Energy Answers are NOT Blowing in the Wind

Environmentalists, Democrats, and corporate wind interests see wind power as the future. They are committed to it because they believe it will protect the environment by magically replacing the use of fossil fuels (and make some wealthy). Such deluded notions have no basis in fact. The truth is wind energy isn't very efficient and can’t come close to powering the American economy. Low cost energy is one of the keys to a vibrant, growing economy.

One critical problem with wind energy is that the wind doesn’t blow all the time. This means there always needs to be backup generation fueled by something other than gusts of air. When someone flips a switch to turn on the light he or she expects the light to work whether or not the wind is blowing.d =No

A recent study by the Civitas Institute, a think tank based in England, finds “There is no economic case for wind-power.” In England, there has been a significant movement against onshore wind turbines following concern about the health effects and unsightly appearance of gigantic industrial turbines covering the countryside. The Civitas Institute study also warns that mandating certain targets for the percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources increases electric rates for families. In Wisconsin, we already have excess electric generation capacity without any new power sources. So why are we building more generation capacity?

Pro-wind advocates are always trumpeting the fact that wind energy (and all green energy) is good for the environment and good for consumers. Unfortunately, such statements aren’t the truth. In addition to people’s health and pocketbooks, wind is taking a toll on wildlife. In California alone, it is estimated that wind turbines kill 80 golden eagles per year. Golden Eagles are protected under federal law. If an oil company was doing this, they would be sued. In fact, utilities in all sectors of the energy industry have been held accountable for environmental damage, all except the wind industry.

Under Wisconsin law, ten percent of the state’s electricity must come from renewable energy by the end of 2015. As we near that goal, some in Madison are pushing for a higher renewable energy mandate. This is a bad idea. Imposing a higher renewable energy mandate will increase electric costs for hardworking families and businesses that employ them. This doesn’t make economic sense.

An analysis of the renewable energy mandate currently in place estimates it will cost Wisconsin households almost $800 million in higher electricity bills between 2013 and 2016 - this is money that could be spent or invested on other things. This shows that the only way wind energy can compete with less-expensive methods of generating electricity is through costly government regulations, government and electric user subsidies.

In the free market, if wind energy could not pay for itself no company would be willing to supply it. But because the government has stepped in at the behest of an idealistic agenda to promote wind energy, we all are paying more than we should for the electricity that we use. The federal government says you can no longer tour the White House because it costs too much (even though the tours are given by volunteers), yet they have no problem spending billions of taxpayer dollars to extend green energy tax credits for another year, really.

If wind energy is as good as the advocates claim, it should be on the same playing field as other energy generation. It should pay taxes instead of receiving tax subsidies and grants, instead of costing electric users more, it should cost less or the same. According to pro-wind groups, the industry couldn’t survive without government subsidies. Free market economics, not crony capitalism of the left or right, what a common sense idea.