This looks like an excellent example on how the American system can be
manipulated and corrupted, should be prosecuted. How can a elected official
be allowed to deal with an issue that he have an interest and a bias and
how can he be allowed to do an amendment that is directly and personally
favorable to him. If true, it is outrageous, but I am not surprised.
This kind of things should be handled by the police, not private
initiatives. In some other true democracies it would also be the case.
Hakan
At 09:53 PM 10/7/2004, you wrote:
>NOW IS THE TIME TO STAND UP FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY.
>
>TODAY!!!
>
>PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE MESSAGE AND TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
>
>Yesterday Senator John Warner (R-VA) submitted a last-minute amendment to
>the Defense Authorization Bill currently in Conference Committee that will
>have the effect of stopping not only the Nantucket Sound Wind Farm but, in
>effect, ALL OFFSHORE WIND-BASED RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES IN THE UNITED
>STATES. If you care about the future of energy in this country, and are as
>outraged as we are about Sen. Warner's methods, please take some time to
>make your feelings heard.
>
>Warner, the Republican Senate Chair of the Committee, is proposing language
>that would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers (the approved permitting
>authority for offshore development) from acting on any offshore wind farm
>application, INCLUDING ANY CURRENTLY PENDING, until Congress specifically
>authorizes the use of outer Continental Shelf land for such purposes.
>Although this sounds benign, anyone who knows how our government works
>knows that this will, in reality, stop all offshore wind projects in the
>US. In other words, Warner, WHO OWNS A SUMMER HOME IN OSTERVILLE, is
>effectively sacrificing the future of renewable energy in the U.S. so that
>the Nantucket Sound Wind Farm will not go ahead. Worse, he is inserting
>this amendment into the bill at such a late stage that there will be
>virtually no time to debate it. In other words, he is sneaking a provision
>that will be harmful to the country into an inappropriate bill at the last
>moment to ensure its passage. Whatever !
>your position on renewable energy, you may well be disgusted at these
>tactics, which masquerade as government of the people by the people for the
>people .
>
>THE FULL TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT AND ADDRESSES OF THE RELEVANT LEGISLATORS
>WHO NEED TO HEAR YOUR OPINION ARE INCLUDED AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE.
>
>To put this development into context:
>
>At a time when Americans are more concerned then ever in reducing our
>dependence on Mideast oil with our soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq and
>with record oil prices, Senator Warner is attempting to block one of
>America's options for reducing our dependence on the Middle East -
>developing clean, offshore, American wind power.
>
>Senator Warner's amendment would prevent the US Army Corps of Engineers
>from being involved in permitting offshore wind projects, a move that would
>set back America's offshore wind energy projects for years if not decades.
>Right now, seventeen federal and state agencies are in their third year of
>reviewing Cape Wind's proposal to provide three quarters of the electricity
>for Cape Cod and the Islands from clean wind power, a region that is now
>heavily dependent upon oil to generate its electricity. This review
>process is using the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
>process is supported by many of America's most respected environmental
>organizations for being thorough, and for protecting the public interest.
>
>Senator Warner's amendment would also prevent Governor Pataki and the Long
>Island Power Authority from moving forward in their efforts to initiate a
>permitting process for an offshore wind farm south of Long Island as well
>as blocking any other potential for harvesting offshore wind off the coasts
>of the United States.
>
>Warner's amendment would directly contradict and impede President Bush's
>Executive Order to expedite the production of domestic energy resources.
>
>Offshore wind energy projects can significantly reduce operations at fossil
>fuel power plants, thereby improving air quality and the health of all
>Americans. Cape Wind would also offset over a million tons of greenhouse
>gases each year, equal to taking over 150,000 cars off the road from this
>one offshore wind farm alone.
>
>The 4,000 page Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the US Army Corps of
>Engineers on Cape Wind will thoroughly address all of the environmental and
>economic issues that government agencies need to consider. However, the
>document is currently being held up at the Pentagon, a development that is
>possibly related to Senator Warner's amendment. Meanwhile, the tentative
>decision of the Massachusetts Energy Facility Siting Board found that Cape
>Wind's power is needed for both regional reliability and economic reasons.
>
>Warner's amendment is predicated upon the need for offshore wind projects
>to have a competitive bidding process, despite the fact that it is the
>policy of the United States government not to require this of commercial
>wind energy projects on federal lands because the Bureau of Land Management
>is actively trying to encourage greater commercial wind energy development
>on federal lands. Issues regarding leasing or rent can be addressed
>concurrently with the ongoing and crucial NEPA permitting review on these
>projects designed to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and to
>improve the air quality for all Americans.
>
>Introducing this amendment late into the Conference Committee process is a
>blatant attempt to prevent public scrutiny and input into this crucial
>public policy decision. When the House held hearings on the issue last
>year, the overwhelming testimony (including labor and environmental
>witnesses, as well as the Massachusetts legislative leadership) was that
>any changes should not interfere or disrupt the ongoing review of existing
>project applications. Warner's amendment would single out clean offshore
>wind power from any other type of proposed commercial activity on the outer
>continental shelf.
>
>*****THE COMMITTEE MAY TAKE UP THIS ISSUE AS EARLY AS TOMORROW, FRIDAY OCT
>8TH. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY AND RESPONSIBLE
>GOVERNMENT, PLEASE FAX OR TELEPHONE (PREFERRED OPTIONS) YOUR OPINIONS TO
>THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATORS, IN DESCENDING ORDER OF PRIORITY.*****
>
>Key Officials:
>
>Republican House Chair:
>Congressman Duncan Hunter
>52nd District of California
>2265 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
>Washington, D.C. 20515
>(202) 225-5672
>FAX: (202) 225-0235
>
>Democrat House Chair:
>Congressman Ike Skelton
>4th Congressional District of Missouri
>U.S. House of Representatives
>2206 Rayburn House Office Building
>Washington, DC 20515-2504
>Telephone: 202-225-2876
>
>Democrat Senate Chair:
>Senator Carl Levin
>Michigan
>269 Russell Office Building
>U.S. Senate
>Washington, DC 20510-2202
>Phone (202) 224-6221
>Fax (202) 224-1388
>
>Republican Senate Chair
>Senator John Warner
>Virginia
>225 Russell Building
>Washington, D.C. 20510
>Telephone:
>(202) 224-2023
>(202) 224-6295 FAX
>
>LANGUAGE OF THE AMENDMENT:
>
>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Army shall
>not process or otherwise act on any application (including an application
>pending on the date of enactment of this Act) submitted under section 10 of
>the Act of March 3, 1899 (30 Stat.1151, chapter 425) for any wind energy
>project to be located on the outer Continental Shelf until such time as
>Congress provides to the Federal Government express authorization
>(including authorization to establish requirements for competitive bidding,
>compensation to the United States for any land use rights granted, and
>promulgation of environmental and other standards to govern the
>aurthorization) to grant interests in land of the outer Continental Shelf
>for use for wind energy projects.
>
>
>
>
>
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