Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Spinning in the Wind


A group of concerned Mainers gathered on Monday at Rollins Mountain in Lincoln. A violent storm had moved into the region overnight. It was cold, driving rain poured down… and it was windy.

I used to love the wind…

The Friends of Lincoln Lakes have fought a long and hard and expensive battle. Several weeks ago, they lost this fight—at least to outside eyes—and First Wind was given the ‘go ahead’ by Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection to start construction on their proposed project. Forty industrial wind turbines overshadowing the Land of Thirteen Lakes, and in the shadow of Mount Katahdin. And… for what?


Wind industry mouthpieces list off the negligible benefits and most Mainers… most Americans… heck! Most PEOPLE believe them! The industry claims economic benefits in the form of temporary construction jobs and increased sales for businesses in the ‘host’ communities. They tout the ‘free’ fuel of wind… while never mentioning the hugely expensive cost of building, maintaining and transmitting the power. Wind energy is anything but affordable, often costing up to three times more than conventional power sources. Wind industry execs state, shamelessly, that wind will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. They say it will bring American soldiers home. More falsehoods, but do most people question those statements?

No.

To our detriment, we have been conditioned to believe that which is told us by people in positions of power or authority. Spin doctors know what buttons to push, what catch phrases to use… how to tweak the ‘fear’ nerve or the sympathetic heart strings. Corporate trainers work their recruits, teaching them how to answer questions with just enough factual information to be believable, while not divulging the complete TRUTH to the common citizen. I’ve listened to these prevarications and misleading statements for a solid year. The wind industry has it down to an art. It’s bull$hit, but it smells sweet. Wind industry trainees are even taught how to deal with people like me. You know… those thorns-in-their-sides, pains-in-their-asses who show up uninvited wherever they go; sitting in their meetings, asking pointed questions, demanding proof, asking them if they will put their claims in writing…. That kind of person. I’ve heard tell we even have a name. Folks like me are called “MADGE”.

I wonder what that means?

Below is an excerpt from the Portland Press Herald. It is a fine example of the ‘spin’ corporate executives glibly apply when the need arises.

“First Wind spokesman John Lamontagne called Monday’s protest unfortunate. “First Wind is pleased to move ahead with the Rollins Wind project and put people to work in northern Maine during a tough economy. It’s unfortunate a small group of renewable energy opponents have chosen to protest that, but we respect their rights to do so,” Lamontagne said in a statement.

“This project will put more than 200 people to work during construction, and generate enough clean, renewable power for more than 24,000 homes in Maine. We’re proud of that.”


First off: Wind turbines do not and never will produce their nameplate capacity because the wind simply does not blow steadily every day and night… 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Actual production levels vary from 11-33%. Those 24,000 homes that could be electrified number, in truth, anywhere from 2,600 to 8,000. That’s a significant difference, if you ask me.

Mr. Lamontagne, whose name means “the high mountains”, is currently involved in shaving the tops off ours. Blasting, excavating, bulldozing… whatever it takes to build the roads and clear the turbine sites on our iconic and pristine ridges. Notice his choice of words when describing those valiant Wind Warriors who stood outside in the driving rain to participate in their lawful right to peaceful assembly. He labeled the demonstrators as “renewable energy opponents”.

Perfect! Just what I would expect! If you want to sway citizens who have not yet been educated on the real truths surrounding the plan to decimate 360 miles of high terrain ridges in a state with a poor inland wind resource, that’s the ideal tag to put on people who are anything BUT opponents of renewable energy! The 'windys' are good at their jobs. I’ve got to give them that!

The thousands of Mainers who are fighting to stop mountaintop industrial wind are not opponents of renewable energy. We are opponents of waste, and stupidity. We are against corruption and greed. We oppose sending the lion’s share of our hard-earned tax dollars overseas to countries like China, where the wind turbine parts are manufactured. We don’t believe in sacrificing a quality of place which is precious and unique in order to line developers’ pockets with cash for a power source which is undependable and intermittent, which cannot be stored, and which is incompatible with our grid. We oppose the destruction of our mountains, the fragmenting of wildlife habitat, and the carelessness and uncaring attitude which has made many of our fellow Mainers sick and anxious and unhappy in their homes.

But… what are Wind Warriors for? We are for sensible and affordable energy practices which are proven by science and economics. We are in favor of conservation and efficiency. We are supporters of our neighbors, and champions of our natural resources. And we promote—and expect-- honesty and integrity when dealing with our government and those corporations who desire to do business in this state.

I wasn’t at the Lincoln rally on Monday, but my heart was with my fellow Wind Warriors. We’ll leave the ‘spin’ to the wind industry and the administration which has decided to allow them to pillage and despoil our land.

In the meantime, if you want the FACTS, please come see me and I’ll point you in the right direction. We are up against a Goliath, but we are armed with the truth. And here in Maine, where the brave are denounced and branded as ‘renewable energy opponents’, we will not back down. We will not give up. We will not be intimidated.


We will WIN!



**********************************
Top Photo: demonstrators at Rollins Mountain, Lincoln, Maine
Middle Photo: New turbine pad under construction at Rollins, with Maine's highest mountain, Katahdin, in the background.
Bottom photo: A silly pic sent me by a friend in Mississippi
**********************************


It's time for a contest! The Friends of the Highland Mountains are putting on a comedy and music event to raise money for our expert witness fees, which we will need when the time comes for our public hearing. Please given me your suggestions for what the acronym "MADGE" stands for... and the winner, chosen by the Turbinator, my friend Tom (if he says 'yes' when I ask him, which he will... won't you, Tom?)will win two tickets to the event on December 4th at 7:00. Come on... this wind stuff is CRAP! Let's turn it into some FUN!!! Just put your suggestions in the comments section. Winner will be chosen on November 27th. MADGE: Meddling And Dangerous Gigantic Environmentalist??? oooh... not as easy as I thought!!!

29 comments:

  1. Mountains
    Against
    Destructive
    Governmental
    Ecoterrorism

    or

    Mountains
    Against
    Detrimental
    Greenhouse
    Energy

    or

    thinking.......

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ooh, Dozy! I knew I could count on you!

    So... if you win... I'll see you here on the 4th, right???

    RIGHT?

    XOXO!
    Kaz

    ReplyDelete
  3. That would be wonderful - does the prize come with airfares ?

    Here's another one for you babe :-

    Mountains
    Against
    Destroying
    Glorius
    Ecosystems

    PS: Shouldn't you be sleeping ?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mainesheilas
    Are
    Delicious
    Girls
    Essentially

    ReplyDelete
  5. but then..

    Many
    A
    Dozycow
    Gets
    Eaten

    too

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. How about:

    Mad
    About
    Damaging
    Glorious
    Ecosystems

    Can I vote for my own?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hah! This was GREAT to wake up to!!! And guys? Trev won with his first entry. The polls are closed!!!

    Snicker... aw, I'm just kidding. But I've always wanted to be descrobed as 'delicious'. And then he included Dozy in his compliment! WHat a guy!

    :o)

    So Tom... I hope this means you'll judge the entries?

    Batting eyelashes here. :o)

    xoxo
    Kaz

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, there are so many possibilities that the Big Wind Boys could be calling us...............

    Missguided
    Angry
    Dangerous
    Groups of
    Extreemists

    Mad
    Angry
    Dumb
    Grumbling
    Enviromentalists

    Moms
    And
    Dads
    Getting
    Enraged

    I'm sure there are others............

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey, DC! Those are great... and I'm sure there ARE others! So don't stop now! (I'll let you think on it for a couple of days, though-- so you don't tax your noggin...)

    :o)
    xoxo
    Kaz

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, btw, Tom... glad you picked up on that misspelled word and changed it! It wouldn't do at all to have our judge look like a dunce!

    Snort!

    I'll have to go find Ali g.... although, he almost always wins this type of contest. He must walk around with 4 leaf clovers in his pockets

    :o)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Misguidrd
    Assholes
    Destroying
    God's
    Environment

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello, my wonderful friend. :o)

    I've gotta tell ya... I LIKE it!

    Of course, it's not up to me... Tom the Turbinator is the judge, this time (but knowing his propensity for honesty... I'm betting he'll appreciate your sentiments, too!)

    xoxo
    Kaz

    ReplyDelete
  14. Missguided
    Antagonistic
    Dangerous
    Grouchy
    Environmentalists

    And by the way, I love the 'Kaz and Goliath' picture! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow Trev - great stuff !
    Ali g's is great too - Tom is going to have a hard time judging.....

    Meanwhile, here's another....

    Maine
    Actively
    Disputing
    Governmental
    Edicts

    ReplyDelete
  16. This judging job is getting a little harder with each new entry, but I'm up to the task.

    I forgot to ask? Is there any remuneration for the judge? After all, it is a tough job!

    At least I ought to get a copy of the DVD someone is going to make of Kaz doing her stand-up routine. Someone is going to video tape it, right?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mainers
    Against
    Destructive
    "Green"
    Energy

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello, CP.

    :o)

    How lovely to see you here. I've missed you. And what great suggestions for what MADGE might mean.

    You're all 'spot on' as a certain friend of mine often says...

    Keep 'em coming! And get your friends to enter, too. After all, what else will keep Tom out of trouble and gainfully employed?

    (And speaking of 'employed', Mr. Turbinator... nope, this isn't a paid position. The best I can offer you is... oh, hell. I've got nothing! Tell you what... I'll bring German beer next time I travel up-country to see you. Will that do?)

    :o)

    xoxo
    Kaz

    P.S. What's the matter with good old Carrabassett Pale Ale, anyway?)

    P.P.S. Hi everyone. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  19. MADGES are:
    Mainers
    Against
    Destructive
    Greedy
    Energy
    Solutions

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hey, Jennifer!

    A PERFECT answer!

    Although... from the perspective of industrial wind corporate trainers, they might see it differently!

    Hah!

    I LOVE it!

    Thanks!

    We'll see what The Turbinator thinks!

    :o)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Many
    Adamant
    Do
    Gooders
    Enlighten

    ???

    Me
    Ar$e
    Done
    Got
    Enlarged

    (whilst working on WIND day and night at this computer!!!)

    Come on folks... lets have some more entries into the contest. Two free tickets are up for grabs!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Allright people. Today's the day. I, "Tom The Turbinator" have printed out all entries and will sit down at some point (with a cool beverage or two) and see if I can figure out the true meaning of the term MADGES.

    I realize it's an awesome responsiblility, but I'll do my best.

    Tom, The Turbinator

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sorry I’m a little late, but I have a really good excuse.

    My dear old Mother (still kicking at 97) always said you should walk a mile in someone’s shoes before you could really know them. Excellent advice! So-o, since I was trying to think like a wind power developer, I decided to do it. Off I went on a quest for a pair of those shoes.

    It didn’t take long before I stumbled across a barely used pair of Italian loafers that had a big AK marked on them. So I walked that mile and went home.

    Much to my surprise my lovely wife, Alison, threatened to divorce me. She said I seemed nastier, more devious, and money hungry and she would simply not stand for it. On top of that, my beloved dogs kept barking at me and one even tried to nip me. Even the cats hissed at me and ran away and hid.

    In spite of the less than warm reception at home, I left those shoes on just long enough to judge this contest.

    First Place: by DC

    Misguided
    Antagonistic
    Dangerous
    Grouchy
    Environmentalists

    There were quite a few more that were pretty good, but since I still have those shoes on, I’ve got some advice for you. This is not Kindergarten. We don’t all get prizes. Grow up!

    Let me take those shoes off. Ah-h, what a relief. And look, here comes Alison for a kiss? It’s been a pleasure judging all your entries, but I’ve got to go now.

    Kaz, is there a real answer to the MADGE question? If you know, please share it with us.

    Tom (the ex-wind farm developer)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks Tom!.........I think.

    All I can really say is, I'm glad you took those shoes off! Your talents are much to valuable to us to have you swayed to 'the dark side!' :)

    DC

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wo-hoo! DC is the winner! Thanks, Tom. You ROCK! (Lemme just say... it's a good thing you got those shoes off. A cowlick really doesn't suit you, at all. And this way, I can still love you.)

    Well, DC... what luck! Free admission for you and the guest of your choice! Who will it be? (I haven't bought my ticket, yet. Just thought I'd say...)

    Hah! Good onya! See you this afternoon.

    And Tom? I'll see YOU in the cave!

    Thanks, everyone!

    xoxo
    Kaz

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bloody hell...and I'd bought my plane tickets and everything...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hey, Ali g! You can still use them! I'll give you your own private show, how's that?

    :o)

    Just back from the benefit. I survived, but just barely... how many times have you heard me say "I'll never do that again!"?

    And I wore black, just for you!

    snort!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your own private show? Now that WOULD be worth a trip from Down Under!

    Great show last night, Karen! When is the next one?;)

    ReplyDelete