Wednesday, December 19, 2007

"Another victory for mediocrity"

According to the News Journal, the issue of spreading the costs was the biggest stumbling block that led to the tabling of the wind power deal. Russ Larson, who as controller general represents the General Assembly, was given instructions to spread the cost (and benefits) to all Delmarva customers. The other three agencies could not agree.
The customer base was not the only issue that led to yesterday's non-decision. The proposal has some determined opponents. The paper's editorial board
was quick to identify culprits:

Delaware's old-boy network in government apparently has scored another victory for mediocrity. This time a proposed offshore wind farm has been tabled indefinitely.
The editorial rightly points out wind power proposal has progressed thanks to an open process and shouldn't be killed behind closed doors:
The backhandedness of the action sends a big signal to other businesses considering settling in Delaware:
Don't do it because the state government doesn't play by the rules it sets.
If legislators oppose the process, they should come out and say so -- on the record.
If they have questions about the proposal, they should air them -- on the record.
If they want to kill the law they created, they should vote to kill it -- on the record.
The voters should know where they stand.
The news article ends on an upbeat note:
The yearlong discussion about the wind farm has given rise to a grass-roots environmental movement in Delaware. And after the meeting, those activists converged in private to determine their next steps.
Tom Noyes, whose Tommywonk blog
is widely read among Delaware environmentalists, expressed optimism the issues could be worked out.
"We've got the facts on our side, we've got the law on our side, we've got public sentiment on our side. Now we just have to get talking to our legislators," Noyes said.
Stay tuned.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

How are we going to put more pressure on the legisators this term than Delmarva Power?

By the way, you rock Dude.

9:21 AM, December 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Run in their primaries. Most of them have simply not done their homework for the last 6 months. Any legislator who won't get involved and take a public position for or against the wind contract does not deserve to be in office.

9:59 AM, December 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Delmarva opposed HB-6. SB-19 doubled the renewable energy standard of SOS customers by 2020. Don't recall much opposition, as SB-19 allowed DMEC and Co-op to opt out. Now, by this spread the pain and benefit ploy, Delmarva has stalled HB-6, which it opposed from the get go. They have also defined $6 as too much burden to ask. Is this the death of smart meters?

12:00 PM, December 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Answer to anonymous in regards to
"how".

We target McDowell. We target Copeland. That is all we have to do now.

3:05 PM, December 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't forget Lavelle.
All of the assemblypeople who signed onto 'the letter' are now subjected to whatever it takes....much work ahead.

8:24 PM, December 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

McDowell - 302-577-8744
Copeland - 302-426-0995
Lavelle - Greg.Lavelle@state.de.us
Spence - Terry.Spence@state.de.us

9:14 PM, December 19, 2007  

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