Ooops! PJM's Terry Boston let the wind industry's scheming out of the bag yesterday at some "event" on fostering transmission investment and clean energy resources in the Southeast.
"The Bipartisan Policy Center is working with power industry representatives and plans to send recommendations early next year to President Barack Obama on transmission and electricity policy, the head of PJM Interconnection said Wednesday."
Say what?
According to this article in Platts, Boston said, "FERC's current rule on cost allocation of new transmission lines is to assign costs to those who benefit from the lines, but for interstate projects to move renewable resources through several states, some states may feel left out and that is a big challenge for the industry to address."
Left out? Is that how the industry that stands to profit from long-distance transmission lines "for midwest wind" is going to color those states being used as a pass-through for these lines? You're darn right we're going to feel "left out" when other states' renewable portfolio standards require us to give up our land for new rights-of-way and pay for construction of a transmission line that only benefits citizens of another state. It's not going to happen, even if the lobbyists do whisper sweet nothings in Obama's ear while writing campaign contribution checks. Bi-partisan, my eye!
Let's take a look at the people involved here. While they may be politically bi-partisan, there's an even scarier partisanship going on here than anything the Democrats or Republicans could dream up. It's all about the money, boys! It's big business vs. the consumers they plan to rob blind.
John Jimison, a former US House of Representatives staffer and current managing director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid: Americans for a Clean Energy Grid is nothing but a front group for industry that stands to rake in the cash by turning the midwest into "the Saudi Arabia of wind" and shipping it to both coasts via $300B of new high-voltage transmission lines that we don't need, can't afford, and that will only serve to render the grid more fragile and vulnerable. This front group is a transmission owner's dream$come$true because they've reined in the big environmental organizations to act as their lackeys to promote transmission development for "clean energy." The environmental fantasy these patsys see fails to recognize that once this "green" grid is built (with consumer funds, remember that) it's going to transport fossil fueled energy because the grid is open access and "wind" won't be able to compete on a price basis. Only through government subsidies and state mandates will costly "wind" power be viable. This front group has been busy holding real old fashioned kool aid socials around the country. In fact, we may have infiltrated one earlier this year ;-) Just remember, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch, check out the "sponsors" of these propaganda fests.
Former Congressman Rich Boucher: Now employed as the "head" of energy lobbying firm Sidley Austin's "government strategies group." Lobbyist. Not "bi-partisan" but protecting the interests of his well-heeled energy company clients.
Former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Curt Hebert: Currently the Chief Executive Officer of Lexicon Strategy Group, LLC. Lexicon Strategy Group " specializes in risk assessment and developing appropriate business strategies to mitigate the impact of adverse legislative and regulatory policies. Our legal team provides regulatory expertise to electric and gas clients for issues including exploration/production, generation, transmission, distribution and securities." How do they do that? "Coalition Building, Third Party Advocacy, Constituent Recruitment, Governmental Management (Federal and State), Federal and State Energy Policy Development,
Advocacy Campaigns." You know, all the best front group propaganda techniques.
And, of course, the partisanship to the energy companies that own him of our dear friend Terry Boston from the PJM Cartel is already legendary.
Well, guess what, lobbyist friends? The consumers who make up the 99% aren't on board with your money making schemes, and the states who currently control transmission siting approvals aren't on board with your attempts to usurp their authority, and guess what? There's more of us than there are of you. See you at the White House!
"The Bipartisan Policy Center is working with power industry representatives and plans to send recommendations early next year to President Barack Obama on transmission and electricity policy, the head of PJM Interconnection said Wednesday."
Say what?
According to this article in Platts, Boston said, "FERC's current rule on cost allocation of new transmission lines is to assign costs to those who benefit from the lines, but for interstate projects to move renewable resources through several states, some states may feel left out and that is a big challenge for the industry to address."
Left out? Is that how the industry that stands to profit from long-distance transmission lines "for midwest wind" is going to color those states being used as a pass-through for these lines? You're darn right we're going to feel "left out" when other states' renewable portfolio standards require us to give up our land for new rights-of-way and pay for construction of a transmission line that only benefits citizens of another state. It's not going to happen, even if the lobbyists do whisper sweet nothings in Obama's ear while writing campaign contribution checks. Bi-partisan, my eye!
Let's take a look at the people involved here. While they may be politically bi-partisan, there's an even scarier partisanship going on here than anything the Democrats or Republicans could dream up. It's all about the money, boys! It's big business vs. the consumers they plan to rob blind.
John Jimison, a former US House of Representatives staffer and current managing director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid: Americans for a Clean Energy Grid is nothing but a front group for industry that stands to rake in the cash by turning the midwest into "the Saudi Arabia of wind" and shipping it to both coasts via $300B of new high-voltage transmission lines that we don't need, can't afford, and that will only serve to render the grid more fragile and vulnerable. This front group is a transmission owner's dream$come$true because they've reined in the big environmental organizations to act as their lackeys to promote transmission development for "clean energy." The environmental fantasy these patsys see fails to recognize that once this "green" grid is built (with consumer funds, remember that) it's going to transport fossil fueled energy because the grid is open access and "wind" won't be able to compete on a price basis. Only through government subsidies and state mandates will costly "wind" power be viable. This front group has been busy holding real old fashioned kool aid socials around the country. In fact, we may have infiltrated one earlier this year ;-) Just remember, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch, check out the "sponsors" of these propaganda fests.
Former Congressman Rich Boucher: Now employed as the "head" of energy lobbying firm Sidley Austin's "government strategies group." Lobbyist. Not "bi-partisan" but protecting the interests of his well-heeled energy company clients.
Former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Curt Hebert: Currently the Chief Executive Officer of Lexicon Strategy Group, LLC. Lexicon Strategy Group " specializes in risk assessment and developing appropriate business strategies to mitigate the impact of adverse legislative and regulatory policies. Our legal team provides regulatory expertise to electric and gas clients for issues including exploration/production, generation, transmission, distribution and securities." How do they do that? "Coalition Building, Third Party Advocacy, Constituent Recruitment, Governmental Management (Federal and State), Federal and State Energy Policy Development,
Advocacy Campaigns." You know, all the best front group propaganda techniques.
And, of course, the partisanship to the energy companies that own him of our dear friend Terry Boston from the PJM Cartel is already legendary.
Well, guess what, lobbyist friends? The consumers who make up the 99% aren't on board with your money making schemes, and the states who currently control transmission siting approvals aren't on board with your attempts to usurp their authority, and guess what? There's more of us than there are of you. See you at the White House!
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