Bad decisions
www.tri-cityherald.com 2 January 2012
First, the Dec. 12 editorial about wind power was right on the money. The backers of wind power know a gravy train when they see it. But it is stunning that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission saw fit to uphold the right of wind farm owners to fleece ratepayers. It is outrageous that utilities should be forced to buy more expensive wind power when hydropower is in abundance.
Second, several recent developments are very disheartening to those of us who believe in scientific literacy and fact-based decisionmaking. Most notably, the appointment of a virulently anti-nuclear and anti-Hanford “activist” (Gerald Pollet) to the state Legislature does not bode well for either the credibility or the objective decisionmaking of that august body.
Also, the governor’s proposal to continue to pump funding into “public interest” groups, which manifestly do not have the good of the majority of the public anywhere in their agenda, is outrageous.
Why should the state waste money on organizations preoccupied with obstructing and obfuscating the work of the scientists, engineers and administrators who know the most about what they are doing and should be left alone to do it?
We really cannot afford such nonsense any longer.
Gerald Woodcock, Richland
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/02/bad-decisions/