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Most lawmakers agree that clean energy is a national security issue. However, Virgnia+óGé¼Gäós Republican Senior Senator John Warner has pulled a 180 by using the argument of national security to KILL clean energy projects! John Warner has expressed concern that 300-400 foot wind turbines will affect military radar signals. Instead of using this concern to provide funding to improve already existing technology to mitigate this impact, Warner is trying to put a moratorium on wind power projects all over the country by demanding lengthy studies on this phenomenon.
Just when you thought conservatives were against big bureaucracy, here comes John Warner to wreck the day.
New legislation is pending, sponsored by Warner, which would require a moratorium on numerous wind projects throughout the country until the Department of Defense (DOD) figures out if their military radars can handle 400 foot wind turbines (which are not unlike 400 foot buildings except wind turbine makers don+óGé¼Gäót make as many campaign contributions to Republicans).
Even though this phenomenon may only affect a small percentage of projects, Warner's efforts could affect dozens of projects expected to come online in 2006. In fact, an additional 3,000 Megawatts (enough to serve nearly 1 million homes and businesses) is expected to come online in 2006 alone. Warner's efforts could stop many of these projects, and deny several hundred thousand people cost-competitive clean energy service that emits no pollution and no greenhouse gases.
From the beginning, Warner has been motivated primarily by one project, Cape Wind off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The project is more likely than Midwestern or rural wind farms to affect military radar, but initial studies has not found any significant threat.
Opponents have pointed out that perhaps Warner+óGé¼Gäós motivation is affected by the fact that he has two daughters who own property that could possibly see a decline in property value if the turbines are constructed (although this too has yet to be proven).
If this is Warner+óGé¼Gäós motivation, than that would mean that the possibility of a slight drop in the price of property for his two daughters is more important than the creation of tens of thousands of jobs, tens of millions of dollars in needed tax revenues for small communities, and enabling several million customers to enjoy clean energy.
I would hope that Warner+óGé¼Gäós priorities wouldn+óGé¼Gäót be so screwed up, but, then again, he is a Republican.
NOTE - Although Warner is not currently running for re-election, it is important we alert the public when he crusades against clean energy rather than helping working families by solving problems with energy dependence, health care, and the deficit (all of which are helped by clean energy). John Warner will be up for re-election in 2008, although he is expected to retire. Tom Davis wants his job, but we can knock Davis out with Andy Hurst.
I realize special interest money is running rampant on Capitol Hill; however, John Warner is certainly one of those politicians who I'd want to give the benefit of the doubt to first. Rather than insinuating that Warner has ulterior motives on this issue, Wind Action would be better served by looking first to see whether there's any legitimacy to Warner's concerns.
Virginians need to know that one of our Senators (the less dumb one, but still a Republican) is fighting so hard against wind power at the same time that concerns about global warming, high gas prices and unstable oil suppliers are becoming increasingly severe.
I encourage everyone who agrees to visit Sen. Warner's comments webpage (http://warner.senate...) to politely but firmly let him know that we oppose his efforts on this issue.