What's Next For East Bay Energy Consortium
The future of the East Bay Energy Consortium - and that of the Tiverton Industrial Park - remain uncertain four years after EBEC formed to develop a for-profit wind farm on the parcel.
The Tiverton Industrial Park is caught in a battle between the East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC) and private developers and Tiverton taxpayers are losing out.
EBEC, a regional partnership between nine East Bay communities, formed four years ago to explore ways to make money off of wind energy through net metering.
Targeting the Tiverton Industrial Park as the ideal location for a venture, EBEC's idea for the for-profit wind farm project might be holding back the park's development rather than providing opportunity.
According to The Hummel Report, EBEC was started with about $400,000 of seed money from the state Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and its wind farm project would have made millions through net metering. Net metering allows private energy companies to sell excess energy to National Grid at retail prices.
"Why should we, if we could, make a profit on the backs of every single ratepayer in the whole state of Rhode Island," asked Halsey Herreshoff, former Bristol Town Councilor, in an interview with Jim Hummel. Wouldn't they hate us?"
When the EBEC project sparked the interest of a private developer who was willing to invest $55 million, internal EDC emails obtained by the Hummel Report show the EDC saw it as a threat.
"Disaster. It will destroy the EBEC project - not only the $$ we put in, but the model trying to be developed, for multi-municipal projects,'' reads an Oct. 11 email from Julian Dash, former director to the agency's Renewable Energy Fund, to Director Keith Stokes.
At least one other major development project in Tiverton is being derailed by EBEC uncertainty.
Gerald Felise, CEO of Natural Energy Generation, wants to invest $150 million into developing 600 acres near the industrial park, but said legislation that was ultimately shot down in congress earlier this year was holding him up. The legislation would have given EBEC the authority of eminent domain.
“I could care less about EBEC,” Felise said at a July Tiverton Town Council meeting. “I only started to care when they started to take on the power of eminent domain.”
On May 21, the Tiverton Town Council distanced itself from EBEC, passing a resolution citing “serious concerns” with “drafts of the legislation,” including granting the consortium eminent domain powers.
Now, according to the Hummel Report article, EBEC's future - and the future development of the Tiverton Industrial Park - are uncertain. EBEC Chairwoman Jeanne Napolitano said the organization was looking to partner with a private entity to further the East Bay's interests.
"A business partner, whether it be National Grid or anyone else. We want to make sure when we present our plan it's economically viable, not only for the cities and towns but for them to engage us," Napolitano told The Hummel Report.
Dave Sampson
8:52 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Where did the $400,000 seed money go. I want to see complete transperancy before the EBEC moves forward. Was this money sent right to the top to the committe members? Where are the studies, who did they go to. Who is involved. This sounds fishy that they have been so silent and now want a private investor to take over. We the state of Rhode Island needs to see where all the money went to the last penny. Then we will see if we need to dissolve it. Right.
Bill Carson
9:27 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
The Portsmouth High Scool wind turbine set the example for the state with its million dollar catastrophic gear box failure. The turbine cost 3 million and the town still owes 2.3 million on a bond. A gear box investigation revealed an ice throw danger to all the residents who live around the turbine see pge 20 of report :http://www.portsmouthri.com/documents/Turbine_Gearbox.pdf
On Monday Feb 25 the Portsmouth Town Council may decide to go into business with a private company in spite of the mulit-million dollar mistake.
The wind industry has been hiding a dirty little secret about gear box failures. The Town of Portsmouth and its taxpayers are paying the price ! Big time !
Jon Boone, Quote : “Industrial wind is a bunco scheme of enormous consequence. And people who value intellectual honesty should not quietly be fleeced by such mendacity, even from their government.”
Bill Carson
9:41 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
The commercial wind turbine in Portsmouth is a political embarrassment to the commercial wind industry. The catastrophic failure made it clear a municipality can't operate a turbine after the warranty -they don't have the money for operation and maintenance.
Now comes the question : Do you continue to go forward with a failed wind turbine project on the backs of the Portsmouth taxpayers to help the commercial wind turbine industry ? What about the health issues siting commercial turbine too close to residential homes ? Infra -Sound and Shadow Flicker !
Read the 11 points in the complaint next . Make up your own mind . Listen to the negative side of commercial wind .The public is only being told the positive information -look for the missing inforamtion or facts left out of reports -they doit all the time !!!
http://www.hummelreport.org/images/docs/2.21.2013.riggs.pdf
Re: Complaint of Public Corruption and Fraud in the case of the East Bay Energy
Consortium, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, and Town of Bristol
Dear Attorney General Kilmartin:
Bill Carson
7:39 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
First ,the loan :
"This marks another step forward in Portsmouth's efforts to provide a cost-effective solution to its energy situation through renewable energy generation and I’d like to compliment all the people involved in the process,” said Andrew C. Dzykewicz, Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. “The approach Portsmouth took, with proper advance studies, and creative financing should be a model for others. The Office of Energy Resources was pleased to provide funding for the initial study and a loan to assist in the wind turbine financing."
http://www.riedc.com/news/2009/02/renewable-energy-takes-center-stage-massive-wind-turbine-transported-by-barge-across-narragansett-bay
Bill Carson
10:03 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
The taxpayers will be paying again :
EXECUTIVE SESSION PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING February 25, 2013
RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (5) Wind Turbine – discussions or consideration related to possible disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to the interest of the public, and
RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (7) Wind Turbine – possible investment of public funds where the premature disclosure would adversely affect the public interest.
http://www.portsmouthri.com/Old%20Site%20Files/towndocs/ag-02-25-2013.htm