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Saturday, August 02, 2014

Defense bill requires study on Md. wind farm

ANNAPOLIS (AP) — A proposal to build a wind farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore within 56 miles of the U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River could still be delayed and potentially jeopardized, despite Gov. Martin O’Malley’s veto of a bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly that would have created a similar delay.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has included an amendment to a defense appropriations bill in the U.S. Senate that would require the Navy-commissioned study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory to be completed to further evaluate how radar use at the base could be affected by the wind turbines.

“The study is not yet completed. Therefore, the committee directs the Navy to refrain from executing any agreement with respect to the operation of the proposed wind energy project until the study is provided to the congressional defense committees,” according to the bill language.

The amendment was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee two weeks ago. The measure now goes to the full Senate for a vote, which has not yet been scheduled.

Supporters of the wind farm have argued the delay could jeopardize its development, because it may not be able to meet a deadline for federal tax credits. But supporters waiting for the study say the state must consider the needs of the base, which is an important economic engine in southern Maryland.

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14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those windmills just going to raise electric prices.

Anonymous said...

It is obvious from the article that the con men from the Texas syndicate are selling tax credits not electric power. Congress finially had the wisdom to get rid of the tax credits that we all end up paying for.

Anonymous said...


Granted Somerset County needs something but turbines isn't it.

Anonymous said...

Stating the Great Bay Wind project will bring economic prosperity to Somerset is a LIE. Wind turbines destroy the local environment and create a killing zone where wildlife now thrives.
Please do not pretend Somerset County is too poor and too dumb to know better.

Anonymous said...

James Mathias is promoting this. Watch our Worcester and Wicomico, you are next.

Anonymous said...

3:45 --

And now Ireton (and probably Fake Day) are pimping for the Texas investors - did you see him on 'BOC last night?

Anonymous said...

Follow the money...

Anonymous said...

Apparently, some Somerset residents are too dumb to know better. University of MD did an independent study and it indicates the project will bring in over $44 million in tax revenue. Considering the current size of Somerset's budget, this is pretty significant. AS far as wildlife, both the Sierra Club and the Audobon Society are strong supporters - but I guess you know better than them.

Anonymous said...

The study was by University of Baltimore not the U of Maryloand, and it wasn't independent. It was paid for by Pioneer Green, so guess who got the biased results they paid for. The person who made the 8:14 comment is really dumb.

Anonymous said...

The Sierra Club and Audubon Society care most about their contributions from "green" people. You also spelled Audubon wrong, dummy.

Anonymous said...

"the Sierra Club and the Audobon Society are strong supporters - but I guess you know better than them"

Yeah 8:14 I do know better than them and you as well. Both organizations are nothing more than mouthpieces and lapdogs for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Don't be so naïve.
Oh and the University of MD did a study! And it was "an independent study"-What rock are you living under. If you think for one second a public university would do a study that goes against anything the current admin who controls the purse strings says you are sadly mistaken.
You need to get the hell off the Eastern Shore and go and spend some time on Capital Hill and Annapolis so you can see how it works in the real world. You are the propagandists dream person.

Anonymous said...

Sierra club is a cover for the wind lobby. Their job is to promote the government agenda.
The wind turbines they promote destroy the environment while killing massive amounts of wildlife. Each turbine requires 3.2 million pounds of concrete to be placed in the earth that is never removed.

Anonymous said...

It is not the residents of Somerset that are dumb, it is the County Commissioners and the large land owners who have contracts. Everyone else knows better.
James Mathias is promoting wind development in Wicomico and Worcester too; gear up for battle because it will be a long one.

Anonymous said...

So when a University study goes against your wishes, its not independent; they won't go against O'Malley but will go against, Steny Hoyer, Barbara Mikulski and the entire Southern Delegation???? Please name one form of energy that is not subsidized and is perfect. Please name one industry that you would support and could attract to Somerset County. Everyone wants the lights to come on when they flip the switch, but no one wants energy production...