We read with interest this morning, the regular Monday Opinion piece by Wayne Hoffman to day. We also caught the November 17th, 2011 edition of Dialogue on IPTV. It was interesting to note just how much former Gov. Cecil Andrus and Mr. Hoffman have in common.
Gov. Andrus was talking about when Hewlett Packard came to Boisenin the 1960's looking for a place to expand their operations. Gov. Andrus was asked point blank what he was willing to do to sweeten the deal for HP. Gov. Andrus didn't bat an eye in his response... NOTHING! He said they would help expedite the permitting process and welcome HP to town but to do more would set the stage for future handouts for others wishing to locate in Idaho. He said this point blank to David Packard. If they got a subsidy from Idaho Taxpayers then others would want the same and HP would help pay for any government funds going to subsidize companies locating in Idaho.
Mr. Hoffman in his Op-Ed piece in the Idaho Press Tribune today is echoing the same philosophy on energy subsidies. Wind projects all over the state get huge subsidies from taxpayers, the project is not subject to the proper levels of property taxes, receive large subsidies from the federal government for "being green". The reality is they kill large numbers of birds, endangered bats, and eagles along with other avian life. In addition they create a fair amount of visual blight. There are so many of them now in Idaho they nearly carry the entire electrical loading at the minimum demand on the system.
We have yet another heavily subsidized project at the Ada County Land Fill where Dynamis Energy of Idaho has struck a deal with Idaho Power to charge IP nearly three times to going rates for electricity for 18 hours a day of power generation per the IPUC application and agreements. Not only can this project not stand on it's own but it will receive additional subsidies from the Federal Government at taxpayer expense.
FERC (federal energy regulatory commission) has recently entered the fray forcing power companies to buy wind power at inflated prices when all the waterways are brimming with water. Bonneville Power and it would be reasoned Idaho Power have no control over co-generation projects with the ability to use them as a supplemental source when needed.
Mr. Hoffman's position like Gov. Andrus before him is this stuff should stand on its own merits and not sink or swim via State and Federal hand outs.
here's the IPT LINK http://www.idahopress.com/opinion/bestread/we-don-t-need-incentives-to-know-which-car-to/article_4ef96dfe-248a-11e1-b6f3-001871e3ce6c.html
About nine years ago I was considering investment options on land I owned out on the "wind desert" near Mountain Home. The idea of wind turbines seemed appealing if not downright patriotic. After spending some time looking into this, it was obvious it required a huge investment (1 to 2 million per turbine) that would never pay off even with the most optimistic power rates, not even getting to the problems of the infrastructure to sell the power, and the current analysis that there was not enough consistent wind to operate economically. This idea was neatly filed away with other pipe dreams, and provided the explanation as to why there were very few wind farms at the time.
ReplyDeleteIt is a slippery slope were are on when when those who are not investing "their" money are making the decisions of what are "good" ideas to invest in. Wayne and Cecil have got it right. Now we have the impossible problem of subsequently managing all of this crap to get the to get the efficient outcome we would have had if the government had just kept their collective butts out of it.
Look at how Urban Renewal throws money around. They start with a plan and then it becomes a money grab by every carpetbagger developer with his hand out for free cash. I am disgusted when I see how much of my property taxes go to these bulls**t agencies. And they have the nerve to try and tell us it doesn't cost taxpayers any money.
ReplyDeleteNow Caldwell is about to blow $3 Million on a widening project for a developer in the hopes it will entice them to build a FRED MEYER between Flying J and Smeed Pkwy. Why isn't growth paying its way and why must property taxpayers get stuck with the bills for this foolishness?
The short answer of why taxpayers have to pay for all of this is because we elected these shmucks and their appointees. Many people are becoming involved in the political process at all levels of govt. I hope everyone who reads this is activly engaged.
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