Leo Wolfson's April article "Chuck Gray, Gov. Gordon Squabble Over Approval Of Wind Farms" was interesting to me, as some of the comments made in the article caused me to raise an eyebrow of disbelief.
Paul Martin states that the project will move forward whether or not the tax credits are there. Do you know why that raises an eyebrow? Because it points out that it is completely a private contract.
While the article states that none of electricity produced by the wind farms will hit the grid and is all for a hydrogen plant, I find that very hard to believe. When the farms over-produce, that generation needs to go someplace or are they just going to shut them off, letting Millions of dollars worth of turbines sit idle?
I cannot wrap my head around that one.
As well as when the wind isn't blowing, is the hydrogen plant going to be buying from one of our suppliers in state? BHE, Pacific, Basin? Things that make you go hmm.
But the very best comment comes from State Treasurer Curt Meier that, "The public eventually gets used to turbines wherever they are built."
He mentioned turbines built near the small town of Arlington outside Laramie that he said he’s never heard any complaints about. Just where has the treasurer been hiding? As Wyoming is somewhat new to large-scale wind farms, all Mr. Meier needs to do is look up wind farm lawsuits and literally hundreds will pop up, as well as letters written to many of our own local papers by more folks than just me.
I warned years ago and again recently, these things will eventually contaminate our public lands and the state board just green-lit the pollution of the great white lollypops.
So, is the state board going to green light them on all state lands? Will we be a checkerboard of windfarms, all in the name of funding? Our coffers are not short, possibly ill managed from time to time, but not short. This is a horrible decision.
Richard Nielsen
Gillette, Wyoming
