I think it would be great if the power companies started to use more types of alternate energy. It is unfortunate that there are many groups that espouse conservation and a green lifestyle but are making it more difficult for the energy businesses to use these greener renewable alternatives.
In Vermont, the wind is very reliable and some companies have tried to put up wind turbines. They have been thwarted at every turn by people who don't want them on the ridge lines, which is where the best wind is. They also don't want them in the Champlain Valley, which is where some of the best wind is. I bet these people will not be first in line to give up their electricity or go cold in the winter inorder to not pollute and keep everything pristine.
These are the same people that have problems with our old and decrepit nuc plant. I have problems with the plant as well, and feel that we need to get an alternative source of electricity inorder to be able to decomission it. I would love for there to be wind mills that produced the energy Vermont needs. They could plant one in my back yard!
This is where all of this alternate energy talk becomes pie-in-the-sky. There are groups that have issues with any way to produce large amounts of energy. These groups litigate attempts to diversify our energy sources. If Vermont, a state with a very small population, cant poduce enough energy from alternate sources to supply its citizens, I cant see it happening elsewhere in the US. They have issues with hydro (fish spawning), wood chip burning (pollution), wind mills (eyesore), new nuc (too dangerous) and so on. I feel like I am being held hostage by these people.
The energy that is used in my county is produced in Canada! The contracts with that Canadian firm are comming due and I am sure the new contracts that the co-op will negotiate will cost us more. I currently pay 14.7 cents a k/hr. It is crazy to purchase from another country what you can produce yourself. Can you say OIL! We in the islands have alot of wind and wind mills would make sense! There is a hue and cry when wind mills are mentioned in the Champlain Valley. I think that it is a bit hypocritical to believe that it is alright for Canadian fish to have difficulty spawning, Canadian air be polluted, Canadian views be "spoiled" and so on to produce the energy that we are not being allowed to produce here for those reasons!
The reality is we need electricity to be a productive first world country and producing electricity, like producing anything else, changes the enviornment. Any technology we have to prouce electricity is not perfect and we cannot wait for it to be perfect. It is unfortunate that there are those who are making this transition almost impossible and more costley with each law suit. I don't want a wind mill on every ridge line but it would be fine with me if some of the ridge lines had them and some were placed in our valley to produce the electricity we need. This would be safer that an aging nuc plant, burning wood chips, coal etc and more economical that the Canadian electricity and it is renewable.
