Peter Mandelstam said that he can provide electricity to 130,000 households in Delaware without increasing greenhouse gas emissions, thereby dangerously heating our planet.
600 he proposed
MW offshore wind power park-
The largest such project in the United States to date ---
He vowed that electricity could be more than 20 years cheaper than coal or natural gas.
Tireless stam, the relentless founder of Wind energy developer Bluewater Wind, previously built a Wind farm in Montana to power more than 45,000 homes.
Delaware is not Cape Cod either, and over the past six years, offshore wind power plans have stalled amid fierce controversy.
Opinion polls show that offshore wind is very popular in the state, and the American Lung Association has rated air pollution at Level F, and its coastal residents do not complain that their sea views have been destroyed.
However, mandstein is still under great pressure to convince Delaware officials, who have been hit by the coal and gas industry, to agree with his plan.
"The main obstacle is the novelty of wind at sea," he said warmly . ".
"It's not new in the world, but it's new in this country.
So my challenge is to educate people.
"For the first time Delaware has offered the opportunity to compete directly with fossil fuels, which is a relatively fair competition.
Typically, new energy must be aligned with fossil-fuel plants that have already been put into operation to allow new developers-
Who must find a way to pass on the cost of construction to the consumer-
At a great disadvantage.
But Delaware lawmakers announced last year that they needed a brand.
New sources of motivation.
Deregulation led to a 59% increase in electricity rates and they wanted to make sure that this would not happen again so soon.
So in last April, lawmakers in Delaware called for a new, long-term
Enter into a regular contract with Delmarva, the state utility.
It is expected that by June 15, four national institutions will be in wind-
Turbine projects and competitive bids for coal and gas.
"This is the front line of climate change," said Willett Kempton, an enthusiastic commentator at renewable energy, an associate professor of ocean policy at the University of Delaware.
"It's one thing we can do now, it's big, there's no carbon dioxide emissions, it's about the same cost as dirty electricity.
Industry experts said: "In fact, offshore wind power can lead us to a new energy future without carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, faster than any other energy source. Bye-
Goodbye Saudi Arabia
For such a long time, global
Warm paralysis
In the United States, Wind power accounts for less than 1% of all power generation, but it is still enough to generate power for No. 2. 9 million.
This industry is developing rapidly. -wind-
Power production soared 160% between 2000 and 2005, up 27% last year alone.
The wind has been second in the past two years.
The largest new energy after natural gas.
Today, the most promising and unknown source of wind power is generated by offshore wind turbines.
A study recently released by Stanford University and Delaware University researchers, including Kempton
Atlantic offshore wind power can provide sufficient additional energy for the entire eastern coastal area, including transportation, to meet the 50% demand growth.
The rapid development of energy storage makes this dream within reach.
So far, however, most AmericansS.
Politicians just don't reach--
In sharp contrast to Europe, Europe has 15 years of experience in offshore wind power and is stepping up its development.
In Washington, Congress is arguing over the greenhouse.
With the change of policy, the law on natural gas will gradually increase, and it is almost useless ---
Combine missionary and monetary motives to make wind evangelists like mandstein the greatest hope for the country to reach a critical turning point.
However, mandstein faces formidable opponents in Delaware.
On last June, six months before the blackout
The government, the factory bid officially expired.
Ruth Ann Minner and NRG Energy, based in New Jersey, issued a joint statement announcing that NRG will be based at 630-
About $1 megawatt coal-fired power plant. 5 billion.
The plant will use the "clean coal" technology, also known as IGCC, or a combined cycle of integrated gasification to convert coal into gas before burning coal.
"I heard that the NRG people had lit the cigars at the time," Kempton said . ".
Democrat Minner is on the record as human
The resulting carbon emissions have led to climate change.
In 2005, under her leadership, Delaware joined the multi-state effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It is rather strange for her to accept "clean coal" that her own government calculated that the IGCC plant would emit 475 tons of carbon dioxide per hour, a major greenhouse gas.
The other two factors make it less strange.
First, NRG already owns a coal-fired power plant on the Indian River in southern Delaware. -
A facility dating back to the 1950 s is one of the major pollution sources in the staterain-
Causing emissions of sulfur dioxide and mercury.
NRG has been fighting the state regulator's recent order to clean it up, but as part of its deal with Minner, it promises to patch and close the oldest part of the plant.
NRG's lobbyists Mike Houghton, who has been the main fundraiser for Minner and other state Democrats, are likely to have not been hurt ---
Last year, he won a special prize at the party's annual dinner.
By the way, Minner appointed the heads of three of the four committees that will make the energy decision.
Her news department and chief of staff refused or ignored requests for multiple interviews.
Holden also declined to comment, saying only that he thought there was no conflict in his dual role.
More than the Mina family that paved the way for coal.
Also in June, two Americans in DelawareS.
Senator Joe Biden and Tom Carper-
Democrats and delegates.
Mike Cassell, a Republican, wrote to the United StatesS.
The Department of Energy supports federal tax concessions for the proposed new coal-fired power plant.
Like Minner, the three states are focusing on climate change.
But Kempton--
He was impatient with what he said was "the lack of a completely out-of-sync policy response ---
To make climate change a problem for the state to choose power, what should we do.
Last summer, he and his University colleague Jeremy Firestone took unusual steps to personally call offshore wind power developers and invite them to compete.
Of the six entrepreneurs they called together, mandestin took the challenge alone to prepare the bid by the December deadline.
He has been "educating" since then ".
On the most recent afternoon, mandestin boldly dragged the biggest briefcase I had ever seen ---a 2-by-3-
He commissioned a $60,000 photographic simulation to prove that his turbine had little impact on the view of the beach in Rehoboth, Delaware. "Look at this!
"He urged to lay the huge layout on the coffee table.
"On a clear day, the sun shines directly on them and they are less than half the size of your thumbnail.
Does this destroy the "heart" of the beach experience --on-his-
A 45-year-old vegan, dressed in Gordon Gico's clothes, came to Delaware from New Jersey looking forward to the scenery
Related hostility has been a leader in wind power, he said.
Not far away, in Cape Cod, aesthetics almost defeated another bold wind --
Jim Gordon, CEO of Cape Wind
Gordon invested $25 million in six years of investor funds of $130.
The windmill project still does not have a permit, but has been heavily opposed by prominent local owners like Sen. Edward Kennedy.
The website dedicated to the protection of the nantarket Sound Alliance, which was set up to stop Gordon's project, highlights the potential impact of views, while also highlighting the "new" issue ---
It is believed that the Cape Wind project can turn a precious seaside into an "industrial experiment ".
The recently contacted Gordon described the Nantucket alliance as "a small group of very wealthy waterfront homeowners who spent millions of dollars fuelling a campaign to spread fear and misinformation.
In Delaware, however, residents do not seem to care much about their views, but rather about their air quality and the predictions of scientists.
If Greenland melts, their third state may be submerged.
In a poll by the University of Delaware, more than 90% of respondents said they prefer wind power at sea rather than fossil fuels, even if they have to pay more.
"So far, we have no other options," said Nancy Feichtl . " A retired principal was particularly angry at the steady rise in the ozone alert day and the number of children with asthma in her area.
Feichtl is the daughter of the former manager of the Indian River coal plant, who is suffering from asthma like her sister.
Her only brother died of the same illness.
In January, Feichtl and six other wind advocates drank coffee and muffins at the home of Bill and Kit Zak, the founder of a local group called "citizens demand clean energy.
The Zach family only lives 10-
The Indian River factory is only a few minutes' drive away.
Kempton rushed down from Wilmington to join them.
The organization reflects changes in the demographic structure of Delaware, which provides hope for mandestin's bid.
In addition to Feichtl, participants included a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant and a former EPA supervisor, most of whom were in their 60 s.
They are very healthy.
Awareness: three women are cancer survivors.
They're fighting crazy, too.
In zak's driveway, bumper stickers are attached to parked cars that say "What Will Jesus bomb" and "What this country needs is a Buddhist President ".
South Delaware has long been called "low, slow Delaware" and the nickname was quickly eliminated by a large number of wells --
Educated retired immigrants from nearby city centers such as New Jersey and Washington, D. C. C.
What they are looking for is a more relaxed lifestyle and a lower cost. of-
Live and enter popular beaches, but few of their Realtors warn of the scourge downstream of Delaware at the Indian River coal plant.
Some of them now devote their newly added leisure time to civic activities.
Zaxs group and others have helped the state regulator maintain pressure, and last year, the state regulator finally cracked down on pollution from the coal-fired plant.
The panel at the muffin meeting divided responsibility and promised to target local legislators and civic groups that might affect either Mina or the Commission.
Kempton said he would call the coalition of unification and women voters.
Bill Zac scribbled a note to remind himself to contact the American Lung Association and the American Retirement Association.
Everyone attending the hearing promised to write a letter to the Delaware newspaper and attend the hearing.
"We can wear those little beans with propellers!
It was suggested.
The Doudou show hasn't started yet, but the popularity of supporting wind has apparently helped the Delaware venue.
The state agency prepared to make a decision in February canceled the contract from the fast track and postponed it until June.
Meanwhile, the besieged NRG was forced to clarify its position on greenhouse gas emissions.
NRG advertised in the newspaper on January, promising to "capture" carbon dioxide pollution ---
The obvious problem left is how it will deal with the subsequent pollution.
A few weeks later, an answer emerged.
Ray Long, regional president of NRG, told me that the company can capture 65% of emissions and plans to seal or store them in an underground saline reservoir.
"We have been working with a national geological company to help us look at the geology around the Indian River plant," Long said . ".
He declined to provide the name of the company, but said it was possible for the company to assure NRG of isolation.
This is a great leap of faith. -
Looking forward to the leap of Delaware.
Just acknowledge that the technology to seal up carbon dioxide from large power plants is still in progress and has not been tested anywhere.
"It's all cutting.
"Edge is essentially a wave of the future," he said . ". The greenhouse-
The concern is that the damage to NRG's "clean coal" bid by the gas issue is less than the surprising simple economy.
February, a state
Hire a consultant (
Another product of Delaware's belated democratic process)
Rating the offshore wind power program as cheaper than "clean coal. " The new cost-
The competitive power of wind power is actually a milestone development and a development to break the main obstacles.
This is the result of technological progress.
The rapid growth of the wind power industry and the rising cost of coal and other fossil fuels.
In Delaware, mandestin plans to use 200 mega 3-
160 MW wind turbine
Blade with foot length.
The larger the turbine, the greater the power it generates, thus reducing the average cost.
In addition, he pointed out that once the turbines are built, wind power will not depend on commodities such as coal, which has recently risen.
Mandestin and other renewable energy sources
Energy leaders also pointed out that with the new Democratic majority in Congress pushing for greenhouse gas regulation, the cost of fossil fuels is bound to rise.
Prices for greenhouse gas emissions-
In the form of a carbon tax or other regulatory measures--
It will more realistically reflect the health and clean-up costs that have long been subsidized by society.
"What we are offering is a stable price capability with no hidden costs, once an hour for 20 years," said mandestin . ".
"If people see this, they will find it a very good deal, strictly commercial.
"So, what about birds? While the cost of birds flying into a turbine has long been a terrible problem for Wind fans, for some good reason it does not affect Delaware's debate.
Since the first giant bird in the wind, there have been many changes
California's ill-related fiasco
Altamont Pass Wind Farm.
Built in 1982, is the first batch of the United StatesS.
Commercial wind power plants, whose turbines are placed in the center of the most concentrated Golden Eagle in the United States, follow a major raptor migration corridor.
A report from Arizona
The Biodiversity Center says the project kills as many as 1,300 raptors a year.
Three things have happened in the past quarter.
However, century. Strict avian-
Wind power development needs to be studied now.
As the speed slows, wind energy technology has become less deadly.
Dynamic blade and alarm system.
Perhaps most importantly, as a global forecast
For bird lovers, the risk of warming is increasingly worrying.
Last winter, even the National Audubon Association was put on the record in the name of supporting the wind.
Its president, John fool, pointed out that while windmills can be scary to kill birds, the number of deaths due to air and water pollution and climate change is far lower than the number of deaths caused by coal and electricity, they accelerate the extinction of the entire species.
In the end, as mandestam predicted, the "new" of offshore wind might be the biggest obstacle to Delaware.
"You may not want to be the last state to build a coal-fired power plant, but you don't necessarily want to be the first state to build a offshore wind power plant, state Representative Joe Booth told me at a public meeting.
Using this concern, NRG has launched ads that characterize wind power as "intermittent", raising concerns that the dravareans may be kept in the dark.
Joe Kerecman, vice president of PJM, the world's largest electricity market, explains that this is not needed at all. PJM extends from New Jersey to parts of Illinois.
Introduction of offshore wind power will not lead to unreliable power supply, Kerecman said.
"We have the ability to deal with this," he said . "
At intermittent times, utility company Delmarva will simply buy power from the grid.
In addition, as mandestam pointed out, the wind at sea is much more stable than the wind on land.
He said that he can provide electricity for 87% of the time, and the electricity he maintains is similar to the coal plant, which must be closed regularly due to maintenance and other technical problems.
According to Mark Z, it is not difficult to guarantee more reliability if the government finally promises to increase this resource.
Jacobson, director of the atmospheric/Energy Program at Stanford University, said the location of the turbine could complement each other.
"With the huge offshore resources, it's stupid to build new fossil power plants in this area," Jacobson said . ".
Kempton did not make any predictions about the situation in June.
Wind's most powerful competitor at this point, he said, may be "no bid": decide to do nothing, just buy more power from PJM.
However, if wind boosters prevail and offshore wind power gains its first foothold in Delaware, then this big contract will help the industry as a whole to signal all the way to China, wind power at sea is a good choice.
Mandestin is still optimistic. In the post-
In the era of "Inconvenient Truth", public opinion calls for stronger action on global warming.
More than a dozen states have imposed mandatory requirements for renewable energy.
After the pioneering project of Cape Wind, offshore projects were proposed not only in Delaware, but also in Long Island and Texas.
"I see it in the long run," he said . "
Final renewable energy-
Biofuels, wind, geothermal-
All electricity will be provided in the United States. S. grid.
Mandstein is also a diplomat.
His experience in Delaware, he says, shows that "democracy works.
Fair competition.
This time, it just spent a lot of energy and energy.