I am hereby re branding this to be more in-line with reality, now that we know what it is.
Facts are coming out that it is actually the Anti- Wind energy groups claims of “wind turbine syndrome” and the like that may be causing the very illness they tell residents to expect, not the wind turbines themselves.
No one is saying that the symptoms that people may be reporting aren’t real to them. Now the proof is coming in on what may really be causing their symptoms.
Healthy volunteers, when given information about the expected physiological effect of infrasound, reported symptoms that aligned with that information, during exposure to both infrasound and sham infrasound.
The research showed a large group of HEALTHY people could be expected to report symptoms if they were told to EXPECT them, whether or not they were exposed to the infrasound! Exactly as would happen when anti-wind energy groups publicize what they say are the “dangers”.
I would hope any of the people truly suffering, will now turn their focus and go after the people who actually did manipulate them and made them feel ill.
Enlightening facts show how other factors related to the fearmongering can help certain persons in certain circumstances play into the scenario. Further studies have shown those especially vulnerable are when people’s personal beliefs were already leaning anti (confirmation bias), amongst other reasons. Still, I do not blame these people who are suffering at all, whatever the reason. The blame rests squarely with those irresponsibly(at best) and purposely(at worst) causing innocent neighbors these problems. From today on, media outlets that just let these groups say “whatever” and just repeat it, share the culpability, as well.
Like (now reelected) US representative Tim Bishop said about climate change at last summer’s Long Island Off Shore Wind Conference: ““All we can do is just provide people with the facts…and hope they accept those facts.”
Unfortunately, that’s a long waiting game and the detractors of renewable energy know that putting up these straw man arguments delay the onset of their deserved extinction. They dont actually care if they make residents sick, and the more the better for their cause, in fact.
Hopefully this argument is put to bed for good, preventing further harm to anyone.
Board Of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) map of the proposed NYPA (LIPA and Con ED) plan for a Long Island-New York City offshore wind farm approximately 12 Miles offshore.
Recently, LIPA and Con Edison are issuing calls for public input on trying to bring back the plan for a wind farm 12 miles off the shores of Long Island.
Coincidentally, Sierra Club has really picked up the ball that they started rolling earlier last year. At that time,the LIPA board failed to do anything like ‘leading” -they just passed the natural gas buck to the next generation, guaranteeing another 30 or more years of further fossil fuel dependence, fracking pollution and price gouging (and that one didnt take long-only 5 months to come home to roost).
It may not be too late. Sierra have been trying to convince LIPA to rethink their do-nothing stance and invest in wind energy, even as a hedge against these types of spikes. They have almost reached their goal of sending 5000 signatures to LIPA telling them to get on board with wind energy.
This is the moment, here is the movement, get on board with them!
Once again when you start talking costs going up like this, wind energy which is already close in price, fast becomes cheaper(another post). That does not include the effect that having wind energy would have: creating savings across all forms of electricity generated by having more supply to cover demand. Less natural gas demand = lower market price for natural gas.
What is it going to take to JUST. DO. IT. ALREADY?
Please let me know as soon as you’ve signed on to the Sierra Club link above so we can move on to getting it done!
Tim Daniels of Deepwater Wind showed the current New York Offshore Energy Planning Map
On Tuesday Night, community leaders, environmental and Renewable Energy organizations and members of the general public met to discuss Renewable Energy Solutions for Long Island At the LI Clean Energy Forum: Navigating NY’s Energy Crossroads
Ms. Dix said “it’s time for the Long Island Power Authority to move away from plans to lock Long Islanders into dirty fossil fuel energy contracts, instead of investing in clean, safe renewable energy from wind and solar. We need both Gov. Cuomo and LIPA to act now to protect our clean energy programs and fast-track our transition to a clean energy future for New York”.
The importance of this meeting was to bring to the public what their role is in helping transition Long Island and the world at large into more renewable energy.
“We are stuck doing the same things because we have a fossil fuel based economy”. Of LIPA board’s recent decision not (necessarily) to buy into offshore wind she said
“change just got a 15 year jail sentence”.
Explaining our problem, she said “The job of LIPA is to provide affordable, reliable power- not renewable energy… the decision-making structure is wrong. These institutions are not elected but they’re making our decisions and may not have any energy or utility experience. We don’t have leadership that the people can rely upon.
She went on to add, “we need a new movement to move Long Island energy into the new millennium. “Silence is not golden – we need everyone’s voices to be heard”
She spoke of the dangers, destruction and pollution of Fracking and natural gas drilling. She said livestock is ingesting these FrackIng wastes and our food chain is threatened right now. She explained pipelines are proving difficult to stop because they are not approved on the local level, but on the federal level by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Thus, pipelines like the one being completed under the devastated Rockaways are happening against residents wishes, and continuing to be installed PRIOR to court proceedings to stop them.
Fracking Water use statistics from Grassroots Environmental Education
She says the best way to keep Fracking out is make sure we have plenty of renewable energy powering our state that we don’t need it.
Peter Olmstead of the Vote Solar Initiative spoke. He explained the US could easily reach 80% renewable energy by the year 2050.
“we need to attract investment and provide access to renewable energy”.
Another major item of interest he spoke of that “if your house isn’t good for solar maybe you could have a few panels on a community system elsewhere”. You know we here at All Our Energy love the Virtual Metering scenario! Why should you have to own a roof to have solar- 8 million New York City residents (and any other urban dwellers) would at least have access to solar empowerment!
He said getting competition into solar to create lower costs would be a key ingredient to more widespread solar usage, and is already happening.
Tim Daniels from Deepwater Wind, the company proposing the offshore Wind farm LIPA ignored, spoke next.
He said
“Wind could have been providing Long Island 10% of its energy had LIPA gone with their plan.”
In his view, New York had taken some steps towards renewable energy 10 years ago but since has stagnated and failed to follow through.
He said locally offshore wind could easily support 3000 MW of power for our area.
We met Ed Laborde of Power Up Communities, a new green energy campaign to help owners make their homes energy-efficient and more comfortable while generating good paying jobs and community benefits.
Ed Laborde of Power Up Communities.
Definitely check out their website!
Gordian Raacke of Renewable Energy Long Island presented about their 100% Long Island Clean Electricity Vision (CEV) study.
Their study shows that by 2020 it is technically feasible to meet 100% of Long Island’s residential electricity needs with Renewable Energy. It further shows by 2030 we could have 100 percent renewable and zero carbon electricity supply for all of Long Island. He said the only thing missing to make the transition is the political will. Read about it here:
Mr. Raacke has a great outlook on the situation when he says “it’s an exciting time to be alive when we can make the change to renewable energy”
I understand what he says: We have the power – you, I, we- can do it and we must do it together. He reminds us that the price of sunshine is still zero…
Gordian Raacke of Renewable Energy LI:”it’s an exciting time to be alive when we can make the change to renewable energy”
A great Q and A session followed questions included
whether Superstorm Sandy would have had any effect on offshore Wind Farm. Tim Daniels’ answer was no – offshore turbines are designed for North Sea storms which are category three winds. The Siemens turbines available to Deepwater wind withstand 120 MPH sustained winds and 150 Mph gusts.
Another question was about the environmental impacts of an offshore wind Farm. Adrienne Esposito replied “when thinking about environmental impacts you must think not about Wind Farm versus nothing, but Wind Farm versus dirty energy plant. No matter what, there’s going to be impacts. The clean energy impacts are so much less plus they dramatically reduce the pollution and climate change affecting the environment.
Another question was about the impending change in LIPA leadership. She said we should be poised to demand the right people are put in charge. We should also make sure they know we think they should not cut their renewable energy programs, and that they need to have more renewables in the mix. We need to let the LIPA Board of Trustees know we need to change.
There was some quiet speculation that LIPA may have left the door barely cracked open to revisit the issue and we should not give up yet.
A European immigrant living here said they’re shocked there is no policy against wasting energy.
Editors Note-
(This is an excellent point, as people in the US are under the assumption that “if they can pay for the electricity, it’s their business and that the ‘free market’ of prices will decide how much they use”. Unfortunately, they ARE NOT paying the actual costs of their usage when it comes to pollution, land destruction, and climate change- the “hidden costs” of dirty energy, which they are actually passing off to everyone else.)
They explained that in their home country, when you sell a house you must show the energy usage and efficiency that that house has, as just part of the process. hmmm…
Another attendee named John just made a statement that we must realize we are all addicted to fossil fuels and we need to change our own actions and attitudes.
After the proceedings, I was able to ask the representative from Deepwater Wind:
“If LIPA said “go” today, when would we have renewable energy?”
Answer: 2017- the same time as the new gas power plants would be coming online.
Gordian Raacke summed it up best: “if you think investing in renewable energy is important, then let your elected officials and LIPA know. Become involved! Let’s grab this chance to make it happen!”
I hope this email finds you well in the weeks following Superstorm Sandy. It is clear everyone’s focus is on rebuilding what was lost in the storm, but we can’t just build back what was here. We need to build back a better and more resilient Long Island. We have seen that our Island has a unique vulnerability to climate events so part of being more resilient will be building up clean energy infrastructure that won’t perpetuate this problem.
To learn more about Long Island’s clean energy future, please join the Sierra Club and the Green Sanctuary Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock at:
Long Island is at a major turning point when it comes to deciding how we are going to power our homes for the next several decades. Whether we continue down a path of dirty fossil fuels or move into the 21st century by investing in clean energy depends heavily on public participation from people like you.
At this forum, you will hear from a panel of well-respected individuals in the clean energy field, including Adrienne Esposito of Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, Peter Olmsted of the Vote Solar Initiative, Gordian Raacke of Renewable Energy Long Island, as well as a representative from the offshore wind company Deepwater Wind.
RSVP using the link below to let us know you can make it and if you can bring a friend:
Come to The Long Island Clean Energy Forum: Navigating NY’s Energy Crossroads. Tuesday December 4th 7:00 to 9:00 PM. This is what Long Island’s energy future should look like.
Come ready to learn your role in the push for clean energy…
So, what’s everybody doing next Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 7PM?
“At this forum, you will hear from a panel of well-respected individuals in the clean energy field, including Adrienne Esposito of Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, Peter Olmsted of the Vote Solar Initiative, Gordian Raacke of Renewable Energy Long Island, as well as a representative from the offshore wind company Deepwater Wind.” –
Please join the Sierra Club and the Green Sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock on the evening of Tuesday, December 4th, 7 to 9 pm for a discussion on Long Island’s clean energy future. The forum will be held in the Social Hall of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock at 48 Shelter Rock Rd, Manhasset, NY 11030. You can find directions here: http://www.uucsr.org/find.asp
The Clean Energy Forum will provide a great opportunity to learn more about the current turning point in our energy policy and which path we need to take to achieve the future we want to see. This will be an action oriented discussion so
come ready to learn your role in the push for clean energy.
Find all the information and attendee registration here:
Industry-sponsored “Frackademia”, on grounds of a state school (geez!) is ended amidst a ridiculously outlandish fake study, with fake “peer” review.
Although, if you are the fracking industry, and you put out a fake study, and further fracking industry people do the review, then I guess, technically, that would be “peer review”.
Thankfully someone has a backbone and integrity! Our hats are off to SUNY Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi, who this week shut down SUNY Buffalo’s “Shale Resources and Society Institute (SRSI)”.
Their hydraulic fracturing (fracking) “study” (ostensibly to open up New York State resources against public outcry because our politicians put off decisions by saying we need studies) was just a fully funded front for the fracking industry.
“(From) its “shill gas study,” the first paper published by SRSI. All of the co-authors of this paper had direct ties to the oil and gas industry, as did four out of five of its peer reviewers.”
The head of SUNY Buffalo said:
“It is imperative that our faculty members adhere to rigorous standards of academic integrity, intellectual honesty, transparency, and the highest ethical conduct in their work. Because of these collective concerns, I have decided to close the Shale Resources and Society Institute.”
it’s time to get off the fence… take a minute to put your voice behind these renewable energy political motions!
The Election’s Over: So Now What?
Our take on the election:
I haven’t heard the full total yet, but at last count this summer big oil, coal, and dirty energy had spent in excess of $180 million and by election day had ramped that up to over $270 million spent on this year’s Presidential and Congressional races.. and LOST on many actual ballots.
In fact, they may have helped galvanize voters against their repugnant fossil-fuels-at-all-costs agenda. A must-read article here from Rebecca Leber at Think Progress discusses WHY, instead of just letting “you decide” with only innuendo, fear and half-truths to go on: Analysis: Why Voters Didn’t Buy TV Attack Ads From Fossil Fuel Interests.
Truth will out, as the Brits say.
That is, unless you count the costs their anti-renewables campaign contributions got them:
their bought and paid for witch hunts that made Solyndra a household name and all renewable energy implied as the same, causing a cascade of other failures.
putting an end to the measly, yet effective, Production Tax Credit (PTC)
help to brainwash “low information voters” as Bill Maher calls them, convinced they don’t benefit from a cheaper, cleaner, renewable resource
the idea that giving RE government support, as in tax break “subsidies”, even if only a microscopic percentage of what dirty energy gets, is a “boondoggle”!! I’ve gotta admit I love that word, it tells me instantaneously I’m dealing with one of the powerwashed!
Well, just because the party less antagonistic to renewable energy was re-elected and gained seats, doesn’t mean you and we should just sit on our collective haunches…
So here’s some political action floating at the moment:
� First, one of my renewables idols, Paul Gipe, says we should be bringing president Obama’s attention to our abysmal rankings and how far we’ve fallen behind most of the free world, and many of the not so free, as well.
You can read his article here: Now Re-elected, President Obama Should Examine US’ Renewable Rank
� I found in my inbox this great one from AWEA (American Wind Energy Association)’s Power of Wind, where you can sign their petition to:
It has helped spur billions in private investment, and helps serve the country’s strategic interest. They say the PTC has been instrumental in helping the wind industry to:
• Lower the cost of wind power by more than 90%
• Manufacture components for wind turbines at nearly 500 U.S. manufacturing facilities
• Power the equivalent of 12 million American homes
• Provide 35% of all new U.S. power capacity in the past five years
� And when you finish with that, you can then directly contact your legislators and let them know that they need to get on board via email on their system.
You can do that here: Save USA Wind Jobs: Contact Congress Today!
Both took less than 30 seconds.
if you like fresh water to come out of your faucet, you need to know about this.
“This is the most serious problem in the city’s history”- Harvey Weisenberg, Long Beach, NY State Assemblyman.
A major environmental issue you should know about of related interest to our local followers.
if you want drinkable water to keep coming out of your faucet, you need to see the story- click here at my personal local blog Making My Point-Point Lookout NY Blog.
Looking down the road: A new poll shows the overwhelming majority of Long Islanders want Renewable Energy for their electricity needs.
In light of LIPA’s looming (and hopefully not “dooming”) decisions on what they are going to do about generating our electricity in the future, some important answers emerge about what Long Islanders – LIPA’s customers – think and want.
The questions show an overwhelming majority of Long Islanders, in the 77-90% range depending on the question, are on board with changing over to renewable energy.
The Poll By the Numbers:
87%- believe New York State should honor it’s commitment to using 30% renewable Energy by 2015 (we’re way behind!)
85% support offshore wind power 12 to 15 miles off the coast of Long Island
78% prefer that New York utilities build new renewable energy infrastructure instead of additional fossil fuel plants
78% think the Cuomo Administration should prioritize clean, renewable energy resources ahead of fossil fuels
79% the majority want it, even if it costs more-only 16% wouldnt pay more!
89% – say we should meet our renewable energy goals using clean energy from projects built in New York State – (as opposed to “outsourcing” our renewable energy opportunities to another state to develop, deliver and profit from.)
You can find the poll and results for yourself here:
Tuesday September 25, 2012: Point Lookout, NY. – Today Sierra Club partnered with Community Voices for Clean Energy at the Point Lookout Clean Energy Park to tell LIPA we need Renewable Energy, and not to lock us into fossil fuels for the next 30 years, as LIPA decide Long Island’s energy future.
Under watch of the 156 foot tall wind turbine, the speakers laid out why we all need to tell LIPA to invest, and heavily, in renewable energy as they decide what they are going to build and use for Long Island’s needed electricty generation-for the next 30-40 years!!!
At their upcoming October 2, 2012 board meeting, LIPA will be deciding how they are going to generate electricity, in many cases going out 20-30 years or more. The Sierra Club said:
“This show of support for clean energy comes at a critical juncture, as LIPA debates various sources of new power for Long Island homes.
All of the community members at this rally came out to express their concern about the current sources of energy generation and share their hope for Long Island’s energy future. Currently, both the State of New York and LIPA are failing to meet their renewable energy goals of 30% renewable sources by 2015 set by the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, which LIPA voluntarily committed to. The current debate over new sources of energy generation presents the best opportunity for LIPA to keep their promise to Long Islanders.”
Speakers presented their thoughts:
Dan Sabia, president of Built Well Solar, explains, “LIPA has a big decision to make soon, to continue to support clean energy here on Long Island. [LIPA] has the opportunity to help solidify Long Island’s position as a leader in renewable energy by moving forward with … clean energy.”
Andre Robinson, engineering student at Farmingdale State said: “The Long Island I would like to see is leading the country in clean energy innovation because LIPA made the right decision to invest in clean energy now for our future. Because of this the Long Island I see has good job opportunities… jobs that pay well and promote healthy communities at the same time.”
“Speaking as a mother,” Bahar Zoghi said, “with [global warming, carbon dioxide emissions, pollution]… if we keep depending on fossil fuels, conditions will just get worse. I think it’s time we really think more clearly about that, not just for us but for our kids. We owe that to them and the next generation.”
Peter Gollon, Energy Chair of the Long Island Sierra Club, challenged LIPA to have the “courage” to make this necessary change. He said, “We are here to tell them to find the courage to actually lead us into the future of renewable energy, where we all know we have to go…Our children and grandchildren can’t wait”
We dont think we can wait either.
We are at a crossroads.
The way is pretty clear.
So what the HECK are we waiting for?
If the wrong decision is made, we will be stuck with dirty energy for a looooong time, and the future on Long Island will be delayed a generation.
TAKE ACTION: Click on this link> Tell LIPA- We need clean energy. follow the instructions to let LIPA know you want clean energy.
Anti-Wind Turbine Syndrome is real!
Yes, you’ve read that correctly.
I am hereby re branding this to be more in-line with reality, now that we know what it is.
Facts are coming out that it is actually the Anti- Wind energy groups claims of “wind turbine syndrome” and the like that may be causing the very illness they tell residents to expect, not the wind turbines themselves.
No one is saying that the symptoms that people may be reporting aren’t real to them. Now the proof is coming in on what may really be causing their symptoms.
The research showed a large group of HEALTHY people could be expected to report symptoms if they were told to EXPECT them, whether or not they were exposed to the infrasound! Exactly as would happen when anti-wind energy groups publicize what they say are the “dangers”.
I would hope any of the people truly suffering, will now turn their focus and go after the people who actually did manipulate them and made them feel ill.
You can find the report of the study by >clicking here<
This is the most recent of many scientific studies to debunk the fearmongering.
read more here: Wind farms don’t harm human health: 17 major reviews world wide of all of the available research by credible, independent groups say so.
Enlightening facts show how other factors related to the fearmongering can help certain persons in certain circumstances play into the scenario. Further studies have shown those especially vulnerable are when people’s personal beliefs were already leaning anti (confirmation bias), amongst other reasons. Still, I do not blame these people who are suffering at all, whatever the reason. The blame rests squarely with those irresponsibly(at best) and purposely(at worst) causing innocent neighbors these problems. From today on, media outlets that just let these groups say “whatever” and just repeat it, share the culpability, as well.
Like (now reelected) US representative Tim Bishop said about climate change at last summer’s Long Island Off Shore Wind Conference: ““All we can do is just provide people with the facts…and hope they accept those facts.”
Unfortunately, that’s a long waiting game and the detractors of renewable energy know that putting up these straw man arguments delay the onset of their deserved extinction. They dont actually care if they make residents sick, and the more the better for their cause, in fact.
Hopefully this argument is put to bed for good, preventing further harm to anyone.
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