Off the Grid; Clean Energy Independence

[forfismum]

Picture taken yesterday Spadlet in Pantaloonia.Just as in the UK these things are "nodded through " by politicians anxious to prove how green they are .Just watch that Brown guy ,your PM We have councils over -ruling their own experts and advisors and so this can be the result.In another thread in the forum you may have read what Markuis had to say about rural dwellers and one thing thay all shar is a reluctance to "fall out with the neighbours" and so they seldom object to planning applications,with horrendous results sometimes.

[spadlet]

Originally Posted by forfismum

Picture taken yesterday Spadlet in Pantaloonia.Just as in the UK these things are "nodded through " by politicians anxious to prove how green they are .Just watch that Brown guy ,your PM We have councils over -ruling their own experts and advisors and so this can be the result.In another thread in the forum you may have read what Markuis had to say about rural dwellers and one thing thay all shar is a reluctance to "fall out with the neighbours" and so they seldom object to planning applications,with horrendous results sometimes.

They wouldn't get away with that in the UK. No matter how corrupt you may think things are on this side of the water I've never seen anything that could so blatantly be such a potential risk to the public like that. Companies here really do have to follow the restrictions I posted in my thread on the subject. I have alot more sympathy with your dislike of the things if they are being sited so inappropriately in your country. Is there an element of lack of experience involved at all? I thought the wind industry hadn't been around as long as it has here.

[spadlet]

For example I heard of a microscale wind turbine failing to get planning permission in a National Park, even though it was at a holiday cottage owned by a major conservation charity. The objections were based purely on visual impact because it was a National Park.

[forfismum]

The big windfactories are being fought,but its thes lickle ones as advocated by our pal William that are slipping through.Wait for it,it will happen in the UK too as the civil serpents get their own back when their grand plans are twarted.Remember that all over the developed world nations have signed up to nonsensical renewables such as wind [ as opposed to alternatives that work ] and they will honour their pledges even if if kills us.

[spadlet]

Originally Posted by forfismum

The big windfactories are being fought,but its thes lickle ones as advocated by our pal William that are slipping through.Wait for it,it will happen in the UK too as the civil serpents get their own back when their grand plans are twarted.Remember that all over the developed world nations have signed up to nonsensical renewables such as wind [ as opposed to alternatives that work ] and they will honour their pledges even if if kills us.

The big wind farms have the best chance of getting the government to overturn the planners' decisions using PPS22 and the arguemnet that it's for the greater good. In the case I just mentioned, I was told that the planners said that the tiny electricity output did not justify the visual impact. The main 'threat' from micro sized ones is that they are movable. If an owner keeps moving the turbine e.g. by sitting it on a lorry, the planners cannot prosecute because it cannot be classed as a permanent structure that is eligible for planning permission. (There was a case of this a few years ago anyhow, I don't know if the loop hole has been tightened since).

Micro sized wind turbines do not require planning permission in all cases according to the permitted development changes that the UK government proposed in 2007. Unfortunately the planning service does not appear to have updated its FAQ page since the consultation as it currently says

Q. Why does a wind turbine require an application for planning permission?

A. To be completely effective, wind turbines attached to a building will need to project above the highest part of the roof in order to get the wind from all directions – existing PD rights, even if they applied, would not permit this. In any event a wind turbine, whether attached to a building or erected on its own independently of a building, is considered to be plant and machinery or of the nature of plant or machinery and, not being a building or part of a building, it would not be permitted under Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the GDO.

Q. Will the Planning Service be changing permitted development rights in relation to small scale renewable technologies?

A. The Planning Service expects to issue a public consultation paper on permitted development rights for small scale renewable development at the beginning of October which could lead to changes to legislation in 2007.

from Information Leaflet # 12

So I'm not sure if the changes have been finalised and come into force yet or not (I need to learn more about the political process works in this country).

[forfismum]

Went past that eyesore again today,it is as far away from the owners house as it could possibly be.i can't see that it would be reasonable to have to open and close curtains,blinds or windows to suit the intermittent nature of this beast.What about a lunch in the garden or putting baby outside in its lickle pram for some air? I guess that once these things are in view at all that it is an unwarranted intrusion into the rights of folks to enjoy their homes and gardens as they see fit.

[William Djubin]

Have you noticed that Big Energy Engineers have not posted to this Topic. (they wish it would quietly disappear.)

I agree that the Wind Turbine in the photo is intrusive and an eye sore.
The turbines that have frequented the US Green Living Expo's in 2008 are much more compact. Turbines should not adversely affect property value or sanity.

It appears that at least 3 US States and "local municipalities" have taken steps to encourage homeowners to participate in PV Solar and Sometimes Wind; if appropriate.

I think that the Big Energy and Big Alternative Energy Giants must be pulling their hair out, realizing that a possible 'total loss of control' could be in the near future.

If you do not believe that Big Energy is controlling our Governments, you must not be able to read or hear.

Washington State
Washington Solar Bills Signed by Governor!
Excerpt- SB5111 will provide tax breaks for renewable energy businesses that locate themselves in economically depressed and low population counties. SB5101 establishes a renewable energy "feed-in" production incentive, modeled after a successful German program. With this first state-wide program of its kind in the U.S., homes and businesses with solar photovoltaics, wind power systems and anaerobic digesters will earn 15 cents per kWh of electricity generated by their renewable energy systems. This figure is multiplied if the project's components are manufactured in Washington to as much as 54 cents, up to $2000 annually. The program will be in effect for nine years and gives home and business owners the opportunity to invest in their own clean energy production.

Maine May 22, 2008
Solar Power News -
Excerpt- The two referendum articles will be the subject of a townwide vote on June 10. One concerns the use of municipal solar energy systems and one covers wind energy systems.

California
Solar Sebastopol - A Municipal Solar Program Promoting Photo-Voltaic Energy Production
Excerpt- A custom-designed solar energy system and highest quality installation, lower utility bills, enhanced property value, greater energy self-reliance, reduced CO2 emissions, reduced fossil fuel dependency, a part in achieving our community-wide goal, role modeling local energy control, and oh yes, helping to save Planet Earth!

[William Djubin]

Yes, I did it, I posted 100 times..

[forfismum]

Originally Posted by William Djubin

Have you noticed that Big Energy Engineers have not posted to this Topic. (they wish it would quietly disappear.

Can you explain this line? Do these people normally post in this forum?
Posting on a personal level I have worked for Big Energy,Big Sewage and Water Treatment,Big Shipping,Big Railways ,just to mention a few areas that I had the pleasure of rampaging through but i dont feel that I have to defend them,nor do i feel that I have to attack them either.The individuals that post here on a regular basis seem to me to be expressing their own points of view for the most part,with some exceptions.
Back to the darned windmills,I dont care how neat or pretty they are presented by the advertising people,they have no place on domestic property as they are obtrusive bits of machinery.Solar on the other hand blends in well.I get the impression that windmills are taking the place of big motor cars as penis substitutes,"mine is bigger than yours " etc.

[William Djubin]

I do believe that several posters have tried to sell the Idea that Alternative Energy needs to be associated only with Big Energy. (Farms and only Farms) Clean Coal, Nuclear, Bio Energy...
--so we can pay them forever to control our lives.

And these posters would like to confuse people into thinking that they are really concerned for the environment.

While actually only a very small group of people are actually implementing Off the Grid.

When posters talk about costs, are they ever speaking of
-individual costs?
-or the costs for a Government to Bed with an Energy Corporation?

this is where I get sick, examples like the BioMass Algae Farm in Florida, he calls it the next Oil, and he is creating Oil to burn from Algae to sell to BP, Shell, Mobile, Anadarko.