Without Unemployment Extension, Which States Would Be Hit Hardest? - Real Time Economics - WSJ

 

By

Jeffrey Sparshott

 

 

 

Unemployed Americans will likely see jobless benefits shrink next year, a casualty of Washington’s budget battles and a slowly improving economy.

About 1.37 million people nationwide received emergency unemployment compensation at the end of November. That program, which provides an average of $300 a week in benefits to unemployed people once they exhaust their state benefits, is set to expire Dec. 28.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Without Unemployment Extension, Which States Would Be Hit Hardest? - Real Time Economics - WSJ

Wind Power Developers Race Clock to Secure Subsidy - NYTimes.com

Under the current rules, a lapse in the credit will not have much immediate effect, since many projects are now in the early stages of development.

However, executives said, developers are unlikely to start any projects without a credit in place because they cannot compete with power generation from other sources like cheap natural gas. And with prospects for a redesign of the whole tax code looking dim at the moment, clean-energy advocates are calling for yet another extension of the subsidy.

Referring to the credit, Kevin A. Lynch, managing director of external affairs at Iberdrola Renewables, which develops and operates green energy projects, said: “In the near term, projects that do not have the P.T.C. attached to them are probably difficult to justify economically for buyers to purchase, and therefore for us to build.”

He added that with the credit, “Wind has clearly become a very competitive generation source, and I do have to say we’re pretty confident that the president and the Congress will see their way to extending the credit.” …

many of them are also taking potentially expensive gambles. This year’s renewal does not require projects to go into production until the end of 2016, but they must either be in continuous construction or have spent at least 5 percent of the total costs this year. Project costs can top $100 million.

Companies are frantically reordering their usual processes, with some ordering turbines without permits to build or starting construction while still negotiating power contracts, said Michael Garland, chief executive of Pattern Energy, a developer of wind farms that went public this year.

Click on the following to read the entire story:  Wind Power Developers Race Clock to Secure Subsidy - NYTimes.com

Letter: The hazardous effects of wind turbine development - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

In response to the letter from Jack Darin of the Sierra Club (My View: Wind energy a boon for Boone County), ...

Posted Dec. 24, 2013 @ 12:00 pm

In response to the letter from Jack Darin of the Sierra Club (My View: Wind energy a boon for Boone County), I just have to say that he is obviously not facing the prospect of living within an industrial wind turbine development. He touts the economic and environmental benefits of wind energy that is deployed 100 miles away, but I live here! The regulations being considered will modernize Boone County ordinances to protect residents from financial and physical harm.

I don't recall the Sierra Club presenting any evidence against the regulatory changes during two years of public hearings. Regulation changes like having setback distances from resident properties that take into account the ever growing heights of modern turbine towers are reasonable. These are not "barricades to block new business", they are protective regulations as Sierra Club should well understand.

Our outdated regulations subject residents to hazards from modern wind turbines that reach heights over 500 feet. Hazards include ice throws during winter, falling parts when a turbine catches fire and blade throws. Sorry, but tax revenue and jobs don't protect me from these hazards. No, I don't think Darin needs to be concerned about these things living a hundred miles away in a Chicago suburb, but I live here.

— Gary Fanson, Capron

Letter: The hazardous effects of wind turbine development - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Posted Dec. 24, 2013 @ 11:00 am

In response to Jack Darin's Wind Energy Article (My View: Wind energy a boon for Boone County): I think most people agree that alternative energy is important, but development must be done responsibly.

Unfortunately, it seems some are willing to disregard responsibility to ensure that this project moves forward, regardless of the proven safety risks and negative impacts of improper setbacks.

Is the proposed text amendment unreasonable in its purpose (to offer protection), or is this about a lack of siting potentials? Please look at Vermilion County, IL (California Ridge Project), where turbine failures have recently occurred and testimony from impacted residents comes out weekly. Even the local Superintendent acknowledges the impacts on his students! (California Ridge is roughly half as populated as the project area in Boone County).

Embracing responsibility ensures a safer future for our families, property value and tax base protection, a community where residents want to investment in their homes, which in turn employs locals (carpenters, architects, engineers, etc…) and a benchmark for other communities.

Responsibility cannot be argued, but it can be ignored. This isn't about "blocking" wind, it's about implementing setbacks that prevent the proven negative impacts associated with large-scale industrial wind in our community. Please help promote responsibility!

— Peter Ferretti, Harvard

From:  http://www.rrstar.com/article/20131224/OPINION/131229832/0/SEARCH

One-third of Boone County Board votes "no confidence" in - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

See the video.  Click on the following:  http://www.wrex.com/story/24258179/2013/12/19/one-third-of-boone-county-board-votes-no-confidence-in-chairman?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=9650220

BOONE COUNTY (WREX) -

A third of Boone County Board members have no confidence in their leader, Chairman Bob Walberg. They showed that in a rare board vote Wednesday night.

Chairman Walberg wouldn't comment on the vote, but he and other board members say this is something you don't see often in Boone County. The 12 elected representatives took up a "no confidence" vote. The motion failed, 8 to 4, meaning the majority of board members support Walberg's leadership. District 2 board member Cathy Ward is one of the four against. She says she has concerns about the chairman's actions regarding the veteran's administration and wind farms in Boone County, but also, his committee appointments. As the only female board member, she'd like to see more women helping make county decisions.

"He didn't seem to want to listen to us at times about this and sometimes he didn't contact all of us about any of the major issues, so we're hoping that this will be kind of a wake-up call and say 'We are all elected the same way.'" -Ward says.

District 1 board member Denny Ellingson is behind Walberg. He believes the vote was a political game, a move to get people excited.

"He's done everything according to policies and guidelines. He's doing everything we expect him to do in the matter of running a respected, responsible government. He's doing the things he has to do to make that happen." -Ellingson says.

Here's a breakdown of the vote. The eight board members supporting the chairman are Bob Walberg, Denny Ellingson, Brad Fidder, Karl Johnson, Paul Larson, Ron Wait, Craig Schultz and Chris Berner. The four who voted "no confidence" are Cathy Ward, Bill Pysson, Ken Freeman and Marion Thornberry.

One-third of Boone County Board votes "no confidence" in - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

RRStar: Letter to Editor/Guest Opinion: Sierra Club

 

My View: Wind energy a boon for Boone County

-Posted Dec. 21, 2013 @ 1:00 pm

Boone County is blessed with some of our state's best resources. The rich soil yields the crops that feed our families and neighbors while bolstering Illinois' powerful agricultural economy. Now Boone County has a chance to harvest another critical resource in increasing demand - its enormous wind energy potential.

Wind is a clean, safe energy option that is already playing an important role in strengthening Illinois' public health and economic vitality. Since 2007, clean energy has saved Illinois consumers $177 million in wholesale power prices and created almost 20,000 Illinois jobs, according to studies by the Illinois Power Agency and Illinois State University. At the same time, renewable energy has helped Illinois citizens enjoy cleaner air and water.

In 2011 alone, renewable energy eliminated an estimated 5 million tons of air pollution. Wind offers us a clean and safe alternative to coal, gas and nuclear power. Reliance on dirty and dangerous fossil fuels degrades Illinois' future, but investing in clean energy creates opportunity and advantage.

The pollution eliminated by moving to renewable energy greatly benefits not only our economy, but also our public health and wildlife. Wildlife protections and siting requirements by state and federal government agencies help wind farms be developed so that Illinoisans do not have to choose between protecting wildlife and building a clean energy economy.

The boom in wind energy in Illinois is being led by our rural counties. Just ask residents in Henry County, where local wind energy development means that schools are expanding and modernizing, clean energy jobs are growing and local businesses are benefitting from the increased workforce and tourism. This September, Henry County received its first $1.1 million property tax check from the Bishop Hill wind farm.

Illinois counties have opened the door to clean energy and huge economic potential through safe, common-sense zoning requirements for wind farms. Boone County now has similar opportunities.

The Rockford Register Star recently reported that a new wind farm could bring in between $1 million and $2 million in tax revenues to Boone County each year. However, Boone won't see these benefits if it approves overly restrictive regulations that are intended to be roadblocks to clean energy investment. Current proposals before the Boone County Board are far more restrictive than regulations in Wisconsin and most other Illinois counties, and would lock out wind energy for years to come.

Fortunately, a strong group of leaders on the board sees through these attempts to block renewable energy and sees all the benefits that clean energy offers future generations.

In the past few months, Sierra Club has joined Boone County residents and more than a dozen local businesses that see wind power as an important local economic development opportunity and a potential leap forward for Illinois' clean energy economy. We've heard from local residents who want jobs and clean air and who want Boone County to be a leader in the transition to a healthier future. We have gathered hundreds of petition signatures from local residents, small businesses and faith leaders, and voiced support for clean energy to county board representatives.

Soon Boone County faces a major choice. Some would erect barricades to block new businesses, but we are heartened by all the residents we've met who are proud that Boone County can be a spark toward a clean energy economy. We applaud county leaders who know that welcoming renewable energy is the right choice for today and tomorrow.

If you agree, we invite you to join us and your neighbors in the fight for a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and a brighter future for Boone County and all of Illinois.

Jack Darin is Sierra Club Illinois Chapter director

http://www.rrstar.com/article/20131221/OPINION/131229963/?tag=2

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Letter to Editor: Proposed Wind Farm