There Is Plenty Of Certainty In Wind Energy. It Certainly Doesn’t Work.
In an editorial last week the Fargo Forum bemoaned the failure of Congress to pass an extension of subsidies for wind energy. This failure has brought “uncertainty” to the wind energy industry, and it’s all Rick Berg’s fault as one vote out of 435 in the House.
The failure of Congress to extend the production tax credit is yet another symptom of political gridlock brought on by hyper-partisanship. Even when Midwest members of Congress say the right thing about the tax credit, nothing happens. For example, Congressman Rick Berg, R-N.D., says he favors extension and is a co-sponsor of legislation to extend the credit. Yet, as a member of the House majority and of the allegedly powerful Ways and Means Committee, he has been unable to convince his colleagues to move the tax extension measure.
Business and industry cannot plan in a climate of uncertainty. In a new and evolving clean-energy business like wind power, uncertainty is a killer. The least Congress can do in today’s challenging energy market is provide a measure of certainty by extending the credit at least five years.
Setting aside the fact that there’s no certainty in any industry, let’s consider why the future of the wind energy industry hinges on whether or not Congress extends subsidies. It’s because wind energy doesn’t work.
The blades spin and the turbines grind out energy, to be sure, but it’s not a reliable source of energy because sometimes the wind doesn’t blow. That’s a big problem, since Americans have come to take for granted having energy available at the flip of a switch. What’s more, it’s extremely expensive. Wind energy, even with subsidies, can cost several times more than cheaper alternatives like coal and natural gas.
There simply is no market for wind energy beyond what the government has created for wind energy. And who says we have to get energy from the wind anyway? Politicians who are lobbied heavily by green energy interests?
The nation simply cannot these foolish, green energy pipe dreams any more.
Tags: fargo forum, green energy, North Dakota News, Rick Berg, subsidies
