Wind Power News: Maryland
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These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Bartlett's bill would extend renewable energy tax credits
U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is hoping to save two federal tax credits promoting alternative energies like solar and wind.
Bartlett, R-6th, whose district includes Frederick County, introduced a bill this month to continue the investment tax credit to stimulate investment in solar energy and the production tax credit to encourage investment in wind energy.
Those credits are set to expire this December.
The bill has 38 co-sponsors and is identical to a Senate bill that is co-sponsored by …
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Pennsylvania wind powering Maryland water, sewer plants
How many miles must a utility go before it can save lots of cash?
The answer? It’s blowing in the wind — somewhere in Pennsylvania.
In a move managers say will save millions over the next decade, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is now importing electricity from wind turbines in Stoystown, Pa., to save costs on water treatment in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
Energy from 14 giant propellers in the hills approaching Pittsburgh now gets zapped 171 …
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State takes closer look at Garrett wind project
The Maryland Public Service Commission is requiring more information from Criterion Power Partners, LLC for the proposed Backbone Mountain wind turbine project.
According to a letter sent by Terry Romine, executive secretary of the PSC, to Kevin Rackstraw, developmental leader at Clipper Windpower, the commission has several questions about the interconnection agreement that would allow the wind turbine project to connect with the grid and Allegheny Power.
“With this particular project,” Todd Meyers, spokes-man for Allegheny Power, …
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Garrett Co. commissioners discuss eminent domain/wind turbine issue
The question about whether Garrett County will use its power of eminent domain to seize private property if a citizen refuses to grant an easement to a wind turbine company is purely a hypothetical one, according to the Garrett County commissioners. The officials indicated on Tuesday that they have no desire to use that power anytime in the near future.
“You can never say never, but you can say that it’s not on the horizon,” …
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Industry spokesman a deceptive corporate hack
I find it absolutely appalling that Clipper, Criterion, and the industrial wind power lobby would employ Frank Maisano as their spokesperson and continue to condone his vicious and personal attack ads and letters in this and other media.
Hundreds of local citizens have participated in free government, testifying with facts, petitioning for redress, seeking solutions, and “big wind” has the unmitigated gall to respond through their pit bull Maisano with smear and personal attack.
We had a …
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Who is more trustworthy?
My apologies to Frank Maisano (the paid promoter for wind developers) for striking a nerve in my letter to the editor two weeks ago, which according to Mr. Maisano, contained “hard to stomach accusations,” “vicious reactions,” “name calling,” and “scare tactics.”
Wow, I pulled the letter out, reviewed it, and found no accusations, no viciousness, no name calling, and no scare tactics. What I did find was a factual summary of how Garrett County could remove …
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Avarice overwhelms the public good
Let me share two items that emerged at the recent Maryland Public Service Commission administrative hearing on the Criterion Wind application. Because of its expected unreliability, the PJM grid, which produces up to 140,000MW, has granted this project only 13% of its 70MW nameplate capacity. This means that, if there is a transmission crunch, as is often the case, the grid will limit transmission from Criterion to 9MW–which ought to be important news to wind …
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Wind power debate whips up controversy
Self-styled “green” leaders across the country face a conundrum over wind power: Do they alienate part of their constituency by leveling pristine forests to build wind farms, or irritate the other part by rejecting a promising source of renewable energy?
When Gov. Martin O’Malley faced that choice in April , he opted for the latter, and in no uncertain terms.
“In the end, we could not justify the consequences that commercial wind would have on this land, …
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Eminent domain question difficult to answer
The statement is released relative to a request directed to the Garrett Board of County Commissioners by John Bambacus in which he asks “Will Garrett County use its power of eminent domain to unlawfully seize private property in the event a citizen refuses to grant an easement of any kind to permit an industrial wind turbine company right of way for a cable crossing, access road, etc.?
What is the county’s position on the use of …
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Wind plans go on while PSC decides
Though no official decision has been made on placing wind turbines on Backbone Mountain following the Maryland Public Service Commission hearing Wednesday, plans for the project progress.
“They have put in applications for grading permits,” Jim Torrington, chief of the county permits and inspections division, said. “The (stormwater/sediment erosion) survey has not been completed. That will be done by the (Garrett County’s) Department of Public Utilities. So the next step in that will be for us …
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