Why Is Windpower Suddenly Unpopular

In Hawaii, across the nation and throughout the world, it seems like wind energy conversion systems have suddenly become an issue on the level of new coal and nuclear facilities. In the 50th State, "Big Wind" is roundly being criticized and even Donald Trump is warning about the evils of windpower, as related to China, tourism and Scotland. There were protesters about him being a windbag. Hey, give him a break, as he's having other more important problems, like with Miss Pennsylvania at his Miss USA pageant. Worse, the U.S. Congress, as broken as it is, seems currently negative on the production tax credit, the one piece of legislation that will make or break this technology. So what is really happening?

"Nothing much new. For one, when the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute advocated this form of renewable electricity a third of a century ago, we were criticized by the Audubon Society (incidentally, they've since gotten smarter about this") for killing birds, resorts ("in Kahuku") spoke against this option at hearings for fear their investment would suffer from image problems, noise protesters were always present, more than a few felt that these ugly machines would affect their aesthetics and a few more depicted at the left protest (this was in Canada in April). I might add that wind energy (with geothermal and hydroelectric) is the ONLY "new" sustainable option somewhat competitive with coal and nuclear. Solar PV remains three times the cost of wind.

Let's look at the matter of bird kills, for, apparently, the figure in Massachusetts is 100,000 murdered birds/year. Here is the reality:

- glass windows: at least 100 million, and, perhaps up to a billion bird deaths/year

- house cats: 100 million/year

- vehicles: 50 million to 100 million

- electric transmission lines: 174 million

- hunting: more than 100 million

Ever seen any protests against glass windows, cats.....? Oh, by the way, there could well be around 400 billion birds in the world. Nothing about energy is perfect.

"So will the production tax credit (2.2 cents/kWh for wind, geo and certain biomass") be renewed this year by Congress? Senator Spark Matsunaga on the Finance Committee was the foremost advocate when I worked for him. The actual enactment was in 1992, so this specific incentive has now been around for two decades. Read the summary of Carl Rove (left, Republican strategist) and Robert Gibbs (right, former Obama communications director) facing the American Wind Energy Association and weep. The consensus is that President Obama placing this bit of legislation as "must pass by August," effectively has killed this from happening ("as you know, the Republican party has a certain mandate to be difficult on anything Obama until, perhaps, after the November election--so the fate of the PTC will fall into the lame-duck session").

"So we come to the essence of the matter. Should government be involved with energy prices? CNN reported that in 2011 24 billion went to companies for energy subsidies, and, surprisingly, 16 billion to renewable energy and energy conservation firms, and only 2.5 million to fossil fuel enterprises. Paul Brewbaker (left"), noted Hawaii economist, and formerly with the Bank of Hawaii, yesterday lambasted in the "STAR ADVERTISER" the clean energy tax policy. Again, though, you must appreciate who is doing the talking/writing. Republicans ("and, especially those who are associated with banks, upper level management, etc.") are opposed to most things environmental and sustainable, while Democrats are sympathetic. Yet, Shell Energy has a promotional add in the May issue of "SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN" popularizing what the public is telling them about the future of energy, specifically, the overwhelming favorites are renewable energy subsidies, alternative energy and carbon taxes. So some companies (not in the USA) are, indeed, progressive.

Me? There is something about life cycle analysis and the externalities that can justify certain government incentives. Also, too, ENERGY IS NOT A FREE MARKET. But, then, while I lean in the direction of survival of the fittest, I am mostly a Democrat.

I can't believe I wrote a wind energy article and did not include even one windmill. So, here is the beginning of the largest offshore wind farm, in the United Kingdom:

"As the ocean between the islands of Hawaii have the best wind regime, and most laminar flow, I've long felt that this was where our wind farms should be. But not fixed to the bottom. The wind energy conversion systems should be on floating platforms moving in a gyre. How then to get the electricity to land? Not sure, maybe by microwave, but, perhaps, someday, through the production of hydrogen, which can be stored in giant bladders and towed to shore. Or maybe Rinaldo's Hawaiian Hydrogen Clipper (that is a possible "docking station") can be the solution, for these next generation aircraft can harvest the gas, use some on the flight back to the West Coast, and supply the Los Angeles market. Future 1000 MW OTEC grazing plantships might also fit well into this sustainable scenario. Yes, that would indeed be a monumental day when Hawaii begins to export renewable energy.

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