Wind energy muscled out of state market

[Newt]

Wind energy muscled out of state market
LINK

quote:
After a decade of growth, Pennsylvania's wind energy industry finds itself in the doldrums.

No new wind farms have come online in more than a year, and no development is expected soon. Advocates say cheaper fossil fuels have muscled wind out of the market, and uncertainty over government support of the sector makes utilities wary of long-term contracts that investors require.

“The market signals are not inducing new build,” said Jim Spencer, CEO of Strip District-based EverPower, an owner and developer of wind farms that include four sites in Pennsylvania. “It's very difficult without relatively long-term secured revenue.”

Constant political battles over subsidies that would help wind compete cloud its financial future, supporters say. But wind's failure to establish a foothold in Pennsylvania — it generates just 1.5 percent of the state's electricity despite incentives — makes further subsidies unpopular, critics say.

“If this worked, I'd be for it. But from what I've seen, they don't work enough,” said state Sen. John Eichelberger, a Blair County Republican whose district is dotted by several wind farms.

He cited low output among his complaints about wind: The state's 720 turbines have a combined capacity to produce 1,340 megawatts, enough to power about 300,000 homes. But that's only when the turbines capture enough wind to spin 24-7, and a single coal- or gas-fired plant can produce more electricity more reliably.

“It's not worth the public money and all the inconvenience that comes with it,” Eichelberger said.

Maybe that Global Cooling in the North-east, last winter, had an affect on the liberal brain. Maybe there is a cure for liberal disease. A frozen butt, where their brains are located, would tend to get their attention.

[Pine Mt Beagles]

Like Climate Change.


Republicans ,,Don't Believe the Wind Actually Blows,,Much like,,,Republicans.

[Rabbithoundjb]

Democrats shift blame, lie, stir hate, divide, promote homos, lesbians, same sex marriage, single parents, freeloaders, athiests, the elite, ignorance, perty much the destruction of the foundation that made this country great.