A Whirlwind in Maine…

Citizens from around the state convened last Saturday at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport to hold a legislative summit. Individuals and citizens’ groups concerned about the industrial wind plan for Maine’s mountains and hilltops have submitted several pieces of legislation to be considered in the current Session, and we came together to combine our resources, share ideas and develop factual talking points to use when these bills are heard in Committee.

The event received some coverage by the press, but the real story was found in the responses to the summit by supporters of industrial wind. One gentleman, Jeremy Paine, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association, was particularly vocal in his attempts to trivialize Mainers who oppose this expensive and unnecessary proposal for our state.

"Better organization by a vocal minority shouldn't be interpreted as growing public opposition…Their voices may be growing louder," he (Payne) said of opponents, "but their numbers aren't growing larger."

One wonders how Jeremy Payne can be so sure of himself and his facts. Surely he doesn't want readers to believe he is a party to the inner workings of his opposition? This quote sounds like it comes from a man who is very worried. He may believe that if he states his opinion often enough, citizens will believe it is the truth. That may have worked, once upon a time, but no longer. Citizens all across Maine are becoming informed about the FACTS regarding this industrial wind energy plan, and as they do, they are stepping forward to have a say. We were denied that right by the passage of the emergency bill, LD2283, the "expedited wind permitting law". Now that the realities regarding the negative impacts of grid-scale wind facilities are coming to light, common-sense folk are determined to restore fiscal and ethical responsibility to the process.

Another article about the summit quoted Mr. Payne as saying, “Every time a turbine is spinning, it is offsetting fossil fuels".

I would like to see proof of that. If an apparent expert like Jeremy Payne can give such a sweeping statement, surely he is prepared to back that up with the facts which support his claim.

I believe that less than 2% of Maine's electricity is generated from oil-burning power plants.

I believe that many new fossil-fuel generating plants are being built in the U.S. and around the world for no other reason than to take up the slack when the wind doesn't blow, or when it blows too fast and hard.

I believe that oftentimes, when wind-generated electricity flows into the grid and must be used, it is renewable, storable and reliable hydro-power which is off-set.

I believe that Maine's predominant use for oil is in home heating and transportation-- neither of which can currently be efficiently or economically replaced by electricity.

Mr. Payne's job is to promote industrial wind energy facilities-- regardless of the cost to Mainers or to the environment. Surely, if average Mainers have access to the FACTS about wind energy, Mr. Payne must already know the truth.

His livelihood depends upon Mainers buying his story. We're too smart for that, and we're growing impatient with the corporate interests which are making our energy policies.

Let’s let scientists and economics experts have a hand in it, for awhile. Then we'll see which way the wind blows.

Many Mainers are tired of being asked to tow the line and quietly sacrifice for an industry which benefits a few in the short term, rather than benefitting us all, for the duration. Wind was abandoned 100 years ago for good reason. Until the electricity it can produce can be stored, we should not even have to have this conversation.

Whoopie Pies and Whoopie Cushions

There was a news article on the front page of the Maine section of today’s Bangor Daily News which caught my eye. “Lawmakers Debate Whoopie Pie as State Dessert”.

Incredulity caused me to read the article from beginning to end. It was just yesterday, while speaking to two of our state representatives, that I first heard of this bill… and the fact that upwards of one million dollars might be spent on promoting it and debating it before a final vote is taken in the Legislature.

One million dollars. For whoopie pies.

Here’s the deal. Apparently, some Mainers feel the need to have an official ‘state’ dessert. Why? I asked myself. Well, that question was promptly answered—by a University of Maine executive, no less.

““It builds pride in our state, it capitalizes on our unique and wonderful foodstuffs,” University of Maine Foundation President Amos Orcutt told the State and Local Government Committee”.

Okay. But are whoopie pies unique to Maine? Here is another quote from that article.

“Whoopie pies should be declared Maine’s official state dessert before Pennsylvania tries to snap up credit for the tasty chocolate cakes oozing with creamy white frosting, a legislative committee was told Monday.

"The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, warned that residents of the Keystone State may try to make a move if Maine lawmakers are unwilling to act. The hearing featured fresh whoopie pies, someone wearing a whoopie costume, and even a song praising the product as “a slice of happiness.””

I’m all for promoting the whoopie pie industry here in Maine—now that I know one exists. And I’ve always been open to the notion of inserting a little fun and ‘theater’ into a debate. But I’ve got to say this. To burn up expensive resources (our tax dollars pay the Legislators’ salaries, mileage, and other expenses) to debate a topic like a ‘state dessert’ seems to me to be a misuse of time and funds. This state is in economic shambles. This state is confronting weighty issues which must be dealt with immediately; such as medical insurance and health care, a welfare system which is out of control, and a corporate wind lobby with a terribly expensive agenda to push while we citizens are expecting our representatives in Augusta to study the facts of the issue, and then—push back.

I won’t find fault with the citizen who wrote this bill—after all, this is supposed to be a citizens’ government, and we can devise bill proposals of any type we choose. I won’t even criticize Representative Davis, who sponsored it; no doubt, at the request of one of his constituents. But what I will do is make a few requests of my own.

I ask that the Bangor Daily News and its sister papers-- the Portland Press Herald, the Kennebec Journal and the Maine Sunday Telegram-- devote some of their front page space and a few fact-hungry reporters to the debate revolving around the former governor’s wind energy plan for Maine before the session draws to a close. This topic is immediate and critical to our state’s future. Whoopie pies, however? Not so much.

I request that our Representatives and Senators make a point to become at least as involved in the wind energy debate as they are about the question of whether or not they can trounce Pennsylvania in a race to claim the whoopie pie. (The act of putting this topic into words is a bit embarrassing, I am finding. Somewhat similar to the emotion I’ve experienced when inadvertently sitting on a whoopie cushion, I suppose. I wonder if the two ‘whoopies’ are related?)

And third: Those hundreds-- even thousands-- of us who have been devoting vast amounts of time, money and resources to educating the public about the facts regarding industrial wind would be very encouraged if citizens would take a few moments out of their busy days to ponder the implications of one of the most socially, financially and environmentally damaging energy plans to confront us in decades. We all love those dual chocolate cakes sandwiching creamy vanilla icing—there’s no doubt about it. But let’s all put this into perspective. There are vital, time-critical issues facing this state.

Please get down to business. Make whoopie, if you must. And then get back to the business of making ‘Maine—the way life SHOULD be’.

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Whoopie Pie--Kevin Bennett photo, Bangor Daily News