In response to “Green Energy Gets a Pass” by K. Burland
I sympathize with K. Burland’s concerns on bird kills in relation to wind turbines. I am not here to dispute the so-called statistics being quoted, but to amplify and explain some of those statistics. Statistics, as many know, can be easily misinterpreted and misrepresented, leading other individuals that may read such letters to make decisions or establish opinions based on “not so accurate facts”.
Let’s compare a few differences between Seadrift’s SMALL, URBANIZED wind turbine to those LARGE, COMMERCIAL wind turbines that people see in large numbers in open fields as they drive by on the highway. Texas leads the US in wind turbine power production with those LARGE, COMMERCIAL wind turbine fields. One of the largest fields is near Sweetwater, TX with 627 LARGE wind turbines, this being just one of at least 3 large wind turbine fields that surround the Sweetwater area. In comparison to Seadrift’s SMALL, URBANIZED wind turbine those larger wind turbines are at least 3 to 4 times the physical size & height compared to Seadrift’s. Those LARGE, COMMERCIAL wind turbines also produce 15 to 20 times more power than Seadrift’s wind turbine. Also the “statistics” mentioned in K. Burland’s letter only represents data collected, or “estimates” of data from the operation of the LARGE, COMMERCIAL wind turbine fields. There are no firm statistics for the operation of the SMALL, URBANIZED wind turbine type such as Seadrift’s.
As for “green energy” let’s talk about that aspect of Seadrift’s wind turbine. The premise that the City approached this project was derived from several sources dating from mid-2008. It IS “green energy” BUT from the City’s perspective it was simply a question of how can the City reduce operating costs – and in this case – reduce the cost of electricity consumed by various operations of the City in any way possible. The City’s approach was to research and discover ways to reduce the amount of energy that the City was purchasing from electric providers. It was a multi-pronged approach with a goal to delay the inevitable increases in water and sewer rates to pay for the increasing cost of energy. The first was to simply reduce the cost per kilowatt hour purchased. This first step accomplished the reduction of the cost per kilowatt hour to the City from approximately 16₵ per kilowatt hour to 9₵ per kilowatt hour by early 2009. This was accomplished through the purchasing power of combining multiple government entities throughout the state. While this rate reduction was being implemented the federal government began offering grants for “green energy” through solar and wind power. This opened the second and third pronged approaches to further reducing the City’s utility energy expenses. Regardless of how anyone thinks of these “green energy grants”, someone somewhere or some entity was going to get the money, why couldn’t Seadrift benefit from them? The grant process was begun in 2009 with both a solar option and a wind option. As most folks know the solar option, on further review and research did not look appealing nor very cost effective. This resulted in the second prong (solar) being shelved until it might eventually become feasible. The third prong (wind power) resulted in the City being awarded a grant for the Northwind 100 wind turbine in early 2010. However before the wind turbine grant money could be spent there had to be an extensive environmental impact study performed. This took almost 1½ years to finalize including potential impact on birds, waterfowl, nesting and migratory patterns and approval by the EPA, FWS and other Federal entities, including location, space available and fall radiuses. The wind turbine sits entirely on City property adjacent to the Waste Water treatment plant and its fall radius (if it should fall) is entirely on City property and no structure is in the fall radius, except for the waste drying beds. Additionally the City is required to perform weekly monitoring for “dead birds” in the vicinity. Since it began operation on February 21, 2012 we have recorded no bird fatalities as of this letter. Of course we are approaching and are in the migratory water-fowl time and we hope we do not have any incidents, but if so they will be duly documented and reported.
Now for one statistic of interest to those paying water and sewer bills in Seadrift is that we have been able to avoid raising water/sewer rates due to: First, by early 2009 we were able to reduce the monthly sewer plant electricity consumption from about $3,500 monthly to about $2,200 monthly. With the wind turbine now in operation, we are now seeing an average monthly billing of around $1,200. Now the City is able to set aside at least $1,000 monthly in a special utility contingency fund for future utility improvements, emergency repairs and other major expenses that would otherwise require rate increases. It’s not just about “green” but what makes sense in a given circumstance and helps the rate payers too.
Now for some other “statistics” gathered from a couple of sources on bird kills resulting from numerous “human” and “non-human” activities including, but not limited to, wind turbines in the US in an average year: According to the “Tree Hugger” Birds killed by flying into glass windows of all types numbers more than 100 million in a year. What about birds electrocuted by overhead power lines? More than 130 million per year. What about the use of pesticides? 70 Million. What about birds killed by automobiles? About 60+ Million. What about communication and cable towers? There happens to be at least 4 in and near the City of Seadrift. Towers account for approximately 40+ Million. Interestingly the “American Bird Conservancy” says (COMMERCIAL) wind turbines account for about 40,000 bird kills per year. That’s forty-thousand, not millions. AND we’re not even getting into the numbers of birds killed by domestic and feral cats in a year!
Elmer DeForest, Mayor, Seadrift
Prayers For Clint
Update on Airman Clint Williams: Today (11/07/2012) Clint had surgery in San Antonio to have his skull replacement put in. The surgery went well and he will hopefully be out of the hospital and back home in POC by next week for 30 days leave to recover. If all goes well, he will then be returning to his Security Forces job with the Air Force at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers for Clint.
Shona Wiley Williams via The Dolphin Talk’s Facebook page
And the Israelis told Samuel, “Give us a king.”
Who was the Israelites king they rejected?
God!
And who did they choose?
A man!
Who’s the Israelite of today?
The Christian!
And we’ve learned soooo very much in our man made wisdom we chose, division, a two party system to keep checks and balances.
The clay and steel feet described in Daniel, chapter 2, of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue is where we are at, in the WHOLE world today; morals and standards verses anything goes liberalism.
Steel and clay do not mix or bond, but have no strength and crumble.
There’s another two party system out here; Satan verses Jesus of Nazareth. In Daniel, chapter 2, the statue is governments from that time to now. The rock is Jesus Christ, who replaces all governments. The mountain is the new government; Jesus of Nazareth.
And the collateral damage? The deceived who followed the defeated Satan.
God blessed me with the gift of prophesy and understanding. I’m looking forward to meeting my Lord. In Luke 2, the old man and a widow looked for him. The Magi looked for him at his birth and not to mention in Luke 23:51, the man who took Jesus down from the cross, he was expecting him also. Not to mention many, many, more, of whom I am one.
In the election we just had, I had to pray, for God’s will to be done and not so much for a worldly view. Yes I voted for the steel and we got the clay.
But we got Gods will!!!
In Jeremiah, chapters 50 & 51, describe a country of a king. In the days leading to this election I could not envision Mr. Romney fitting the king described. But the clay king, fits to the T, and a clay country.
In the book of Daniel, from 11:25 through chapter 12, Mr. Romney did not fit here either. The clay king did!
And there is so much more! But people are content with letting this world “choke” out Gods Word! Jesus uses that word in Mathew 13:22, and I know God has had enough of this world taking the place of Gods Word. The choking of the world is coming very soon! Yes conditions are going to be rough on the Christian, but it will force them to choose, and this is a good thing. I am looking forward to being one of the wise who instruct many as in Daniel 11:33. And in Daniel 11:34, many not so sincere Christians will get sincere.
This is such an exciting time we live! God’s Word tell us so! And He told me I must tell others. This is NOT doom and gloom, it’s the soon to be ‘Harvest’, when tears end and real life begins! If this is doom and gloom to you, than start choking the world and get into His Word.
John Yearwood
Port O’Connor
P.O.C. Grand Slam
The 7th Annual P.O.C. Grand Slam has come and gone, and it was by far the best and biggest ever. We had a record amount of boats and fishermen entered and a lot of fish were caught.
The amount of work also increased and we would like to thank the special persons who make all of this event possible. The extra help and the professional cooking team, Bras’s team, always makes the job so much easier for us. This event would not take place without the teamwork of these special persons.
The reason for the late information on this event for publication was we had a lot of family events with one team member’s family that we all had to be there for them.
Last, but not least, we would like to thank all the businesses and special persons for their generous donations for our live and silent auctions. This year our auctions were the best ever and we will have more funds to assist the community in different ways.
The tournament list of winners will be published at a later date.
Thank you,
The Calvin Ragusin Family
Petitions to Peacefully Secede
On Nov. 7, Constitutional Patriots in Louisiana submitted a Petition to Secede with Whitehouse.Gov : https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/peacefully-grant-state-louisiana-withdraw-united-states-america-and-create-its-own-new-government/1wrvtngl
On Nov. 9, Texans submitted theirs : https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/peacefully-grant-state-texas-withdraw-united-states-america-and-create-its-own-new-government/BmdWCP8B Texas was the first state to exceed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration, on Nov. 12. LA had about 16,000 at that time and adding several thousand per day. Just because the minimum requirement has been met, don’t stop adding signatures. This must be an embarrassment for the Obama Administration and may influence how the treat the States.
There are 22 States with Secession Petitions as of Nov.12 and many more added daily. This is not just from GOP States but from liberal Dem states like New York, New Jersey, and Oregon. This not about politics, but about the destruction of the Constitution, the economy, and our dollar.
I thought this would have to happen, but had no idea that it would be this fast. Updates at The Obama File, Secession thread : http://theobamafile.websitetoolbox.com/post/quotSecessionquot-6081469 – Click on arrow at far right of the line for the last post.
Bill Brayshaw, AKA Longknife 21
Seadrift
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