OUR NOTES: SOME OF THE SUBTEXT INSIDE THE PROPOSED BILL, IS LANGUAGE SUPPORTING “CLEAN ENERGY.“ It is well known that Rep Marcy Kaptur supports industrial wind in the Lakes, starting with Lake Erie off of Cleveland. She has repeatedly expressed that Ohio could become a hub for manufacturing for US industrial wind. The reality is that parts and “supply chains” are met mostly with international experts and partners, none being willing to demote their own financial interests.
(WXYZ) — An Ohio congresswoman has introduced a bill that would create and fund the Great Lakes Authority.
The Great Lakes Authority Act was introduced on March 17 by Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat who represents Ohio’s 9th Congressional District which spans along the Lake Erie coast from Toledo to Cleveland.
LETTER FROM GREAT LAKES WIND TRUTH AND NAPAW TO SENATOR DAN KILDEE, 5TH DISTRICT, MICHIGAN
Dear Austin and Kelly (Austin Fant, Kelly Montgomery, Press Secretary DC)
Austin, thank you for taking my call today. Hello Kelly.
As I mentioned, numerous people around the Great Lakes and further, are watching the development or non development, hopefully, of the industrialization of Lake Erie, with wind turbines off of Cleveland, now in the cooker for over 11 years. This proposal failed under the guidance of then Chair Todd Snitchler, who found numerous objections to the proposal, which included a laundry list of omissions, errors and to do’s. That was in 2014. These groups even internationally, have been fighting this proposal for over 11 years.
We cannot ascertain if any of these omissions and errors have now been met with the new developer, Fred Olsen Renewables Inc. of Norway, who seems to be side stepping; or is the proposal now resting with the Power Authority. The initial proponents appear to have jumped ship. The developer appears to be running out of finances, and the objections to offshore wind continue to blossom and bloom, I would say, respectfully, with even more fervor.
| U.S. Offshore Wind Projects: Eco-Consequences on the Firing Line (Part I… A proposed six-turbine project eight miles offshore, Icebreaker (Ohio) has been in the cooker for a decade or mo… |
It has come to our attention and deep concern, that Senator Dan Kildee, a wonderful protector of the Lakes, has his name mentioned in the collection of promoters of Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s Bill to create a Great Lakes Authority, 2022.
Under this benign sounding and appearing proposal, at first glance, the surrounding states and two provinces of Canada, Ontario and Quebec, would work together to: protect economic growth and recovery, and guide the Great Lakes to safer and cleaner water supplies. Along with this, is the subtext that “working together” with energy systems suppliers, is part of the idea advanced in the Bill, and this broad and very ambitious injection of $30 billion (for the first year) it is suggested, can plug all these holes. Rep Debbie Dingell furthers the idea that the GL basin can become an economic “powerhouse.”
There is deep mention of economics of the region, and her perceived need for a well financed Great Lakes Authority. (THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS, $30 million in the first year, to be followed by FIFTY MILLION, $50 million in subsequent years.)
Because we who have been fighting to collapse the idea of toxic nonproducing eco waste (wind turbines) in our Great Lakes, completely understand the “temperature rising” of the ideological structure that supports wind turbines in Lake Erie and all the Lakes, we are sensitized to the subtext of the Bill Rep Kaptur and others propose and support.
The idea of suggested job creation, support for renewables (wind and solar), and using the bankrupt and nonsensical idea that loss of manufacturing jobs and “pollution” and “blight” on poorer communities, especially of color, can be rectified with a supply chain for industrial wind, is truly misleading. Very few jobs are created with industrial wind, and usually the construction jobs are given to experienced out of state experts. Most construction and parts of US turbines are internationally sourced.
Please see our letter to NAM (National Association of Manufacturing).
We have always understood Senator Dan Kildee to be “one of us,” supporting as he notes, fishing and tourism, and a natural and wholistic appreciation of our Great Lakes. We know he has an understanding of the “economics” of the region to include fishing, bird watching, a multi billion-dollar endeavor annually, natural fresh water, the envy of the world, for over 30 million people.
We are respectfully asking for clarification of his position on industrialization of the Lakes and Basin, and if he can offer a statement, indicating that as we had understood, a zero threshold for wind turbines in any of the Great Lakes.
The list of Senator Kildee’s wonderful protective measures for MI and the Great Lakes, is laudable.
https://dankildee.house.gov/issues/environment
Some of these proactive and ongoing initiatives include: re routing Canada’s nuclear waste proposal; fighting invasive species; aquaculture remediation; and Nestle water withdrawals.
We cannot locate anywhere, a support for massive industrial machines made of steel, aluminum, 400 plus gallons of oil and lubricants, toxic non soluble non recyclable plastic and resins, in the Lakes.
Please note that Block Island, five turbines, offshore Rhode Island, is now not functional. Several turbines are leaking oil, and the transmission lines have not been buried properly, leaving extremely dangerous outcomes. The community is now getting energy from diesel. Quite the disappointment for an outlay of $300 million (Three hundred million dollars). With another estimated $100 million to be added for repairs and remediation of transmission.
| The Block Island wind farm has largely shut down Folks on Block Island have become accustomed to showing off their five-turbine wind farm, which you can see from… |
How do we spell waste and environmental disasters?
This surely, is a picture postcard. (Block Island) Of “realized” harm and a “bust up” of renewables economic theory. Really it is an utter failure, costing upwards now of $300 million.
We must reflect additionally and immediately that Ontario, with the two bordering provinces in Canada of the Lakes (Ontario and Quebec), has issued an offshore moratorium for wind turbines, citing lack of knowledge of impacts. This was in 2011, and was confirmed by then minister of Natural Resources, Minister Rickford, last year. There is zero appetite for offshore wind in Ontario. Enlisting Canadian support will be, we suggest, an exercise in futility.
If you can kindly reply to our questions at your earliest convenience, as we will be alerting our members, and publishing on this Bill, it would be greatly appreciated.
Essentially we are asking for clarification on the Senator’s position on “wind turbines in the Great Lakes.” The ONLY way we can truly keep our drinking water, safer and abundant, is to ensure that NO wind turbines enter the water, not even six, because Rep Kaptur sees a “Saudi Arabia” of wind in the Lakes….truly a disastrous misnomer and the intentions are very clear. We must not let this happen.
Thank the Senator for his long-lasting commitment to the Great Lakes.
Sincerely,
Sherri Lange on behalf of:
Al Isselhard, and Suzanne Albright and the team at GLWT.
RESOURCES
Now, an Ohio group is moving ahead with plans to harness Lake Erie’s strong gusts, in sharp contrast to neighbouring Ontario that slapped a moratorium on wind farms in all its Great Lakes amid a public backlash to the spectre of the highrise-sized turbines along its shorelines.
See other posts on GLWT dot ORG to access the ongoing story regarding the language used by wind promoters and various Government Representatives, that are the keystone, it appears, to the Bill to create federal funding for an “Authority” for the Great Lakes. It appears that the Bill to create an Authority, would bypass objections, and give the injection of cash to this very cash strapped adventure in lunacy.
Some of these phrases:
Icebreaker would be a
Saudi Arabia of wind; there would be a burgeoning of manufacturing and supply chains for industrial wind in OH and beyond; expanded US manufacturing; climate change necessities; “Lake Erie is the Saudi Arabia of Wind, and the money could help to jumpstart industry according to congresswoman Marcy Kaptur…”; LEEDCo is using “high science” to solve the icing and foundation problems involved in building turbines in fresh water”; a reasonable cost; LAKE ERIE: THE CENTRAL HUB FOR U.S. OFFSHORE POWER GENERATION, safer, cleaner power, supported by a Power Pledge. (The reality is that industrial wind is a boondoggle of the highest order, more costly, a net drain on jobs, and an environmental disaster. Needless to say, simply not going to happen.)
There isn’t much to add to this comprehensive, accurate analysis. That being said, there is also a world perspective to add that exemplifies Rep. Kaptur’s narrow thinking. Only 2.3% of the earth’s surface is fresh water, and 21% of that tiny fraction is in our precious Great Lakes. The earth’s population is topping 7.9 billion people. Do we, the citizens of the U.S., not have some responsibility to preserve what small amount of fresh water exists on this planet? How much more fresh water will be lost as the climate continues to change, as it has since the beginning of time? Where is the recognition that without fresh water to drink, clean air is pointless? They are equally crucial to human survival. Perhaps our legislators should return to school and repeat geography class. They might also learn that wind energy does NOT improve air quality for all of the reasons pointed out in the above letter.
Thank you Suzanne Albright. This ignoble project, limping along for over a decade, needs to see closure. Perhaps the Supreme Court of OH will provide that. The promise of MORE projects? Of course greedy developers will attempt some other fresh water proposals, but we will head them all off, one at a time, or with a Great Lakes Offshore Wind Moratorium.