Business

Gov’t-Subsidized Wind Farms Told NOT to Produce Energy

“Wind farms in the Pacific Northwest – built with government subsidies and maintained with tax credits for every megawatt produced – are now getting paid to shut down as the federal agency charged with managing the region‘s electricity grid says there’s an oversupply of renewable power at certain times of the year,” Q13 Fox reports.

Keep in mind, as mentioned in the above, these companies were built with government subsidies and have been maintained with tax credits. To put it plainly: the government is offering to compensate companies that it subsidized and then ordered to stop doing what they were subsidized to do in the first place.

Does any of this make sense?

“The problem arose during the late spring and early summer last year,” Fox explains, “Rapid snow melt filled the Columbia River Basin. The water rushed through the 31 dams run by the Bonneville Power Administration [BPA], a federal agency based in Portland, Ore., allowing for peak hydropower generation. At the very same time, the wind howled, leading to maximum wind power production.”

Because demand was disproportionate to supply, the BPA shut down the wind farms for approximately 200 hours over the course of 38 days.

“It’s the one system in the world where in real time, moment to moment, you have to produce as much energy as is being consumed,” BPA spokesman Doug Johnson said.

Watch the Q13 Fox news update:

Because of the shutdown, Bonneville is offering to compensate up to half of the revenues lost by the wind companies – which could be as much as $50 million a year.

But who foots the bill? That’s right, the energy users.

“We require taxpayers to subsidize the production of renewable energy, and now we want ratepayers to pay renewable energy companies when they lose money?” asked Todd Myers, director of the Center for the Environment of the Washington Policy Center.

“That‘s a ridiculous system that keeps piling more and more money into a system that’s unsustainable,” Myers said.

Green energy advocates stand with Myers in their opposition to the BPA’s oversupply solution.

“It sends a very poor signal to the market about doing business in the Northwest,” said Rachel Shimshak, executive director of the Renewable Northwest Project. “We want the Northwest to be a good place to do business.”

In response to the outcry, the BPA says, “its hands are tied by environmental regulations,” according to Q13 Fox.

Officials argue that if they shut down hydropower stations instead of the wind farms, endangered salmon could be put in harm’s way.

Seriously, salmon.

“It’s counter-intuitive,” Fox explains, “because for decades environmental advocates have complained about dams killing fish by sending them through the turbines on their way to the ocean.”

“But spilling too much water over the dam can apparently also be harmful. It can create too much oxygen in the water at the base of the dam, which has also killed salmon,” the report adds.

But fish advocates (yes, that’s a real thing) are unconvinced.

“Save Our Wild Salmon is encouraging BPA to test salmon downstream of the dams to determine if their being impacted by high oxygen levels, and only stop the overflows when they have proof fish are being harmed,” according to the Fox report.

Pat Ford, the group’s executive director, believes Bonneville is using the salmon as an excuse to keep wind power subservient to hydropower.

“I think it‘s driven by Bonneville’s customers who are worried about the increases in wind generation in the Northwest and what it means to them,” Ford said.

BPA submitted its plan Tuesday to the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) and is awaiting its approval.

Comments (107)

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  • LetsBeSmartAboutThis
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:58pm

    Green energy almost always seems to result in taxpayer money going down the drain. WHAT A WASTE!!!

    Report Post »  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:40pm

      Doesn’t the government pay farmers not to farm and ranchers not to ranch? So why not green energy not to produce? After all…we couldn’t have inflation if not for the government.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:50pm

      I‘m really surprised that the left didn’t call it, “The save the birds project”, then deny it later when the energy was needed and fire the blades back up?
      Or, do the blades keep spinning and killing birds and the energy is just not collected/transferred to the grid?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • lukerw
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:54pm

      Well… if Unemployment is a Payment for Not Working… Student Grants are also… and Unions desire the same… so, I guess, everyone should stop working, and just let the Government pay them!

      Oh, Wait… where does Government get the Money?

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 8:18pm

      I can understand the environmental impact of the windmills.. they do kill a lot of birds but the most detrimental thing is they kill the bats which are necessry for pollination.. that will diminish the crops and our food..oh but wait..they are paying farmers not to grow food..all of this is so unnecessary..but isn’t the oil that we produce going to other countries?

      Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 8:58pm

      The Federal Government Is Insane And Dangerous To Everyone Even Foreign Nations. This is just one of many things that proves it.

      Its our responsibility to make things right. Its our Government and we allowed it to go insane. We must do something. Many Americans will die and cities destroyed trying to make things right.

      Report Post »  
    • carolewash
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:46pm

      What they aren’t telling you is that the power company also got a 50% rate hike to pay for this renewable crap. Hydro electric is renewable and we don’t need wind farms. They could sell it toanother state as they have in the past but no this administration wants all energy to sky rocket.

      Report Post »  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 11:51pm

      Yep, I figured it out with the bats in Pennsylvania. An estimated 25,000 bats are killed each year in Pa, which turns out to be an estimated 17 million or billion more mosquitoes living and passing on various diseases… These idiots who are supposed to be so in tune with the ecological cycles in our environment seem to ignore any statistics which are not favorable to their cause. I heard they kill all kinds of other birds as well.

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
    • SweetDoug
      Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:39am

      This is how we are and have been, betrayed by crony capitalism.

      We were taxed to provide “incentives”… grants to install them, for big corporations who didn’t need it.

      The corporations were given large subsidies and huge contracts when they sold their power.

      Now they’re paid to NOT produce the power?!

      How about they play by the rules, you know, supply and demand? They sure love to jump the rates up when there is excess demand, but not so much, when they have excess supply?!

      Why are the rates going down?

      It’s called market forces, isn’t it?

      Screwed again.

      I’m taking my marbles and going home.

      •∆•
      V-V

      Report Post » SweetDoug  
    • iblvingd
      Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:14pm

      Just more proof that the Cronies in Washington need to go! They can not manage to anything accept theshut down America GDP and pay for it to be done. These cronies are not working for the people. They are managing the people for the Elite! THEY NEED TO BE VOTED OUT!

      Report Post »  
  • Stryker
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:58pm

    Not much different than the Dept of Ag’s CRP program that has been around for years paying farmers NOT to farm.

    Report Post » Stryker  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on March 10, 2012 at 5:58pm

      They just expanded government powers to include your private garden and subsistence farms for government regulation. The government has grown way beyond control and there is no fixing it via election.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
    • judyf2
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:20pm

      We contract for CRP to not farm to get ground cover, trees and such back for the pheasant and quail population (and bald eagles) – that has been wiped out from land turned into corn production which is inflated in price due to the subsidized ethanol business. And farmers scratch their heads and wonder where did all the wild life go?

      Report Post »  
  • alrunner58
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:53pm

    Figures they would do this, not surprised. All I can say, they’re still hippies, dirty, needy and lying cheats.

    Report Post » alrunner58  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:00pm

      The people running our government are the people who were all at Woodstock. These are the acid heads and the nuts who set off bombs and blew up ROTC buildings. They now run our nation.

      Report Post »  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:42pm

    It’s not easy being green…-Kermit T. Frog

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • 9111315
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:37pm

    I have a green vehicle. . . . . . Plant food comes out of the exhaust pipe.

    Report Post »  
  • kennebec
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:26pm

    progresives do or can not learn from others or others experience like europes failures and catastrophic expense like obamas model spain no more prduction funding next is germany

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:21pm

    It should be obvious by now even to the misinformed typical american idol viewer,this regime is actively destroying our republic from all sides.Our ‘green energy’ is BS and won’t work,Spain tried it and it got them 20% unemployment.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • aChameleon
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:18pm

    Are they still allowed to kill the birds while producing no electricity that we paid for? That’s what you call worst case scenario. Happens a lot these days.

    Report Post » aChameleon  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:12pm

    More BS from the leftist marxist socialist morons, spending other peoples money !!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:25pm

      Some of us get rebates. Its only the right that gets charged.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • CanteenBoy
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:09pm

      Yes, sheep…

      Enjoy taking money from a country $13,000,000,000,000 in debt and borrows billions more each year (1,000,000,000+) JUST TO PAY THE INTEREST on what we owe and CONTINUE TO BORROW!

      How can this be sustained?

      It can’t.

      Report Post » CanteenBoy  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:20pm

      UMmmm… CANTEENBOY,

      that thirteen is now SIXTEEN

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:45pm

      @CanteenBoy
      Here’s a link so you you can keep up to date.
      http://www.usdebtclock.org/
      $15.481 Trillion now.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • JP4JOY
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:12pm

    Not unlike everything we subsidize. Farms,crops, gas, ethanol,conservancy lands, timber, you name it we probably have a grant or subsidy for it. If we quit the subsidies a lot of people would have to get a real job. All those insiders get LOTS of money from those of us who actually produce something.

    END ALL SUBSIDIES … NOW!!!

    Report Post » JP4JOY  
  • Link8on
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:12pm

    Pick which you prefer:

    “Slaves, Obey your EPA regulation Masters ”

    or

    “Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God” – B. Franklin

    Report Post » Link8on  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:11pm

    The tyrant is streching his legs. Another 4 years? Next he will turn off the water. I always thought it was difficult for a man like Hitler to gain power, but after seeing obama in action, it all makes too much sense. Scary

    Report Post »  
  • spirited
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:10pm

    Wooden shoes don’t grow on trees.

    Report Post » spirited  
  • MrMagoo
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:08pm

    Wind turbines are nothing more than curiosities after you see them day after day.And day after day a person wonders if they made the electricity BILL anymore cheaper.They did’nt,and don’t.And they get real ugly looking after awhile.Nothing more than a public nuisance….worthless.They never made the natural skyline look nice on a warm Summer day or have anything to do with ‘saving the planet’..They detract from it.

    Report Post » MrMagoo  
    • Mateytwo Barreett
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:53pm

      Windmills- making electricity more affordable. . Not really. I heard they must undergo regular maintainence. The head and the blades have to be removed. Last time I checked, you could buy a helluva lota coal for what ic costs to bring in thebig crane, and the other folks.

      Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
  • RedneckJim
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:06pm

    Pitchforks and torches. All the asinine ideas of the left should be shoveled out of the barn along with he saddled idiots who produced them. If the turbines aren’t turning, then they aren’t depleting their useful lives, are they?

    Excuse me. I‘ve got a spotted owl on the BBQ I’ve gotta tend to.

    Report Post »  
  • nrmlgy4749
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:57pm

    I lived in California during the drought years. The governmet asked everyone to save water. Don’t wash your car, water your lawn, take long showers, turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth, put flow restrictors on all your faucets and replace your toilets with “low flush” models that would usually leave the turd in the bowl, unless you flushed twice–negating any savings. But, people cut their consumption. What did the government do? Why, raise water prices. You use less and pay more. Incometence at it’s best.

    Report Post »  
    • Restored One
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:29pm

      Yep, I know. We here in No Cal got a pat on the back and the following year the rates went up. When my city went from well to metered, our bills went down. Well the city could not have that, so they raised the rates. This is just nuts.

      Report Post »  
    • TheBurningTruth
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 5:11pm

      I’ve been in the Great Socialist State of CA for over 50 years. You’ve left out a couple of things:
      1) First, they asked for people to volunteer to cut their usage in both energy and water. Then after a period where some people did cut back and others didn’t, the govt said, “Ahh, we didn’t get enough savings and imposed limits over which your usage could be curtailed (usually they just cranked the rates way up for high users). But here was the catch… The limit they set was based off the period of voluntary cutbacks! That meant that if you voluntarily cut back, your new limit was much lower than if you didn’t cut back. Lesson: Never volunteer, you just get screwed!
      2) After the draught was over, the rates never came back down, and the local govts began allowing new home building into the area. If there was a naturally occurring shortage once, it will happen again so how could anybody justify more population growth? Because it brings in more tax revenue!

      Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
  • Micmac
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:53pm

    I wouldn’t know where to start commenting on this. It’s so wrong on SO many levels.

    NoBama 2012

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:51pm

    anyone ever wonder why Americans stopped using windmills as soon as steam power came out??

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:04pm

      I’m holding out hope, that the government is gonna give me some of those neat fifty dollar light bulbs they helped subsidize……because I can’t afford the $1200 it would take to replace all the normal bulbs at my house. Actually, I’d pay the money, but only if I got to see someone cram one of those lightbulbs up Obama’s ice hole…..sideways preferably…..

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:44pm

      I bought some of the new bulbs suppose to last 10yrs,they do save on the power,so the power co just raises rates…bulbs burn out after one year

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:43am

      I have thought about Burnt…about a million times. I’m waiting for them to tell us we need to wear wooden shoes next.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:42pm

    One more item of evidence of the worthlessness of Obamas system; green energy does not work and this is one part of Obamas plan to collapse the system….pressure, pressure, pressure, top down, bottom up, inside out.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:52pm

      That’s because green is the new red. Didn’t you see the watermelons that kept breaking open showing the red interior?

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:55pm

      When the man-made green concept finally goes away, you will be left with only red.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:58pm

      Did you ever wonder what happens when a bullet hits a windmill.. do you get a big spark?

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:42pm

    Gee, why don’t they use the extra power to charge all those asinine Volt batteries? Or, why not just build huge battery farms, like the entire state of Oregon and Washington.. the libs would LOVE that.

    The battery states, their new state motto – ‘Don’t drain on me’, or ‘Charge free or die’..

    Report Post »  
  • Anamah
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:41pm

    America is been sabotaged. Our enemies are within. I believe the country is victim of a planned treason. Who is able to present her case in the Court of Law? American Justice must protect her. The beautiful must be safe.

    Report Post »  
  • Seagal45
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:39pm

    These wind farms are so ugly. I‘ve driven by them on the highway and it never made sense to me that they were there in the first place when you’ve got all those rivers producing electricity. Everything is upside down and inside out.

    Report Post »  
  • Itsjusttim
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:37pm

    Sure, because under Obama’s plan “Utility rates would necessarily sky-rocket.” When they pay farmers to not produce, food prices also necessarily sky-rocket.

    Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:41pm

      It‘s not as if he invented this concept because it’s been around for hundreds and hundreds of years that they would starve and cheat people to restructure finances, but in times of old is was easier for them to get away with people not knowing about it.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:46pm

      That’s why we just need an asteroid and bees dying off, and the bat population dying off to increase bugs, because it’s not as if people are going to do anything to stop it, you’re much too complacent.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • chips1
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:06pm

      Save the planet. Eat a bug!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Mathchopper
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:35pm

    Flying from Atlanta to Harrisburg two weeks ago, I counted 300+ windmills somewhere in southern WV as near as I can figure. I think I spotted about 10 that were turning. Isn’t taxpayer subsidized lib green power wonderful? I hope the whistle blows soon.

    Report Post »  
    • Inlightofthings
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:25pm

      The wind machine that blows to turn the windmills is still in development…part of the defunct NASA program I heard.

      Report Post »  
  • pamela kay
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:31pm

    This is even more proof that this administration wants to bring America to her knees.

    Report Post » pamela kay  
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