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Oregon curbs controversial tax breaks for wind and solar firms

The Oregonian, 11/3/2009

"Oregon energy officials released new rules Tuesday aimed at curbing a controversial state program that grants lucrative tax subsidies for wind, solar and other renewables power plants. 

The changes are intended to rein in some of the runaway costs of the program by making it harder for one project to qualify for multiple tax credits and by giving...."  complete story >>

State lowballed cost of green tax breaks

The Oregonian, 10/31/2009

A scary story was brought to us on Halloween by the Oregonian; this is a story we will relive for many years to come.  We have been given the strongest case yet that the Business Energy Tax Credit program can break the people of this state unless it is cut off immediately. 

"State officials deliberately underestimated the cost of Gov. Ted Kulongoski‟s plan to lure green energy companies to Oregon with big taxpayer subsidies, resulting in a program that cost 40 times more than unsuspecting lawmakers were told, an investigation by The Oregonian shows....

According to documents obtained under Oregon's public records law, agency officials estimated in a Nov. 16, 2006, spreadsheet that expanding the tax credits would cost taxpayers an additional $13 million in 2007-09....The official estimates turned out to be absurdly low. In 2007-09, the business tax credit cost the state $68 million, of which about $40 million can be attributed to the bigger subsidies. The latest estimate for 2009-11 puts the tab for subsidies at $167 million in lost revenue, which is projected to grow to $243 million for 2011-13 — about what Oregon spends now from its general fund on the entire state police budget."   complete story >>

 Wind farms springing back to life
In this article, the East Oregonian relates information about three new projects in various stages of construction that can add up to 265 MW of energy production at peak capacity.  The industrial wind turbines can now be viewed from Highway 11 north from Pendleton.  Click on Wind farms springing back to life to read more from the East Oregonian article...

Wind turbines show how costly 'free' energy can be
Ron Reimer is an organic farmer in Ettrick, Wisconsin.  Through the Minnesota Public Radio he shares solid information and the reality of what is happening worldwide, and what the wind industry is really costing us.  complete story >>

Country Guardian
We are a UK-wide conservation group which has warned about wind turbines for nearly 20 years, since the first UK wind farms appeared in the Lake District. Initially we campaigned mainly about landscape damage, but it soon became clear that a) the technology of wind turbines is seriously flawed and b) the environmental damage extends far beyond the landscape. Click on Country Guardian to read more...

 

                                          

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxpayers can't tolerate abuse of Oregon renewable energy program

The Union-Bulletin Editorial
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

"Wind and solar power can be environmentally friendly ways to create energy.

But simply tossing more and more money at renewable energy source doesn't make them any better, only more expensive.

Unfortunately, Oregon laws..."   complete story >>

 

Beauty of the Blues is worth more than some give it credit

The East Oregonian Editorial
Sunday, August 22, 2009

The final of three meetings on the highly-controversial issue of wind turbines in the Blue Mountains takes place Thursday before the Umatilla County Planning Commission.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: The commission should recognize the "significant resource" in our Blue Mountains and its foothills.  Frankly, we don't see how the commission members could decide otherwise.
complete story>>

More news articles, letters, and opinions can be found on the News tab above.

Beautiful views of the Blues -              

                    

Above are two views of the Blue Mountains from the west side of Milton-Freewater, OR.  As you can see, when you click on the picture thumbnails to enlarge them, these beautiful mountains are panoramic scenery from many areas in this valley. 

The first picture was taken from the parking lot at Ingle Chapel on the old Milton-Freewater - Walla Walla Hwy, about 6/10 of a mile south of the OR-WA border and 8/10 of a mile west of Hwy 11.

The second picture was taken from County Road, about 3/4 of a mile west of Milton-Freewater.

Picture credit:  Ed Chesnut.