Speak Out Against Legislation that Would Discourage Wind Energy
Proposed federal legislation poses a serious threat to both future and existing wind development. It threatens not only any future federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), but also any existing state RPS requirements. The wind energy portions of H.R. 2337 include:
-A provision making new wind development illegal until new federal rules (Fish & Wildlife Service) are established. We know from the Minerals Management Service experience this can take a while – MMS expects theirs to take 2 ½ years, well over the original 270 days prescribed.
-Existing facilities must shut down within 6 months of new rules, until
certified.
-Any violation is a criminal offense with a $50,000 fine or a year in
prison. Small residential wind turbines, as well as large, are required
to cease operating or face criminal penalties.
-Once new rules are passed, every single wind turbine will require
certification – government staff would have to evaluate each turbine
application.
-This Bill is progressing very quickly. Although it was introduced only
last week, a House Committee on Natural Resources mark-up session has been scheduled for June 6 where the bill will formally be considered.
Please contact your representative to oppose the wind energy legislation contained in H.R. 2337.
Rep Rob Bishop
http://www.house.gov/robbishop/
-324 25th St., Suite 1017, Ogden, UT 84401
ph: 801-625-0107, fax: 801-625-0124
- 6 N Main St, Brigham City, UT 84302
ph: 435-734-2270, fax: 435-734-2290
- 2001 S State St #N4100, Salt Lake City, UT 84190
ph: 801-625-0107, fax: 801-468-2292
Rep Chris Cannon
Email: cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov
-51 S University Ave Suite #319, Provo, UT 84606
Phone: (801) 851-2500, Fax: (801) 851-2509
Outside Utah County Call 1-800-571-2971
-8000 South Redwood Road #332, West Jordan, UT 84088
Phone: (801) 569-5125, Fax: (801) 569-5126
Rep Jim Matheson
http://www.house.gov/matheson/contact.shtml
-240 East Morris Avenue #235, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
Phone - (801) 486-1236, Fax - (801) 486-1417
- 321 North Mall Dr., #E101B, St. George, UT 84790
Phone - (435) 627-0880, Fax - (435) 627-1473
-120 East Main Street, Price, UT 84501
Phone - (435) 636-3722, Fax - (435) 613-1834
Toll-Free Number 1 (877) 677-9743
Talking points:
-No other form of electricity generation has ever been subject to a Fish
and Wildlife Service certification process, although others may have far
more serious impacts on wildlife. Mountain top removal and the deposit of the resulting fill in river valleys is one example of a practice
related to the generation of electricity that might be expected to harm
wildlife, but would not be addressed by Subtitle D. Meanwhile, the
National Academy of Sciences recently concluded: “Clearly, bird deaths
caused by wind turbines are a minute fraction of the total anthropogenic bird deaths – less than 0.003% in 2003 based on the estimates of Erickson et. al. (2005).” House cats kill more than 1,000 times as many birds each year as wind turbines.
-Wind Energy is Green Energy. Wind energy requires no mining or
drilling for fuel, no fuel transportation, no hazardous waste disposal,
and no water use; and wind energy generates electricity without toxic
pollutants like mercury, without greenhouse pollution, and of course
without the conventional pollutants that cause smog and acid rain. Is
this really an energy sector Congress should close down, for
environmental reasons?
-Wind Energy has a Crucial Role to Play in Solving the Climate Change
Problem. Wind power is not only emissions free, it is also readily
available and cost effective.
-Failure to stop this provision is a missed opportunity to bring the
rural economic development benefits and domestic energy diversity wind provides.