheduled for hearings simultaneously in the respective houses on Tuesday, February 27 at 1 pm. Please come and testify against this egregious disregard of the public process. If you cant come, please contact your legislators and oppose HB 1072 and SB 566.

Ajax Eastman
February 22, 2007