Don't get rid off your small turbines!



Offshore wind farm

 Here we go again! How many times can our leaders take a good and noble idea and totally mess it up. The latest and some may say the most important subject to come around (offshore wind farm) is finally a stone’s throw away from becoming a reality. But already, as it happened with slots, the subject of conversation in Annapolis’s State Circle is how can we give it to a few and how do we control the money rather than focusing on the greater good.

Offshore wind has every group looking to profit from it. Maryland’s governor has proposed a rate hike to the consumer, or a tax as I like to call it, to make wind energy happen. Even his fellow democrats are apprehensive to this approach. When energy prices are through the roof, this rate hike looks eerily like more of the same. The explanation is that the investment will spur development. I think that the turbines will happen either way and the open market will do its thing. Better yet, why doesn’t Maryland build them and lease out the maintenance and power delivery in short ten year contracts.


Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley

 Increasing your energy bills should be the last thing any governor in Maryland talks about, especially after the promises and accusations that went on in past elections. Maryland has a history of using prevailing wages in State contracts and I suspect that this is one of the reasons the cost to build offshore wind will be so high causing outside investors to ask the Governor for this kind of contribution from the public.

We need these projects to come to Maryland because of the jobs they will generate, the energy competition they will bring which should lead to more competitive pricing for the consumer and the environmental benefits that cannot be overlooked. So with all due respect Mr. Governor, no rate hikes just true competition and diversity. You worked hard for renewable energy to come to Maryland. Was it to benefit the masses of people, or was it for the few investors? Please allow the citizens who have tolerated rate hike upon rate hike to have their day, a choice in energy supply, and a cleaner world.



Small wind turbine by Windtamer



  One final point to homeowners: don’t give up on individual solar panels and small wind turbines. This kind of business as usual posturing by the powers that be is a sign that true competition will only happen if you have your own horse in the race.

Make it happen!
by George Lopez