‘Taller is better’ is new strategy for New Hampshire wind developers
The Laconia Daily Sun | 12 October 2013 | www.laconiadailysun.com
The Laconia Daily Sun | 12 October 2013 | www.laconiadailysun.com
New Hampshire’s wind power industry is poised to see its biggest period of growth and Newfound Lake is the epicenter of it all. The surge brought on by unprecedented demand for renewable energy by southern states.
Massachusetts has chosen to outsource much of its renewable energy tax credits to New Hampshire – worth an estimated $500 million. Combining the GrotonWind Farm, Wild Meadows Wind Farm, Spruce Ridge Wind Farm and the Alpine Ridge Wind Farm, it will total more the 100 turbines in a 15 mile corridor.
The Wild Meadows project was announced in November 2012 – yet their plans quickly changed late last week. We are not sure as to why their plans changed, because they refuse to openly communicate with anyone at Town Hall meetings. One thing we do know is that developers are under extreme time pressure to start work before the end of the year, when a critical federal tax credit expires.
We also know that New Hampshire is in the middle of a renewable energy construction boom – for electricity it doesn’t need. And we know the out-of-state energy contracts being signed won’t help New Hampshire’s rate payers with their already high electric bills.
N.H. Wind Watch has complained, since the start, that New Hampshire residents will see very few benefits for having destroyed their mountain ridges and erecting 500 foot tall wind turbines. New Hampshire is outsourcing renewable tax credits to serve the needs of southern states.
New Hampshire wind projects will only serve developers and leasing land owners not rate payers in N.H. That’s why last week’s announcements of power contracts in Massachusetts came as no surprise. While developers kept their details confidential, state officials merely bent over and N.H. rate payers are now held accountable.
“Taller is better” that’s the new strategy for N.H. wind developers. Why? Because it’s rumored that the Groton Wind Farm is a failure – meaning they’re not capturing enough wind to earn high profits – investors are looking for on Wall Street. The taller turbine trend will continue for each additional proposed wind site.
Massachusetts agreed to buy it – no one ever doubted that. Soon EDPR & JEWI Wind will start their own dog & pony show. Opponents have stated many times that the turbines, transmission lines and the transmission stations will increase your monthly electricity invoices – not lower them.
Utilities recognize Newfound Lake as a renewable energy corridor. My personal scare with these industrial projects are – they are gaining traction and soon more wind developers will likely come or current ones will expand or both.
Southern New England’s renewable power goals are being outsourced in your backyard – like cheap labor to China. Southern state are in a “win-win-win-win” situation. The first “win” is they don’t have to develop their land, the second “win” is they don’t have to see them, the third is they don’t have to maintain them, the fourth “win” is they don’t have to decommission them.
Look for more renewable wind projects to come New Hampshire – it’s a “win-win-win-win” for them. Write the Governor now and tell her why you don’t want them – before it’s too late.
Ray Cunningham
Bridgewater
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/10/15/taller-is-better-is-new-strategy-for-new-hampshire-wind-developers/