Whistle Blower Legislation needed in N.S. ?
Re the article about the firing of the Nurse Practitioner on Digby Neck and the Islands On my reading her offence, a small piece in the local newsletter 1)informing citizens of a mandated cutback by the Health Authority of her clerical support because of a budget issue(resulting in the closing of the office by 230pm each day - no one to answer calls, take referrals , and organize patient services after that time) and 2)expressing her hope that that Authority would be able to “ see the error of this decision” given the volume of service needs ie over 1500 patients for one nurse practitioner ,I thought “ whistle blower” ( defined in the website CanadianLaw.ca as “ those who disclose information about something they believe to be harmful to the public’s interest, occurring in business or in government. It includes disclosure to authorities within the organization, to outside agencies or to the media”) New Brunswick has such protection, alas not NS. In Britain whistle blowers qualify for good citizenship Honours awards , the law even voiding contract gagging. Laws being developed in the US distinguish between “groundless complaints and ethical complaints” – were Karen Snider’s ethical ? groundless? Carol Littleton Annapolis Royal
Monday, November 30, 2009
Denmark and Wind Turbines were supposed to be "Green"!
Blogger's Note: This is what my guests were saying: wind turbines do not reduce the use of fossil fuels.
From the Globe and Mail Nov. 30, 09
"Oil still fuels the green state of Denmark"
Something is rotten: Despite wind power, fossil fuels still dominate electricity production
By Eric Reguly
Published on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 11:24PM EST Last updated on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 7:52AM EST
Denmark oozes green.
Its capital, Copenhagen, won the moral right to host next month's climate change summit in good part because Denmark seems to have found the winning balance between growth and carbon reduction. Wind power is coming on strong. Its citizens are willing to pay sky-high electricity prices to encourage conservation. Its hot-water-based district heating system is considered a marvel of energy efficiency.
Denmark's green efforts have won praise from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the World Bank.
But this small, wealthy Nordic country – population 5.4-million – may not be as green as advertised. The fine print in Denmark's Energy Agency data paints a paler picture.
While Denmark has made considerable progress in moving toward clean energy, it is still tethered to the grubby old carbon world.
In reality, the Danish economy is more dependent on fossil fuels and the wealth they create than at any time in the country's history. The fuels come from the North Sea, whose reserves gave Denmark its first oil production in 1972.
In 1990 Denmark's oil production was 7-million cubic metres (one cubic metre equals 6.3 barrels). Production peaked at 22.6-million cubic metres in 2004. In 2007, the figure was a still-hefty 18.1-million. Natural gas production has doubled since 1990.
Most of the oil and gas is exported. “Denmark's economic success story is dependent on other nations increasing their carbon-dioxide footprint,” said Aldyen Donnelly, president of Vancouver's WDA Consulting, a greenhouse-gas emissions management consultancy.
Of course, Denmark also exports green technology, such as wind turbines made by Vestas, the world's biggest wind-energy company. But clean-tech exports, combined with exports of electricity, are still well below the combined value of its exports fossil fuel and fossil-fuel technology, such as oil-drilling equipment. In 2008, for every dollar of exports in the clean-tech and electricity category, $6 worth of exports in the fossil-fuel category left Denmark. On the export front at least, Denmark is still very much an oil economy.
Another myth is that Demark's electricity production is ultra-clean.
There is no doubt that the Danes are world leaders in the development of wind energy. Wind power generated 18.3 per cent of Denmark's electricity last year, up from 11.6 per cent in 1990. (Solar power has a near zero share of the market.) “They broke every barrier in the wind market,” said Jonathan Coony, an energy technology specialist at the World Bank. “They were pioneers in that area. No one thought they could go beyond 5 per cent. But they went to 10, then 15 and kept on going.”
But coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels, is still the most popular electricity-generating fuel. Last year it supplied 48 per cent of Denmark's electricity, a ratio that has varied little this decade. Since coal plants are used as backups for wind generators when the wind doesn't blow, the plants are unlikely to be phased out.
Oil and natural gas, meanwhile, are still doing yeoman's work in the Danish electricity market. In 2008 the two fuels accounted for 22 per cent of total electricity generation. Coal, oil and gas together account for a not-so green 70 per cent of total electricity generation.
Other than wind power, Denmark's big environmental success story is district heating, hailed as a model of energy efficiency. District heating takes the surplus heat thrown off by coal and gas plants and uses it to create hot water that travels through pipes to heat homes. Today, some 2.5 million Danish homes are connected to the vast underground heating grid.
The Danish government says the system reduces fuel consumption by 30 per cent compared with the amount that would have been consumed in home furnaces. Ms. Donnelly says district heating can reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions from home heating by as much as half. But she notes the system was built well before the 1997 Kyoto climate change accord, and had nothing to do with Denmark's green halo. Developed in the 1930s and greatly expanded in the 1980s, district heating was the national effort to reduce energy costs after the twin oil shocks of the 1970s.
District heating is a consumer bargain. What is not a bargain is Denmark's electricity price. At the end of last year, according to Energy Regulatory Authority, the consumer price had reached the equivalent of 46 cents a kilowatt hour. That's more than three times the typical Canadian and American price. Only 30 per cent of the charge represents the actual energy cost. The rest comes from taxes, transmission costs and other fees.
The prices have worked in the sense that they have kept a lid on electricity consumption in recent years. But they seem to have failed to create an alternative energy revolution; fossil fuels still dominate electricity production.
Still, international organizations like the World Bank and the UN praise Denmark's green efforts and hold it out as an example to be followed as the world lurches towards a difficult carbon-reduction summit in Copenhagen. But Denmark, in spite of its best efforts, shows how hard it is to make significant progress on the carbon-reduction file. Said one energy executive: “It's not all sunshine and rainbows in the Danish energy market.”
From the Globe and Mail Nov. 30, 09
"Oil still fuels the green state of Denmark"
Something is rotten: Despite wind power, fossil fuels still dominate electricity production
By Eric Reguly
Published on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 11:24PM EST Last updated on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 7:52AM EST
Denmark oozes green.
Its capital, Copenhagen, won the moral right to host next month's climate change summit in good part because Denmark seems to have found the winning balance between growth and carbon reduction. Wind power is coming on strong. Its citizens are willing to pay sky-high electricity prices to encourage conservation. Its hot-water-based district heating system is considered a marvel of energy efficiency.
Denmark's green efforts have won praise from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the World Bank.
But this small, wealthy Nordic country – population 5.4-million – may not be as green as advertised. The fine print in Denmark's Energy Agency data paints a paler picture.
While Denmark has made considerable progress in moving toward clean energy, it is still tethered to the grubby old carbon world.
In reality, the Danish economy is more dependent on fossil fuels and the wealth they create than at any time in the country's history. The fuels come from the North Sea, whose reserves gave Denmark its first oil production in 1972.
In 1990 Denmark's oil production was 7-million cubic metres (one cubic metre equals 6.3 barrels). Production peaked at 22.6-million cubic metres in 2004. In 2007, the figure was a still-hefty 18.1-million. Natural gas production has doubled since 1990.
Most of the oil and gas is exported. “Denmark's economic success story is dependent on other nations increasing their carbon-dioxide footprint,” said Aldyen Donnelly, president of Vancouver's WDA Consulting, a greenhouse-gas emissions management consultancy.
Of course, Denmark also exports green technology, such as wind turbines made by Vestas, the world's biggest wind-energy company. But clean-tech exports, combined with exports of electricity, are still well below the combined value of its exports fossil fuel and fossil-fuel technology, such as oil-drilling equipment. In 2008, for every dollar of exports in the clean-tech and electricity category, $6 worth of exports in the fossil-fuel category left Denmark. On the export front at least, Denmark is still very much an oil economy.
Another myth is that Demark's electricity production is ultra-clean.
There is no doubt that the Danes are world leaders in the development of wind energy. Wind power generated 18.3 per cent of Denmark's electricity last year, up from 11.6 per cent in 1990. (Solar power has a near zero share of the market.) “They broke every barrier in the wind market,” said Jonathan Coony, an energy technology specialist at the World Bank. “They were pioneers in that area. No one thought they could go beyond 5 per cent. But they went to 10, then 15 and kept on going.”
But coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels, is still the most popular electricity-generating fuel. Last year it supplied 48 per cent of Denmark's electricity, a ratio that has varied little this decade. Since coal plants are used as backups for wind generators when the wind doesn't blow, the plants are unlikely to be phased out.
Oil and natural gas, meanwhile, are still doing yeoman's work in the Danish electricity market. In 2008 the two fuels accounted for 22 per cent of total electricity generation. Coal, oil and gas together account for a not-so green 70 per cent of total electricity generation.
Other than wind power, Denmark's big environmental success story is district heating, hailed as a model of energy efficiency. District heating takes the surplus heat thrown off by coal and gas plants and uses it to create hot water that travels through pipes to heat homes. Today, some 2.5 million Danish homes are connected to the vast underground heating grid.
The Danish government says the system reduces fuel consumption by 30 per cent compared with the amount that would have been consumed in home furnaces. Ms. Donnelly says district heating can reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions from home heating by as much as half. But she notes the system was built well before the 1997 Kyoto climate change accord, and had nothing to do with Denmark's green halo. Developed in the 1930s and greatly expanded in the 1980s, district heating was the national effort to reduce energy costs after the twin oil shocks of the 1970s.
District heating is a consumer bargain. What is not a bargain is Denmark's electricity price. At the end of last year, according to Energy Regulatory Authority, the consumer price had reached the equivalent of 46 cents a kilowatt hour. That's more than three times the typical Canadian and American price. Only 30 per cent of the charge represents the actual energy cost. The rest comes from taxes, transmission costs and other fees.
The prices have worked in the sense that they have kept a lid on electricity consumption in recent years. But they seem to have failed to create an alternative energy revolution; fossil fuels still dominate electricity production.
Still, international organizations like the World Bank and the UN praise Denmark's green efforts and hold it out as an example to be followed as the world lurches towards a difficult carbon-reduction summit in Copenhagen. But Denmark, in spite of its best efforts, shows how hard it is to make significant progress on the carbon-reduction file. Said one energy executive: “It's not all sunshine and rainbows in the Danish energy market.”
Write Your Own Letter-Form Below
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 5:17 AM
Subject: Letter to Minister of Health
Here is a form letter that we are asking people to sign and send on
to the minister of health. This doesn't preclude people writing their own
letters, or adding their own comments to this one. But we want to swamp the
minister in the next couple of days with this letter. Maureen MacDonald's
email is health.minister@gov.ns.ca I have attached the letter as a MS Word
document, or you can just cut and paste from the letter below. Please ask
people to sign their own name at the bottom. Could you please pass this on
to all your email contacts.
Thanks,
Andy
Honourable Maureen MacDonald
Minister of Health, Province of Nova Scotia
Veith House
3115 Veith Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 3G9
November 30, 2009
Dear Honourable Minister,
The residents of the Islands and the Digby Neck are shocked by the
recent actions of the Southwest Nova District Health Authority (DHA) in the
matter of Karen Snider. The DHA actions totally contradict your earlier
indication to the community that a positive resolution would be reached.
In good faith, and based on discussions with you, and those of your
Deputy Minister, The Islands' Health Liaison Committee and the residents of
the area expected that Ms. Snider would be reinstated as nurse practitioner
for the area. We respected your request for patience and time to work
through the necessary processes. You had indicated that, while the DHA and
not Department of Health had primary responsibility for resolving the
situation given the employer/employee nature of the issue, you remained
committed to a positive outcome.
The document prepared by the DHA and presented to Ms. Snider for her
signature as a condition of her reinstatement is slanderous in its nature
and contains errors and misinformation, which would make it impossible for
anyone to sign. That, together with the DHA's intention to publish it in
three newspapers and post it on the door of the community clinic, further
reinforces the incompetence and bullying management style of the DHA. One
must question whether the DHA really wanted to reach an agreement with Ms.
Snider.
Following this handling of this matter, who would ever want to work as
a Nurse Practitioner or another health professional under the DHA? This at
a time when the country and the province faces a dearth of doctors, nurses,
nurse practitioners and other health professionals. One wonders what
leadership and competences exists within the DHA to manage issues such as
doctor recruitment retention, keeping ER's open, etc.
The DHA's mismanagement of a simple employer/employee issue is
effectively destroying a health care model which has been recognized
provincially and nationally as a model for a collaborative practice health
care and has left the 1500 residents in this area without health care.
Minister, as you yourself stated in the provincial legislature on September
22nd, the health care model here "is a fine example of the kinds of
innovation that we can bring to our health care system, and the use of both
paramedics and nurse practitioners in that area is something that we will
seriously look at expanding into other parts of the province." With the
recent dismissal of Ms. Snider effective last week, your hands are no longer
tied, as the employee and employer relationship no longer exists. This
clears the way for you, as Minister of Health for the Province of Nova
Scotia, to resolve this urgent matter and reinstate Ms. Snider.
Ms. Snider has the complete support of the community. During her time
as nurse practitioner, she saw an average of 24 patients per day, compared
to six patients as per her predecessors. At no time has the DHA indicated
that the dismissal of Ms. Snider had anything to do with her medical or
clinical skills.
Minister, this community has lost all confidence in the leadership of
the Chief Executive Officer of the DHA. We are certain that you do not
support the lack of leadership demonstrated by Blaise MacNeil and his senior
management team in the handling of the matter of Karen Snider.
We kindly ask you to do the following:
1. Immediately reinstate Ms. Snider, as Nurse Practitioner
2. Meet with the residents of the Islands and Digby Neck in Freeport
during the week of November 30th, 2009.
3. Direct your Deputy Minister and Senior Officials to work with the
community to develop and implement a new reporting relationship for this
particular geographic area to an authority that is more farsighted, creative
and committed to the health of the residents of this area.
Kind regards,
Subject: Letter to Minister of Health
Here is a form letter that we are asking people to sign and send on
to the minister of health. This doesn't preclude people writing their own
letters, or adding their own comments to this one. But we want to swamp the
minister in the next couple of days with this letter. Maureen MacDonald's
email is health.minister@gov.ns.ca I have attached the letter as a MS Word
document, or you can just cut and paste from the letter below. Please ask
people to sign their own name at the bottom. Could you please pass this on
to all your email contacts.
Thanks,
Andy
Honourable Maureen MacDonald
Minister of Health, Province of Nova Scotia
Veith House
3115 Veith Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 3G9
November 30, 2009
Dear Honourable Minister,
The residents of the Islands and the Digby Neck are shocked by the
recent actions of the Southwest Nova District Health Authority (DHA) in the
matter of Karen Snider. The DHA actions totally contradict your earlier
indication to the community that a positive resolution would be reached.
In good faith, and based on discussions with you, and those of your
Deputy Minister, The Islands' Health Liaison Committee and the residents of
the area expected that Ms. Snider would be reinstated as nurse practitioner
for the area. We respected your request for patience and time to work
through the necessary processes. You had indicated that, while the DHA and
not Department of Health had primary responsibility for resolving the
situation given the employer/employee nature of the issue, you remained
committed to a positive outcome.
The document prepared by the DHA and presented to Ms. Snider for her
signature as a condition of her reinstatement is slanderous in its nature
and contains errors and misinformation, which would make it impossible for
anyone to sign. That, together with the DHA's intention to publish it in
three newspapers and post it on the door of the community clinic, further
reinforces the incompetence and bullying management style of the DHA. One
must question whether the DHA really wanted to reach an agreement with Ms.
Snider.
Following this handling of this matter, who would ever want to work as
a Nurse Practitioner or another health professional under the DHA? This at
a time when the country and the province faces a dearth of doctors, nurses,
nurse practitioners and other health professionals. One wonders what
leadership and competences exists within the DHA to manage issues such as
doctor recruitment retention, keeping ER's open, etc.
The DHA's mismanagement of a simple employer/employee issue is
effectively destroying a health care model which has been recognized
provincially and nationally as a model for a collaborative practice health
care and has left the 1500 residents in this area without health care.
Minister, as you yourself stated in the provincial legislature on September
22nd, the health care model here "is a fine example of the kinds of
innovation that we can bring to our health care system, and the use of both
paramedics and nurse practitioners in that area is something that we will
seriously look at expanding into other parts of the province." With the
recent dismissal of Ms. Snider effective last week, your hands are no longer
tied, as the employee and employer relationship no longer exists. This
clears the way for you, as Minister of Health for the Province of Nova
Scotia, to resolve this urgent matter and reinstate Ms. Snider.
Ms. Snider has the complete support of the community. During her time
as nurse practitioner, she saw an average of 24 patients per day, compared
to six patients as per her predecessors. At no time has the DHA indicated
that the dismissal of Ms. Snider had anything to do with her medical or
clinical skills.
Minister, this community has lost all confidence in the leadership of
the Chief Executive Officer of the DHA. We are certain that you do not
support the lack of leadership demonstrated by Blaise MacNeil and his senior
management team in the handling of the matter of Karen Snider.
We kindly ask you to do the following:
1. Immediately reinstate Ms. Snider, as Nurse Practitioner
2. Meet with the residents of the Islands and Digby Neck in Freeport
during the week of November 30th, 2009.
3. Direct your Deputy Minister and Senior Officials to work with the
community to develop and implement a new reporting relationship for this
particular geographic area to an authority that is more farsighted, creative
and committed to the health of the residents of this area.
Kind regards,
To the Minister of Health #2
From: C. Littleton
To: health.minister@gov.ns.ca
Cc: stephenmcneil@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 8:41 PM
Subject: gag order on civil servants
Honourable Maureen Mac Donald
re the firing of the Nurse Practitioner on Digby Neck and the Islands
I have been listening to the discussions of this case of the firing of an employee within your department and have today read the offending piece in the local newsletter - the Passages. I am horrified at the cutback of clerical support services by 20% !! Surely with a budget as large as that of Health with many wasteful practices documented and top heavy with administrators you should be embarrassed by the SWRHA effecting savings at the cost of a much needed service in a very unserviced area. What is the savings on a clerical salary cut by 20% ? a maximum of $4000. per year ?
Surely the acknowledgment of this cut and what it will mean to the functioning of that clinic made by the nurse in the local newsletter was a principled and ethical announcement - irrespective of the gag clause in her contract. She is one of a highly valued group in our society - the whistle blower !She deserves protection not firing - a letter of reprimand would have been appropriate perhaps - reminding her of her contract ...but firing !!! what an ill advised action on the part of the SWRHA.
You are the health minister in a very special government for Nova Scotia. We expect the NDP to be more humanitarian and more fair. Think of the history of the NDP and the pioneers of health care and rights of workers - they must be " turning over in their graves", Tommy Douglas especially !!
Your action on this matter will signal what kind of just government the NDP are going to offer us - is it going to foster increasing cynicism in the population that once in power you are all the same - it doesnt matter - why bother to vote ?
I am requesting that you discipline your health authority representatives ,not this brave and much needed and wanted employee.
Carol Littleton
Annapolis Royal
Nova Scotia
902-532-0696
To: health.minister@gov.ns.ca
Cc: stephenmcneil@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 8:41 PM
Subject: gag order on civil servants
Honourable Maureen Mac Donald
re the firing of the Nurse Practitioner on Digby Neck and the Islands
I have been listening to the discussions of this case of the firing of an employee within your department and have today read the offending piece in the local newsletter - the Passages. I am horrified at the cutback of clerical support services by 20% !! Surely with a budget as large as that of Health with many wasteful practices documented and top heavy with administrators you should be embarrassed by the SWRHA effecting savings at the cost of a much needed service in a very unserviced area. What is the savings on a clerical salary cut by 20% ? a maximum of $4000. per year ?
Surely the acknowledgment of this cut and what it will mean to the functioning of that clinic made by the nurse in the local newsletter was a principled and ethical announcement - irrespective of the gag clause in her contract. She is one of a highly valued group in our society - the whistle blower !She deserves protection not firing - a letter of reprimand would have been appropriate perhaps - reminding her of her contract ...but firing !!! what an ill advised action on the part of the SWRHA.
You are the health minister in a very special government for Nova Scotia. We expect the NDP to be more humanitarian and more fair. Think of the history of the NDP and the pioneers of health care and rights of workers - they must be " turning over in their graves", Tommy Douglas especially !!
Your action on this matter will signal what kind of just government the NDP are going to offer us - is it going to foster increasing cynicism in the population that once in power you are all the same - it doesnt matter - why bother to vote ?
I am requesting that you discipline your health authority representatives ,not this brave and much needed and wanted employee.
Carol Littleton
Annapolis Royal
Nova Scotia
902-532-0696
To the Minister of Health
The following letter was sent today to the Minister of Health, following the public meeting in Freeport on Saturday, Nov 28th. Andy
Honourable Maureen MacDonald
Minister of Health, Province of Nova Scotia
Veith House
3115 Veith Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 3G9
November 30, 2009
Dear Honourable Minister,
The residents of the Islands and the Digby Neck are shocked by the recent actions of the Southwest Nova District Health Authority (DHA) in the matter of Karen Snider. The DHA actions totally contradict your earlier indication to the community that a positive resolution would be reached.
In good faith, and based on discussions with you, and those of your Deputy Minister, The Islands’ Health Liaison Committee and the residents of the area expected that Ms. Snider would be reinstated as nurse practitioner for the area. We respected your request for patience and time to work through the necessary processes. You had indicated that, while the DHA and not Department of Health had primary responsibility for resolving the situation given the employer/employee nature of the issue, you remained committed to a positive outcome.
The document prepared by the DHA and presented to Ms. Snider for her signature as a condition of her reinstatement is slanderous in its nature and contains errors and misinformation, which would make it impossible for anyone to sign. That, together with the DHA’s intention to publish it in three newspapers and post it on the door of the community clinic, further reinforces the incompetence and bullying management style of the DHA. One must question whether the DHA really wanted to reach an agreement with Ms. Snider.
Following this handling of this matter, who would ever want to work as a Nurse Practitioner or another health professional under the DHA? This at a time when the country and the province faces a dearth of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and other health professionals. One wonders what leadership and competences exists within the DHA to manage issues such as doctor recruitment retention, keeping ER’s open, etc.
The DHA’s mismanagement of a simple employer/employee issue is effectively destroying a health care model which has been recognized provincially and nationally as a model for a collaborative practice health care and has left the 1500 residents in this area without health care. Minister, as you yourself stated in the provincial legislature on September 22nd, the health care model here “is a fine example of the kinds of innovation that we can bring to our health care system, and the use of both paramedics and nurse practitioners in that area is something that we will seriously look at expanding into other parts of the province.” With the recent dismissal of Ms. Snider effective last week, your hands are no longer tied, as the employee and employer relationship no longer exists. This clears the way for you, as Minister of Health for the Province of Nova Scotia, to resolve this urgent matter and reinstate Ms. Snider.
Ms. Snider has the complete support of the community. During her time as nurse practitioner, she saw an average of 24 patients per day, compared to six patients as per her predecessors. At no time has the DHA indicated that the dismissal of Ms. Snider had anything to do with her medical or clinical skills.
Minister, this community has lost all confidence in the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer of the DHA. We are certain that you do not support the lack of leadership demonstrated by Blaise MacNeil and his senior management team in the handling of the matter of Karen Snider.
We kindly ask you to do the following:
1. Immediately reinstate Ms. Snider, as Nurse Practitioner
2. Meet with the residents of the Islands and Digby Neck in Freeport during the week of November 30th, 2009.
3. Direct your Deputy Minister and Senior Officials to work with the community to develop and implement a new reporting relationship for this particular geographic area to an authority that is more farsighted, creative and committed to the health of the residents of this area.
Kind regards,
Jim Thurber, Warden, Municipality of Digby
Andy Moir, Commissioner, Village of Freeport, Chair, Islands Health Liaison Committee
Cc: Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health
Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defense and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
Premier Darrell Dexter
Greg Kerr, MP West Nova
Harold Theriault, MLA Digby-Annapolis
Janet Hazelton, President of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union
Honourable Maureen MacDonald
Minister of Health, Province of Nova Scotia
Veith House
3115 Veith Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 3G9
November 30, 2009
Dear Honourable Minister,
The residents of the Islands and the Digby Neck are shocked by the recent actions of the Southwest Nova District Health Authority (DHA) in the matter of Karen Snider. The DHA actions totally contradict your earlier indication to the community that a positive resolution would be reached.
In good faith, and based on discussions with you, and those of your Deputy Minister, The Islands’ Health Liaison Committee and the residents of the area expected that Ms. Snider would be reinstated as nurse practitioner for the area. We respected your request for patience and time to work through the necessary processes. You had indicated that, while the DHA and not Department of Health had primary responsibility for resolving the situation given the employer/employee nature of the issue, you remained committed to a positive outcome.
The document prepared by the DHA and presented to Ms. Snider for her signature as a condition of her reinstatement is slanderous in its nature and contains errors and misinformation, which would make it impossible for anyone to sign. That, together with the DHA’s intention to publish it in three newspapers and post it on the door of the community clinic, further reinforces the incompetence and bullying management style of the DHA. One must question whether the DHA really wanted to reach an agreement with Ms. Snider.
Following this handling of this matter, who would ever want to work as a Nurse Practitioner or another health professional under the DHA? This at a time when the country and the province faces a dearth of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and other health professionals. One wonders what leadership and competences exists within the DHA to manage issues such as doctor recruitment retention, keeping ER’s open, etc.
The DHA’s mismanagement of a simple employer/employee issue is effectively destroying a health care model which has been recognized provincially and nationally as a model for a collaborative practice health care and has left the 1500 residents in this area without health care. Minister, as you yourself stated in the provincial legislature on September 22nd, the health care model here “is a fine example of the kinds of innovation that we can bring to our health care system, and the use of both paramedics and nurse practitioners in that area is something that we will seriously look at expanding into other parts of the province.” With the recent dismissal of Ms. Snider effective last week, your hands are no longer tied, as the employee and employer relationship no longer exists. This clears the way for you, as Minister of Health for the Province of Nova Scotia, to resolve this urgent matter and reinstate Ms. Snider.
Ms. Snider has the complete support of the community. During her time as nurse practitioner, she saw an average of 24 patients per day, compared to six patients as per her predecessors. At no time has the DHA indicated that the dismissal of Ms. Snider had anything to do with her medical or clinical skills.
Minister, this community has lost all confidence in the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer of the DHA. We are certain that you do not support the lack of leadership demonstrated by Blaise MacNeil and his senior management team in the handling of the matter of Karen Snider.
We kindly ask you to do the following:
1. Immediately reinstate Ms. Snider, as Nurse Practitioner
2. Meet with the residents of the Islands and Digby Neck in Freeport during the week of November 30th, 2009.
3. Direct your Deputy Minister and Senior Officials to work with the community to develop and implement a new reporting relationship for this particular geographic area to an authority that is more farsighted, creative and committed to the health of the residents of this area.
Kind regards,
Jim Thurber, Warden, Municipality of Digby
Andy Moir, Commissioner, Village of Freeport, Chair, Islands Health Liaison Committee
Cc: Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health
Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defense and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
Premier Darrell Dexter
Greg Kerr, MP West Nova
Harold Theriault, MLA Digby-Annapolis
Janet Hazelton, President of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union
Moratorium on Wind Turbines Wanted- Grey County
Here is an example of municipal leaders working with and for the people. As usual there are a few who are not but in this case the majority of leaders wish a moratorium on turbines until research is done.
The Collingwood Connection, November 26, 2009
Grey County wants wind turbine moratorium
BY CHRIS FELL
STAFF
The list of those demanding a moratorium on the construction of wind turbines in the local area continues to grow.
Grey County Council joined the chorus of folks demanding a moratorium on the construction of wind turbines at it's regular meeting held on November 24th. County council asked for the provincial government to study the health affects turbines have on people more comprehensively before allowing them to be built.
Former Warden and the longest serving member of county council Howard Greig brought forward a resolution asking for the province to impose a moratorium immediately until health affects are clearly studied.
"There's no denying - in my mind - these can affect your health if you're too close to them," said Greig, the Mayor of Chatsworth. " We need an independent, third party study to say where these turbines should be so there is no affect on the health of our citizens," he said.
Greig's resolution received immediate support from Grey Highland's Mayor Brian Mullin. Currently there is a large - scale wind turbine proposal for Grey Highlands and citizens in that municipality have been fighting for the province to study the health affects of the massive machines.
"There is a wealth of information out there. Before our landscape is covered with large numbers of these turbines it's time the province sorted out the wheat from the chafe," said Mullin, who said provincial regulations on wind turbines aren't based on any data from what he can tell. "The province has imposed a setback of 550 metres for them. I have not seen the studies used to determine that setback number. I think that number was just pulled out by the bureaucrats," he said.
The moratorium received wide support from the vast majority of county councillors at the meeting. In a recorded vote it passed 76 - 15. Grey County council has now joined local Bruce - Grey - Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch in calling for a moratorium on the construction of industrial wind turbines until studies about their affects on people living nearby are completed. The province recently rammed through the Green Energy Act that takes away local planning authority on energy projects deemed to be "green".
Southgate Mayor Don Lewis objected to the county's resolution. Lewis said Southgate has a large wind turbine project right next door to it near Shelburne and he hasn't heard about too many problems with them.
"Do we have any authority or any right to ask for this? What's the point? Other than to make us feel warm and fuzzy, " Lewis questioned.
Both Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson and Deputy Mike Traynor also voted against the resolution proposed by Greig.
The Collingwood Connection, November 26, 2009
Grey County wants wind turbine moratorium
BY CHRIS FELL
STAFF
The list of those demanding a moratorium on the construction of wind turbines in the local area continues to grow.
Grey County Council joined the chorus of folks demanding a moratorium on the construction of wind turbines at it's regular meeting held on November 24th. County council asked for the provincial government to study the health affects turbines have on people more comprehensively before allowing them to be built.
Former Warden and the longest serving member of county council Howard Greig brought forward a resolution asking for the province to impose a moratorium immediately until health affects are clearly studied.
"There's no denying - in my mind - these can affect your health if you're too close to them," said Greig, the Mayor of Chatsworth. " We need an independent, third party study to say where these turbines should be so there is no affect on the health of our citizens," he said.
Greig's resolution received immediate support from Grey Highland's Mayor Brian Mullin. Currently there is a large - scale wind turbine proposal for Grey Highlands and citizens in that municipality have been fighting for the province to study the health affects of the massive machines.
"There is a wealth of information out there. Before our landscape is covered with large numbers of these turbines it's time the province sorted out the wheat from the chafe," said Mullin, who said provincial regulations on wind turbines aren't based on any data from what he can tell. "The province has imposed a setback of 550 metres for them. I have not seen the studies used to determine that setback number. I think that number was just pulled out by the bureaucrats," he said.
The moratorium received wide support from the vast majority of county councillors at the meeting. In a recorded vote it passed 76 - 15. Grey County council has now joined local Bruce - Grey - Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch in calling for a moratorium on the construction of industrial wind turbines until studies about their affects on people living nearby are completed. The province recently rammed through the Green Energy Act that takes away local planning authority on energy projects deemed to be "green".
Southgate Mayor Don Lewis objected to the county's resolution. Lewis said Southgate has a large wind turbine project right next door to it near Shelburne and he hasn't heard about too many problems with them.
"Do we have any authority or any right to ask for this? What's the point? Other than to make us feel warm and fuzzy, " Lewis questioned.
Both Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson and Deputy Mike Traynor also voted against the resolution proposed by Greig.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Fight to Keep A Medical Practioner in Rural Area
MLA: Health CEO must go
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
The Chronicle Herald
Sun. Nov 29 - 4:45 AM
MLA Harold (Junior) Theriault
Nurse practitioner Karen Snider
FREEPORT — A Nova Scotia Liberal MLA is demanding the resignation of the head of the Southwest Nova district health authority over an alleged attempt to discipline a nurse practitioner.
Harold (Junior) Theriault told 80 people packed into a community hall Saturday on Long Island that Blaise MacNeil, CEO of the district health authority, must step down because of the controversy involving registered nurse Karen Snider.
The Digby-Annapolis MLA also said Health Minister Maureen MacDonald needs to be on Long Island by Monday evening to deal with Ms. Snider and put her back to work.
Ms. Snider lives in Freeport on Long Island. But she hasn’t been employed by the Southwest Nova district health authority since October.
She recently built a home on the island and told residents she wanted to stay. She’s the first nurse practitioner to put down roots.
There was no problem with her clinical or medical skills, said Andy Moir of the Islands Health liaison committee
"We know that she was disciplined for speaking out about reduced hours at the clinic," he said Saturday.
"She was disciplined again for telling her collaborating physician that hours would be reduced, and disciplined again for discussing the hours of operation with fellow nurse practitioners. . . . We are all going to suffer because of this action."
Ms. Snider attended Saturday’s meeting and, for the first time since she was dismissed, spoke briefly.
"I enjoy this community. I enjoyed the work that I did and the people that I worked with," she told a hushed room.
"I can’t speak highly enough of the support and the confidence that all of you have exhibited to me. It’s still my goal to want to try and stay down here . . . and I really do appreciate all of the efforts."
Some in the community let their MLA know that the clinic’s clerical employee was overwhelmed with work.
"In the middle of September, I had some calls . . . saying, ‘The nurse practitioner needs a little help down here. She can’t deal with 1,500 people and do (the clerical employee’s) work too,’ " said Mr. Theriault.
He said he mentioned the concern in the legislature on Sept. 22, and the health minister said she was unaware of any such needs.
Mr. Moir said talks to have the nurse practitioner return to work seemed to have been proceeding.
He said Kevin McNamara, the province’s deputy minister of health, indicated recently that residents were close to getting her back.
But when Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union representatives arrived at a meeting, which included representatives of the district health authority, they were presented with a "confession" letter, said Mr. Moir.
"This came out of the blue. The union didn’t know it was coming," he said.
It was an apology to be signed by Ms. Snider before further talks could take place.
It was said at Saturday’s public meeting that the deputy health minister told Jim Thurber, warden of the Municipality of Digby, that he was unaware of the letter.
Mr. Moir said it appears to be the brainchild of someone in the district health authority.
"I know you all want to see it, and unfortunately I can’t do that for a couple of reasons," he told the crowd.
Mr. Moir said the letter was to be signed by Ms. Snider, then published in three newspapers and posted on the door of the community clinic.
He said the dispute was fuelled by an article Ms. Snider wrote in Passages, a community newsletter.
"In that article, what she said was true," he said.
"We’ve got a fine practitioner. Let’s get her back on the job."
( bmedel@herald.ca)
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
The Chronicle Herald
Sun. Nov 29 - 4:45 AM
MLA Harold (Junior) Theriault
Nurse practitioner Karen Snider
FREEPORT — A Nova Scotia Liberal MLA is demanding the resignation of the head of the Southwest Nova district health authority over an alleged attempt to discipline a nurse practitioner.
Harold (Junior) Theriault told 80 people packed into a community hall Saturday on Long Island that Blaise MacNeil, CEO of the district health authority, must step down because of the controversy involving registered nurse Karen Snider.
The Digby-Annapolis MLA also said Health Minister Maureen MacDonald needs to be on Long Island by Monday evening to deal with Ms. Snider and put her back to work.
Ms. Snider lives in Freeport on Long Island. But she hasn’t been employed by the Southwest Nova district health authority since October.
She recently built a home on the island and told residents she wanted to stay. She’s the first nurse practitioner to put down roots.
There was no problem with her clinical or medical skills, said Andy Moir of the Islands Health liaison committee
"We know that she was disciplined for speaking out about reduced hours at the clinic," he said Saturday.
"She was disciplined again for telling her collaborating physician that hours would be reduced, and disciplined again for discussing the hours of operation with fellow nurse practitioners. . . . We are all going to suffer because of this action."
Ms. Snider attended Saturday’s meeting and, for the first time since she was dismissed, spoke briefly.
"I enjoy this community. I enjoyed the work that I did and the people that I worked with," she told a hushed room.
"I can’t speak highly enough of the support and the confidence that all of you have exhibited to me. It’s still my goal to want to try and stay down here . . . and I really do appreciate all of the efforts."
Some in the community let their MLA know that the clinic’s clerical employee was overwhelmed with work.
"In the middle of September, I had some calls . . . saying, ‘The nurse practitioner needs a little help down here. She can’t deal with 1,500 people and do (the clerical employee’s) work too,’ " said Mr. Theriault.
He said he mentioned the concern in the legislature on Sept. 22, and the health minister said she was unaware of any such needs.
Mr. Moir said talks to have the nurse practitioner return to work seemed to have been proceeding.
He said Kevin McNamara, the province’s deputy minister of health, indicated recently that residents were close to getting her back.
But when Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union representatives arrived at a meeting, which included representatives of the district health authority, they were presented with a "confession" letter, said Mr. Moir.
"This came out of the blue. The union didn’t know it was coming," he said.
It was an apology to be signed by Ms. Snider before further talks could take place.
It was said at Saturday’s public meeting that the deputy health minister told Jim Thurber, warden of the Municipality of Digby, that he was unaware of the letter.
Mr. Moir said it appears to be the brainchild of someone in the district health authority.
"I know you all want to see it, and unfortunately I can’t do that for a couple of reasons," he told the crowd.
Mr. Moir said the letter was to be signed by Ms. Snider, then published in three newspapers and posted on the door of the community clinic.
He said the dispute was fuelled by an article Ms. Snider wrote in Passages, a community newsletter.
"In that article, what she said was true," he said.
"We’ve got a fine practitioner. Let’s get her back on the job."
( bmedel@herald.ca)
Public Reaction to Turbines is Key...in Michigan
Study says large wind turbines to be local decision
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
November 29, 2009, 12:48AM
WEST MICHIGAN — Anyone seeing a blade from one of Michigan’s 83 utility-sized wind turbines being transported on the highway understands how “big” wind power can be.
Blades in the 150-foot range moved on special truck trailers are impressive sights. But how “big” wind will become in Michigan’s energy future is still an unknown.
Whichever way the industry turns, it will be up to local governments to decide where and how the big turbine towers will be built, a university research group concludes.
AP file photoA Grand Valley State University wind energy study says local governments will manage the building of wind towers, like this turbine in Huron County. It is one of 83 utility-scale wind turbines operating today in Michigan.A group of Grand Valley State University researchers has begun a wind energy study on the potentials and pitfalls of renewable power production in a four-county West Michigan shoreline region. The three-year study comes on the heels of a state mandate that 10 percent of Michigan’s electrical generation must come from renewable sources by 2015.
“The demand for renewable energy, and wind energy in particular, is growing rapidly,” the first report of the GVSU study states. “The challenge will be to supply the quantity of renewable energy needed to meet this demand in a manner that is economically, socially and environmentally appropriate.
“Though state government issued the renewable energy mandate, managing the deployment of wind energy facilities is left to local governments,” the report states.
Many township governments in the four counties — Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Allegan — have responded with ordinances regulating utility-scale wind turbines. Thirty-seven of the 73 townships in the four counties have wind tower ordinances, with the highest percentage in Oceana County.
Grand Haven Township planners will hear from city of Grand Rapids officials at a public meeting Monday on a plan to put two 300-foot wind turbine towers on the city’s Lake Michigan Water Filtration Plant property on Lakeshore Drive.
GVSU researcher Erik Nordman — head of the Natural Resources Management program and chief wind study investigator — said public reaction to plans such as those in Grand Haven Township are key to the technology’s future in West Michigan.
“While one wind turbine might be viewed as a curiosity, the deployment of thousands of wind energy facilities required to meet various renewable energy targets will bring changes to the nation’s landscapes, communities and economies,” the initial GVSU wind report states.
As GVSU researchers continue to work on their wind study, public opinion will begin to be collected. The study team will have workshops and public meetings throughout the region next summer.
The wind study team has a Web site at www.gvsu.edu/wind and will establish social networking outreaches through Facebook and Twitter, Nordman said.
The wind study is supported through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Sea Grant award through the state of Michigan. The next report is scheduled to be released in November 2010 and final reports in February and May 2011.
E-mail Dave Alexander at dalexander@muskegonchronicle.com
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
November 29, 2009, 12:48AM
WEST MICHIGAN — Anyone seeing a blade from one of Michigan’s 83 utility-sized wind turbines being transported on the highway understands how “big” wind power can be.
Blades in the 150-foot range moved on special truck trailers are impressive sights. But how “big” wind will become in Michigan’s energy future is still an unknown.
Whichever way the industry turns, it will be up to local governments to decide where and how the big turbine towers will be built, a university research group concludes.
AP file photoA Grand Valley State University wind energy study says local governments will manage the building of wind towers, like this turbine in Huron County. It is one of 83 utility-scale wind turbines operating today in Michigan.A group of Grand Valley State University researchers has begun a wind energy study on the potentials and pitfalls of renewable power production in a four-county West Michigan shoreline region. The three-year study comes on the heels of a state mandate that 10 percent of Michigan’s electrical generation must come from renewable sources by 2015.
“The demand for renewable energy, and wind energy in particular, is growing rapidly,” the first report of the GVSU study states. “The challenge will be to supply the quantity of renewable energy needed to meet this demand in a manner that is economically, socially and environmentally appropriate.
“Though state government issued the renewable energy mandate, managing the deployment of wind energy facilities is left to local governments,” the report states.
Many township governments in the four counties — Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Allegan — have responded with ordinances regulating utility-scale wind turbines. Thirty-seven of the 73 townships in the four counties have wind tower ordinances, with the highest percentage in Oceana County.
Grand Haven Township planners will hear from city of Grand Rapids officials at a public meeting Monday on a plan to put two 300-foot wind turbine towers on the city’s Lake Michigan Water Filtration Plant property on Lakeshore Drive.
GVSU researcher Erik Nordman — head of the Natural Resources Management program and chief wind study investigator — said public reaction to plans such as those in Grand Haven Township are key to the technology’s future in West Michigan.
“While one wind turbine might be viewed as a curiosity, the deployment of thousands of wind energy facilities required to meet various renewable energy targets will bring changes to the nation’s landscapes, communities and economies,” the initial GVSU wind report states.
As GVSU researchers continue to work on their wind study, public opinion will begin to be collected. The study team will have workshops and public meetings throughout the region next summer.
The wind study team has a Web site at www.gvsu.edu/wind and will establish social networking outreaches through Facebook and Twitter, Nordman said.
The wind study is supported through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Sea Grant award through the state of Michigan. The next report is scheduled to be released in November 2010 and final reports in February and May 2011.
E-mail Dave Alexander at dalexander@muskegonchronicle.com
Labels:
Michigan windmills wind energy
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Environment and Energy- Tough Choices, Decisions
From nova news now
Tough choices and difficult tradeoffs
Commentary: Environmental Gremlin
Article online since November 25th 2009, 19:51
Tough choices and difficult tradeoffs
Commentary: Environmental Gremlin
By Stephen Hawboldt
Over the next few years, Nova Scotians will be required to make some tough decisions on energy. The Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, unanimously endorsed in the Legislative Assembly in April 2007, sets very aggressive environmental preformance targets for the province.
With respect to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be 10 per cent below 1990 levels in only 11 years in 2020. Air quality targets require that nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury emissions must be drastically reduced in a similar time frame. To learn more about the Act and progress in achieving the goals, visit: secondnature.gov.ns.ca
Obviously achieving these goals means, among other things, a sharp reduction in use of coal to generate the electricity we require. The Act stipulates that 18.5 per cent of the energy generated in the province will come from renewable sources by 2013.
Reports indicate that Nova Scotia Power is on track to achieve these targets using hydro, wind, solar, tidal, and biomass. Over the next few years, Nova Scotians are going to need to make some very tough choices with difficult tradeoffs.
Jamie Simpson, a professional forester associated Ecology Action Centre, recently toured a biomass harvest site in Upper Musquodoboit. The site is operated by Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corp., Pictou County, a company certified by Sustainable Forest Initiative for its sustainable forestry methods.
In an e-mail alert, Simpson declares, “I have never seen such destructive forestry.” He added, “not only was the forest cover completely removed, but even the forest floor was destroyed over most of the harvest area.” The photographs accompanying the alert bear witness to the destruction.
If this is an example of biomass harvesting for electrical generation, these harvest sites are tomorrow’s deserts. The sites are virtual wastelands devoid of anything that could support any life for many decades.
Tidal power is also surrounded by some very serious scientific questions. Dr. Mike Dadswell, an eminent marine biologists associated with Acadia University, is one of several prominent researchers who are concerned about the impact of the ocean floor turbines on fish stocks. They fear wholesale destruction of these resources.
Wind energy also faces very serious questions about noise, public health, and impacts on wildlife. A small wind turbine proposed for Sable Island to meet power needs on the island could not go forward because of its potential impact on wildlife.
Large scale solar is largely untested in the Maritimes. There is very little, if any, traditional hydro available in the province. Nuclear generation has very serious questions arising from the radioactive wastes created and public health questions.
Energy conservation presents some real opportunities that will be rewarded with significant economic gains. These savings are not enough to reach the required targets.
The targets are conservative if the threats of climate change are to be managed. If anything, the reduction targets for greenhouse gases will likely have to be increased.
Over the next three to five years, the energy future of Nova Scotia will need to be decided. Citizens will face some very tough questions and difficult tradeoffs.
STEPHEN HAWBOLDT is with Clean Annapolis River Project and writes a weekly column for The Annapolis County Spectator. Comments are always welcome and can be addressed to stephenhawboldt@annapolisriver.ca
Tough choices and difficult tradeoffs
Commentary: Environmental Gremlin
Article online since November 25th 2009, 19:51
Tough choices and difficult tradeoffs
Commentary: Environmental Gremlin
By Stephen Hawboldt
Over the next few years, Nova Scotians will be required to make some tough decisions on energy. The Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, unanimously endorsed in the Legislative Assembly in April 2007, sets very aggressive environmental preformance targets for the province.
With respect to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be 10 per cent below 1990 levels in only 11 years in 2020. Air quality targets require that nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury emissions must be drastically reduced in a similar time frame. To learn more about the Act and progress in achieving the goals, visit: secondnature.gov.ns.ca
Obviously achieving these goals means, among other things, a sharp reduction in use of coal to generate the electricity we require. The Act stipulates that 18.5 per cent of the energy generated in the province will come from renewable sources by 2013.
Reports indicate that Nova Scotia Power is on track to achieve these targets using hydro, wind, solar, tidal, and biomass. Over the next few years, Nova Scotians are going to need to make some very tough choices with difficult tradeoffs.
Jamie Simpson, a professional forester associated Ecology Action Centre, recently toured a biomass harvest site in Upper Musquodoboit. The site is operated by Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corp., Pictou County, a company certified by Sustainable Forest Initiative for its sustainable forestry methods.
In an e-mail alert, Simpson declares, “I have never seen such destructive forestry.” He added, “not only was the forest cover completely removed, but even the forest floor was destroyed over most of the harvest area.” The photographs accompanying the alert bear witness to the destruction.
If this is an example of biomass harvesting for electrical generation, these harvest sites are tomorrow’s deserts. The sites are virtual wastelands devoid of anything that could support any life for many decades.
Tidal power is also surrounded by some very serious scientific questions. Dr. Mike Dadswell, an eminent marine biologists associated with Acadia University, is one of several prominent researchers who are concerned about the impact of the ocean floor turbines on fish stocks. They fear wholesale destruction of these resources.
Wind energy also faces very serious questions about noise, public health, and impacts on wildlife. A small wind turbine proposed for Sable Island to meet power needs on the island could not go forward because of its potential impact on wildlife.
Large scale solar is largely untested in the Maritimes. There is very little, if any, traditional hydro available in the province. Nuclear generation has very serious questions arising from the radioactive wastes created and public health questions.
Energy conservation presents some real opportunities that will be rewarded with significant economic gains. These savings are not enough to reach the required targets.
The targets are conservative if the threats of climate change are to be managed. If anything, the reduction targets for greenhouse gases will likely have to be increased.
Over the next three to five years, the energy future of Nova Scotia will need to be decided. Citizens will face some very tough questions and difficult tradeoffs.
STEPHEN HAWBOLDT is with Clean Annapolis River Project and writes a weekly column for The Annapolis County Spectator. Comments are always welcome and can be addressed to stephenhawboldt@annapolisriver.ca
Labels:
energy,
Nova Scotian environment
Invitation to Write Letters
From blog owner: North American health care systems appear to be in disarray. No one seems to be getting the health care they need or deserve. Canada has a "universal" health care system where health care is supposed to be provided "free" (through our taxes and premiums) to every citizen. Every worker in the health care system is needed to keep it functioning and to provide health care to those who need it, even in rural areas.
You can appreciate the devastating loss of a nursep. to a rather remote area where it may take up to two hours or more to get to a hospital or see a doctor. If you wish to read more on the issue, please read related posts on this blog. If you feel the urge to write out of empathy and compassion for the nurse practioner and the rural residents she served, please make your views known to the individual mentioned below. I am sure those of you all over Canada and all over the world as well can relate.
Thanks. From these remote communities.
The Minister of Health for Nova Scotia , I am sure, wants to know what your
thoughts are on the subject, and I am sure equally glad to hear from people
not just all over the province (and she is probably getting a lot of those
after the wonderful Editorial in todays Provincial paper) but just as much,
I am sure, from friends and former residents of this beautiful province
everywhere.(You can find that editorial also on the blog above.)
Maureen MacDonald health.minister@gov.ns.ca
Dan Mills
You can appreciate the devastating loss of a nursep. to a rather remote area where it may take up to two hours or more to get to a hospital or see a doctor. If you wish to read more on the issue, please read related posts on this blog. If you feel the urge to write out of empathy and compassion for the nurse practioner and the rural residents she served, please make your views known to the individual mentioned below. I am sure those of you all over Canada and all over the world as well can relate.
Thanks. From these remote communities.
The Minister of Health for Nova Scotia , I am sure, wants to know what your
thoughts are on the subject, and I am sure equally glad to hear from people
not just all over the province (and she is probably getting a lot of those
after the wonderful Editorial in todays Provincial paper) but just as much,
I am sure, from friends and former residents of this beautiful province
everywhere.(You can find that editorial also on the blog above.)
Maureen MacDonald health.minister@gov.ns.ca
Dan Mills
Health Care Travesty: Dan Mills
Subject: Save Our Nurse
Honorable Maureen MacDonald
Minister of Health
Nova Scotia Legislature
Halifax N.S.
Honorable and Dear Minister:
An atrocious deed has befallen the people of Digby Neck and Islands, in fact a truly wanton act of revenge towards them that one would never expect in a democracy such as ours, known world wide as the best country in the world -bar none- for love of neighbor and immeasurable kindness and hospitality one to the other, and always known for walking the extra mile.
The SWDHA has besmeared our reputation with that, the likes of which I have never seen in my three score plus ten and more, by signaling the equivalent of a death warrant upon people dating roots here fifteen generations, and perhaps even more, by what I see as a calculated depravation of consistent and basic health care. This Board is punishing a people and maybe with an act of spite!
This obviously incompetent, insensitive, and uncaring board have all but crippled Health Care in this area
leaving fifteen hundred people on the Islands, and hundreds more along the Neck, without the semblance of basic and ongoing care in the person of a much-loved Nurse Practitioner because she has refused to confess her sin manifested in an act of care and concern about dwindling resources in her clinic.
A pompous ass alone would exact such signed confession to be posted on the clinic door and on newspaper spreads across a Province. No man with heart would be so insecure, inhumane, and callous as to do that to the Nurse in question,or to any other nurse, and in so doing,break the communal heart of a people because that same agent of pomposity doesn't trust their judgment.
Some speak the name of CEO as pomposity personified.If this is the best that he can do, and the issue of employer and employee is no longer extant, the same is now in your corral, and it's time to put him out to pasture.And while you're at it,send the rest of the herd with him for had they had the courage,they would never have allowed this hideous piece of tripe to be uttered from his mouth.
Get a grip,Ms.MacDonald. This is the peoples province and not that of likely much overpaid bureaucrats.The people expect better. We demand it!
Daniel Mills
9396 Waterford
RR 4,Digby NS
BOV 1AO
902-245-5171
Honorable Maureen MacDonald
Minister of Health
Nova Scotia Legislature
Halifax N.S.
Honorable and Dear Minister:
An atrocious deed has befallen the people of Digby Neck and Islands, in fact a truly wanton act of revenge towards them that one would never expect in a democracy such as ours, known world wide as the best country in the world -bar none- for love of neighbor and immeasurable kindness and hospitality one to the other, and always known for walking the extra mile.
The SWDHA has besmeared our reputation with that, the likes of which I have never seen in my three score plus ten and more, by signaling the equivalent of a death warrant upon people dating roots here fifteen generations, and perhaps even more, by what I see as a calculated depravation of consistent and basic health care. This Board is punishing a people and maybe with an act of spite!
This obviously incompetent, insensitive, and uncaring board have all but crippled Health Care in this area
leaving fifteen hundred people on the Islands, and hundreds more along the Neck, without the semblance of basic and ongoing care in the person of a much-loved Nurse Practitioner because she has refused to confess her sin manifested in an act of care and concern about dwindling resources in her clinic.
A pompous ass alone would exact such signed confession to be posted on the clinic door and on newspaper spreads across a Province. No man with heart would be so insecure, inhumane, and callous as to do that to the Nurse in question,or to any other nurse, and in so doing,break the communal heart of a people because that same agent of pomposity doesn't trust their judgment.
Some speak the name of CEO as pomposity personified.If this is the best that he can do, and the issue of employer and employee is no longer extant, the same is now in your corral, and it's time to put him out to pasture.And while you're at it,send the rest of the herd with him for had they had the courage,they would never have allowed this hideous piece of tripe to be uttered from his mouth.
Get a grip,Ms.MacDonald. This is the peoples province and not that of likely much overpaid bureaucrats.The people expect better. We demand it!
Daniel Mills
9396 Waterford
RR 4,Digby NS
BOV 1AO
902-245-5171
Dan Mills on Nurse Practioner Issue
Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 9:28 AM
Subject: Recall Nurse Practitioner
Dear Editor:
In response to your poignant editorial this morning:
A departed friend many years ago saw conspiracy at every corner. He would have a field day with this Nurse Practitioner episode on Digby Neck and Islands, and the way people here have been treated in recent years by our elected politicians overall.
I mentioned to some friends yesterday that this makes the Age of the Scarlet Letter of years gone by look civilized. The DHA of this day is so much more cruel than they because this is an issue about the very health and well-being of a people, and transends any other issue of the day in this area, and this in a much more enlghtened day and age!
I now sense conspiracy afoot to close this region down. I wonder too if the lack of squeak or squawk from our local medical practitioners - and few they are indeed - makes them part of it? Don't you?
It's not all all uncommon that "an old boys club" mentality could feel threatened by a comptetent,no-nonsense,out-spoken female Nurse Practioner who has become the much loved darling by so many on these majestic islands they call home, and where they want to stay with adequate health care to live out their days!
It appears that the caring projected by the NDP just a few short months ago was nothing more than window-dressing to satisfy their quest for power and control. Mr. Dexter, and his minions surely know right from wrong and need to act, and bypass process, for common good indeed. The common good, in this case, is life itself. "Can" the DHA straightaway, Sir, and deal with the fallen pieces in due time. Surely their incompetency is all the cause you need.And then bury them.
Daniel Mills
9396 Waterford
RR 4, Digby NS
BOV 1AO
1-902-245-5171
Subject: Recall Nurse Practitioner
Dear Editor:
In response to your poignant editorial this morning:
A departed friend many years ago saw conspiracy at every corner. He would have a field day with this Nurse Practitioner episode on Digby Neck and Islands, and the way people here have been treated in recent years by our elected politicians overall.
I mentioned to some friends yesterday that this makes the Age of the Scarlet Letter of years gone by look civilized. The DHA of this day is so much more cruel than they because this is an issue about the very health and well-being of a people, and transends any other issue of the day in this area, and this in a much more enlghtened day and age!
I now sense conspiracy afoot to close this region down. I wonder too if the lack of squeak or squawk from our local medical practitioners - and few they are indeed - makes them part of it? Don't you?
It's not all all uncommon that "an old boys club" mentality could feel threatened by a comptetent,no-nonsense,out-spoken female Nurse Practioner who has become the much loved darling by so many on these majestic islands they call home, and where they want to stay with adequate health care to live out their days!
It appears that the caring projected by the NDP just a few short months ago was nothing more than window-dressing to satisfy their quest for power and control. Mr. Dexter, and his minions surely know right from wrong and need to act, and bypass process, for common good indeed. The common good, in this case, is life itself. "Can" the DHA straightaway, Sir, and deal with the fallen pieces in due time. Surely their incompetency is all the cause you need.And then bury them.
Daniel Mills
9396 Waterford
RR 4, Digby NS
BOV 1AO
1-902-245-5171
Save Our Nurse Meeting
Public meeting notesThere was an impressive turnout today in Freeport to discuss what comes next in the battle to keep Karen Snider as our nurse practitioner. It was particularly impressive because everyone is so busy gearing up for the beginning of lobster season…it says something about how important this issue is that several fishermen and crews took the time to come and listen and contribute.
People at the meeting called for an immediate public meeting with the Minister of Health to discuss ways to keep Karen in the community as our NP. Now that Karen is no longer an employee of SWDHA, there is no employer/employee relationship that the minister can say she has to respect. What the minister must decide is this: How to employ Karen, who is already here, in a community that needs a NP; a community that has already said Karen is the person we want. There are several models available for the Minister to select from. All she has to do is act, now that she no longer has to worry about interfering in a relationship between Karen and the SWDHA. The only options not available to her is through the DHA. We will not do business with them. Period.
As well, the meeting endorsed a call from MLA Junior Theriault, to have Blaise McNeil and the Board removed from the District Health Authority. The awful health care situation in Digby County will not get better with these people at the helm. They’ve had years to improve health care here. They have failed.
The strong feeling at the meeting is nobody from the Neck and Islands wants anything to do with the DHA. We have totally lost confidence in the senior management and the Board…especially after their bullying tactics through the “letter of confession” that they demanded Karen sign. Nobody should have to deal with a bully…especially a bully who’s been given control of our health care. So get rid of him, and the board that allows him to be a bully.
It was great to see Karen at the meeting. She had quite rightly kept out of it while there was still a chance of resolving this issue with the DHA. Now the DHA has made that impossible. The unfortunate thing is that Karen has already received some job offers, and is sending in her resume. She wants to stay here. It is her home. Maybe the minister of health will consider how bad her department is going to look when a highly regarded health practitioner is scooped by another province, eager to recruit a prized NP. The minister should act very rapidly. Thanks for everyone who came out.
Andy
People at the meeting called for an immediate public meeting with the Minister of Health to discuss ways to keep Karen in the community as our NP. Now that Karen is no longer an employee of SWDHA, there is no employer/employee relationship that the minister can say she has to respect. What the minister must decide is this: How to employ Karen, who is already here, in a community that needs a NP; a community that has already said Karen is the person we want. There are several models available for the Minister to select from. All she has to do is act, now that she no longer has to worry about interfering in a relationship between Karen and the SWDHA. The only options not available to her is through the DHA. We will not do business with them. Period.
As well, the meeting endorsed a call from MLA Junior Theriault, to have Blaise McNeil and the Board removed from the District Health Authority. The awful health care situation in Digby County will not get better with these people at the helm. They’ve had years to improve health care here. They have failed.
The strong feeling at the meeting is nobody from the Neck and Islands wants anything to do with the DHA. We have totally lost confidence in the senior management and the Board…especially after their bullying tactics through the “letter of confession” that they demanded Karen sign. Nobody should have to deal with a bully…especially a bully who’s been given control of our health care. So get rid of him, and the board that allows him to be a bully.
It was great to see Karen at the meeting. She had quite rightly kept out of it while there was still a chance of resolving this issue with the DHA. Now the DHA has made that impossible. The unfortunate thing is that Karen has already received some job offers, and is sending in her resume. She wants to stay here. It is her home. Maybe the minister of health will consider how bad her department is going to look when a highly regarded health practitioner is scooped by another province, eager to recruit a prized NP. The minister should act very rapidly. Thanks for everyone who came out.
Andy
Energy EFFICIENCY, solar power, wind turbines
State working out bugs in renewable energy leadership
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Jen Judson, Greg Kwasnik and Antoinette Pizzi/Daily News correspondents
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Nov 27, 2009 @ 11:18 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON — Third in a series.
In the darkening recession, Gov. Deval Patrick and the Legislature have dialed back funding for education, social services and local aid. But energy efficiency and renewable energy development - promised as a salvation for economic growth - have been spared.
"We are in very difficult times, as you know, but we cannot afford to slow down or think small, especially in the clean energy field," Patrick told a conference of 400 energy entrepreneurs and investors in Boston earlier this month.
Over the last decade, Massachusetts has instituted dozens of tax incentives, loans and grant programs to encourage development of renewable energy. But in this withering financial climate, with Massachusetts facing a potential $600 million budget deficit, is the state's investment still on track to reap a bright, green economy?
The Patrick administration has set a goal of making Massachusetts No. 1 in the nation in producing and consuming renewable energy. The Legislature is on board with the plan, yet there have been pitfalls with the ambitious program.
In 2008, the Legislature showed its commitment to renewable energy with a package of bills that promised jobs and a stronger state economy. The legislation carried a total price tag of $118 million in loans and grants over five years. Supporters said the bills would create an estimated 14,000 to 17,000 jobs.
But timing was not kind to the programs. Nick d'Arbeloff, president of the New England Clean Energy Council, said the estimates of jobs and revenues were made shortly before the credit market collapsed, leading to a drop in private investment in renewable energy.
"In 2008 the whole sector started to just explode in terms of investment and in 2009 there was a pullback," d'Arbeloff said.
Money promised to some of the programs had to be trimmed. D'Arbeloff said that the Green Jobs Act, originally allocated $68 million, ended up receiving around $20 million.
"No secret here, the economy forced the Legislature to scale back on every allocation possible," he said.
Now, looking to incentives to prod private investors back into action, the state has announced plans to foster three main categories of renewable energy: wind, solar and efficiency.
The promise
- Wind power: The state plans to make wind power a top priority by building wind generators on state property. The goal is to save the state budget nearly $342 million in energy costs annually, according to the state energy office.
Under the plan, small-scale wind turbines on state land would produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 6,900 homes. Large-scale projects of 7.5 megawatts or greater would produce enough to power 194,615 homes. Whatever self-generated power the state does not use will be sold to the electrical grid.
- Solar power: The state launched its popular Commonwealth Solar Rebate program in January 2008. By last month, the program had awarded an average of nearly $43,000 in cash rebates to 1,018 commercial, residential and public solar construction projects. The $68 million program has since stopped taking applications because the state has already met its goal of creating 27 megawatts of solar energy by 2012.
- Energy efficiency: The state anticipates $6.5 billion in savings for electric and natural gas customers over the next three years through public utility energy efficiency programs. The programs would also create or save 4,000 jobs while increasing the gross state product by $2.4 billion, the energy office reported this month.
If successful, the state's energy efficiency programs would lead the nation in energy efficiency. In 2009, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Massachusetts second, behind California, for energy efficiency.
The reality
But there have been some short circuits in the state's renewable energy plan.
Evergreen Solar, a photovoltaic company based in Marlborough, had been the state's poster child for renewable energy. In 2008, the company received a $58.6 million state grant to build a solar panel manufacturing plant in Devens, creating 700 full-time and 300 temporary jobs, three times more than the 350 the company had originally announced.
But after the company posted a loss in 2009 it announced plans to begin manufacturing panels in China. The company has not announced if there will be any layoffs at its Devens plant, but it is unlikely the state will see any new jobs at the facility.
State Energy Secretary Ian Bowles maintains the state made a wise choice by supporting the company and contends the energy program remains a "real success story," with a 15-fold increase in solar installations after four years.
"That creates a lot of jobs and diversifies our energy away from fossil fuels," he said.
Neither the energy office nor the Clean Energy Council could give estimates for overall green job creation in the near future, but both expressed confidence that job growth will be seen in 2010.
Since the state started its Solar Rebate program, solar manufacturing jobs in the state have doubled, from 1,086 in 2007 to 2,075 in 2008, according to Lisa Capone, an energy office spokeswoman. The energy office expects the industry to add 960 employees this year.
But the Solar Rebate program, which ran through its $68 million of funding in less than a year, was "a victim of its own success," said d'Arbeloff. "Ultimately to extend that to a long term of time would be too expensive to the state."
Instead, the state will institute a solar credit market, guaranteeing solar power producers a set energy rate. D'Arbeloff said the program, which will begin in January, is a more logical, free-market mechanism than the Solar Rebate program.
The state still has a way to go in wind power. There are just three wind installations on state properties, including the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Logan Airport and UMass-Lowell. The total electricity generated by these facilities amounts to 682 kilowatts, .07 percent of the 989 megawatts the state hopes to generate in the future.
Wind power is far from becoming an everyday reality, despite the state's tax incentives. It would take 15 years for a small business owner who constructs a wind turbine to realize the $40,000 investment for a 10 kilowatt installation, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
With a rebate, savings could come sooner. The state's rebate for a 10 kilowatt wind turbine runs about $7,800, according to a calculator on the state's Commonwealth Wind Incentive Web site.
Even with incentives, questions remain about available funding for renewable energy projects in the current economic climate.
Meg McIsaac, senior commercial lending officer for TD Bank USA, which specializes in renewable energy lending, said investors and lenders are looking to support proven technologies like wind and solar before taking a risk on deepwater wind power, tidal power and other new energy sources.
"We tend to be backwards-looking thinkers, so if we can get our arms around something that has been up and running and there is a track record, we can understand that all day long," McIsaac said.
Despite these uncertainties the Patrick administration has urged investors to remain forward-thinking. Patrick even uses the recession to argue that more investment is needed to ensure that Massachusetts does not lose clean energy jobs to other states.
"We can invent our own clean energy future and have the whole world as our customer," Patrick said. "That is where I want Massachusetts to be."
Jen Judson, Greg Kwasnik and Antoinette Pizzi are reporters in the Boston University State House Program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Jen Judson, Greg Kwasnik and Antoinette Pizzi/Daily News correspondents
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Nov 27, 2009 @ 11:18 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON — Third in a series.
In the darkening recession, Gov. Deval Patrick and the Legislature have dialed back funding for education, social services and local aid. But energy efficiency and renewable energy development - promised as a salvation for economic growth - have been spared.
"We are in very difficult times, as you know, but we cannot afford to slow down or think small, especially in the clean energy field," Patrick told a conference of 400 energy entrepreneurs and investors in Boston earlier this month.
Over the last decade, Massachusetts has instituted dozens of tax incentives, loans and grant programs to encourage development of renewable energy. But in this withering financial climate, with Massachusetts facing a potential $600 million budget deficit, is the state's investment still on track to reap a bright, green economy?
The Patrick administration has set a goal of making Massachusetts No. 1 in the nation in producing and consuming renewable energy. The Legislature is on board with the plan, yet there have been pitfalls with the ambitious program.
In 2008, the Legislature showed its commitment to renewable energy with a package of bills that promised jobs and a stronger state economy. The legislation carried a total price tag of $118 million in loans and grants over five years. Supporters said the bills would create an estimated 14,000 to 17,000 jobs.
But timing was not kind to the programs. Nick d'Arbeloff, president of the New England Clean Energy Council, said the estimates of jobs and revenues were made shortly before the credit market collapsed, leading to a drop in private investment in renewable energy.
"In 2008 the whole sector started to just explode in terms of investment and in 2009 there was a pullback," d'Arbeloff said.
Money promised to some of the programs had to be trimmed. D'Arbeloff said that the Green Jobs Act, originally allocated $68 million, ended up receiving around $20 million.
"No secret here, the economy forced the Legislature to scale back on every allocation possible," he said.
Now, looking to incentives to prod private investors back into action, the state has announced plans to foster three main categories of renewable energy: wind, solar and efficiency.
The promise
- Wind power: The state plans to make wind power a top priority by building wind generators on state property. The goal is to save the state budget nearly $342 million in energy costs annually, according to the state energy office.
Under the plan, small-scale wind turbines on state land would produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 6,900 homes. Large-scale projects of 7.5 megawatts or greater would produce enough to power 194,615 homes. Whatever self-generated power the state does not use will be sold to the electrical grid.
- Solar power: The state launched its popular Commonwealth Solar Rebate program in January 2008. By last month, the program had awarded an average of nearly $43,000 in cash rebates to 1,018 commercial, residential and public solar construction projects. The $68 million program has since stopped taking applications because the state has already met its goal of creating 27 megawatts of solar energy by 2012.
- Energy efficiency: The state anticipates $6.5 billion in savings for electric and natural gas customers over the next three years through public utility energy efficiency programs. The programs would also create or save 4,000 jobs while increasing the gross state product by $2.4 billion, the energy office reported this month.
If successful, the state's energy efficiency programs would lead the nation in energy efficiency. In 2009, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Massachusetts second, behind California, for energy efficiency.
The reality
But there have been some short circuits in the state's renewable energy plan.
Evergreen Solar, a photovoltaic company based in Marlborough, had been the state's poster child for renewable energy. In 2008, the company received a $58.6 million state grant to build a solar panel manufacturing plant in Devens, creating 700 full-time and 300 temporary jobs, three times more than the 350 the company had originally announced.
But after the company posted a loss in 2009 it announced plans to begin manufacturing panels in China. The company has not announced if there will be any layoffs at its Devens plant, but it is unlikely the state will see any new jobs at the facility.
State Energy Secretary Ian Bowles maintains the state made a wise choice by supporting the company and contends the energy program remains a "real success story," with a 15-fold increase in solar installations after four years.
"That creates a lot of jobs and diversifies our energy away from fossil fuels," he said.
Neither the energy office nor the Clean Energy Council could give estimates for overall green job creation in the near future, but both expressed confidence that job growth will be seen in 2010.
Since the state started its Solar Rebate program, solar manufacturing jobs in the state have doubled, from 1,086 in 2007 to 2,075 in 2008, according to Lisa Capone, an energy office spokeswoman. The energy office expects the industry to add 960 employees this year.
But the Solar Rebate program, which ran through its $68 million of funding in less than a year, was "a victim of its own success," said d'Arbeloff. "Ultimately to extend that to a long term of time would be too expensive to the state."
Instead, the state will institute a solar credit market, guaranteeing solar power producers a set energy rate. D'Arbeloff said the program, which will begin in January, is a more logical, free-market mechanism than the Solar Rebate program.
The state still has a way to go in wind power. There are just three wind installations on state properties, including the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Logan Airport and UMass-Lowell. The total electricity generated by these facilities amounts to 682 kilowatts, .07 percent of the 989 megawatts the state hopes to generate in the future.
Wind power is far from becoming an everyday reality, despite the state's tax incentives. It would take 15 years for a small business owner who constructs a wind turbine to realize the $40,000 investment for a 10 kilowatt installation, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
With a rebate, savings could come sooner. The state's rebate for a 10 kilowatt wind turbine runs about $7,800, according to a calculator on the state's Commonwealth Wind Incentive Web site.
Even with incentives, questions remain about available funding for renewable energy projects in the current economic climate.
Meg McIsaac, senior commercial lending officer for TD Bank USA, which specializes in renewable energy lending, said investors and lenders are looking to support proven technologies like wind and solar before taking a risk on deepwater wind power, tidal power and other new energy sources.
"We tend to be backwards-looking thinkers, so if we can get our arms around something that has been up and running and there is a track record, we can understand that all day long," McIsaac said.
Despite these uncertainties the Patrick administration has urged investors to remain forward-thinking. Patrick even uses the recession to argue that more investment is needed to ensure that Massachusetts does not lose clean energy jobs to other states.
"We can invent our own clean energy future and have the whole world as our customer," Patrick said. "That is where I want Massachusetts to be."
Jen Judson, Greg Kwasnik and Antoinette Pizzi are reporters in the Boston University State House Program.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Save Money on Big Corporations
Do it ourselves, for the residences portion of energy consumption and provision
Rooftop Wind Turbines
November 24, 2009 by Rich Whittle | 4 Comments
RidgeBlade is a wind-power system that can be fitted to buildings with minimum visual impact and maximum energy conversion potential, reports trendspotter Springwise.
This micro-generation system employs discreetly housed cylindrical turbines positioned horizontally along the apex of a sloping roof. The slope of the roof naturally channels wind into the turbine chamber, meaning RidgeBlade can “produce electricity under low or variable wind conditions.”
This high efficiency means that the system could pay for itself within a few years. Designed by a former Rolls Royce turbine engineer under the wing of UK-based The Power Collective. It’s a rapidly accelerating industry—one to get involved in now!
Photo by The Power Collective.
Rooftop Wind Turbines
November 24, 2009 by Rich Whittle | 4 Comments
RidgeBlade is a wind-power system that can be fitted to buildings with minimum visual impact and maximum energy conversion potential, reports trendspotter Springwise.
This micro-generation system employs discreetly housed cylindrical turbines positioned horizontally along the apex of a sloping roof. The slope of the roof naturally channels wind into the turbine chamber, meaning RidgeBlade can “produce electricity under low or variable wind conditions.”
This high efficiency means that the system could pay for itself within a few years. Designed by a former Rolls Royce turbine engineer under the wing of UK-based The Power Collective. It’s a rapidly accelerating industry—one to get involved in now!
Photo by The Power Collective.
Electricity Available from Intermittent Sources
Renewable Energy NewsFRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER, 2009 | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harvesting Hydrogen With Solar Power
by Energy Matters
Using hydrogen as a clean fuel with relatively endless reserves certainly has potential, but also faces many challenges. For example, the production of hydrogen requires a great deal of energy.
However, some companies have made great inroads in utilising renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power in the hydrogen harvesting process. One such company is Avālence LLC; based in the USA.
Avālence’s hydrogen generators are electrochemical devices that convert water and electricity into high purity pressurized hydrogen gas through the process of electrolysis. Avālence's Hydrofiller system is a high-pressure hydrogen gas generator that doesn't require a separate compressor. According to the company, this cuts capital costs by up to 50% and operating costs by 20%.
Given the lower energy requirements, it also means the Hydrofiller system can be powered by solar panels or wind turbines.
The company says electrolysis is the most direct method for creating hydrogen fuel from fluctuating renewable energy sources. The Avālence Hydrofiller enables 24-hour electricity availability from intermittent energy sources from not just solar and wind, but also hydraulic and tidal power. In large applications, hydrogen produced during inexpensive or excess power production periods can be stored and later distributed to stationary fuel cell generators to supply electricity during expensive or peak demand periods.
Technology validation of the Hydrofiller has been completed on small-scale units for residential use and extensive factory testing using renewable energy has also been completed. The units are now being field tested and the company is presently undertaking a major scale-up of the core technology to a 300 kg/day design.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harvesting Hydrogen With Solar Power
by Energy Matters
Using hydrogen as a clean fuel with relatively endless reserves certainly has potential, but also faces many challenges. For example, the production of hydrogen requires a great deal of energy.
However, some companies have made great inroads in utilising renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power in the hydrogen harvesting process. One such company is Avālence LLC; based in the USA.
Avālence’s hydrogen generators are electrochemical devices that convert water and electricity into high purity pressurized hydrogen gas through the process of electrolysis. Avālence's Hydrofiller system is a high-pressure hydrogen gas generator that doesn't require a separate compressor. According to the company, this cuts capital costs by up to 50% and operating costs by 20%.
Given the lower energy requirements, it also means the Hydrofiller system can be powered by solar panels or wind turbines.
The company says electrolysis is the most direct method for creating hydrogen fuel from fluctuating renewable energy sources. The Avālence Hydrofiller enables 24-hour electricity availability from intermittent energy sources from not just solar and wind, but also hydraulic and tidal power. In large applications, hydrogen produced during inexpensive or excess power production periods can be stored and later distributed to stationary fuel cell generators to supply electricity during expensive or peak demand periods.
Technology validation of the Hydrofiller has been completed on small-scale units for residential use and extensive factory testing using renewable energy has also been completed. The units are now being field tested and the company is presently undertaking a major scale-up of the core technology to a 300 kg/day design.
Vote for the Bear River Playground
Bear River seeking playground
Voting for first stage of funding support ends in three days
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
View all articles from Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
Article online since November 26th 2009, 14:09
Bear River seeking playground
Voting for first stage of funding support ends in three days
Bear River lacks swings, benches, sandboxes and other equipment to keep kids busy and a community group called Women In Rural Enterprise (WIRE) is looking to change that by getting a playground for the area.
The project is still in its early stages and WIRE president Ginny Hurlock said the group has joined the Aviva Community Fund competition in hopes of funding and support.
“We’ve got the proposal together, a couple different options we’re looking at,” she added.
People submit community ideas to the Aviva Community Fund website. Which then advance to the semi-final round taking place Dec. 2 to 16.
Winners will be announced Jan. 25 and $500,000 will be divvied between several projects.
Hurlock estimated the cost of the Bear River playground project to be around $20,000.
“This is really just a first step to make our local community aware of what we want to do,” Hurlock said in a recent interview.
A final playground design and location has yet to be decided although WIRE members are looking at three or four sites in the area.
“There really is a need for this, it’s rural development at the heart of the community. We need to start from the ground up and that starts with the youngsters,” she said.
Even if WIRE does not win the competition, it will go another route to get a playground built in the community, said Hurlock.
To vote for the playground in Bear River visit www.avivacommunityfund.org
ldelong@digbycourier.ca
Send this text to a friend Print this article
Voting for first stage of funding support ends in three days
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
View all articles from Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
Article online since November 26th 2009, 14:09
Bear River seeking playground
Voting for first stage of funding support ends in three days
Bear River lacks swings, benches, sandboxes and other equipment to keep kids busy and a community group called Women In Rural Enterprise (WIRE) is looking to change that by getting a playground for the area.
The project is still in its early stages and WIRE president Ginny Hurlock said the group has joined the Aviva Community Fund competition in hopes of funding and support.
“We’ve got the proposal together, a couple different options we’re looking at,” she added.
People submit community ideas to the Aviva Community Fund website. Which then advance to the semi-final round taking place Dec. 2 to 16.
Winners will be announced Jan. 25 and $500,000 will be divvied between several projects.
Hurlock estimated the cost of the Bear River playground project to be around $20,000.
“This is really just a first step to make our local community aware of what we want to do,” Hurlock said in a recent interview.
A final playground design and location has yet to be decided although WIRE members are looking at three or four sites in the area.
“There really is a need for this, it’s rural development at the heart of the community. We need to start from the ground up and that starts with the youngsters,” she said.
Even if WIRE does not win the competition, it will go another route to get a playground built in the community, said Hurlock.
To vote for the playground in Bear River visit www.avivacommunityfund.org
ldelong@digbycourier.ca
Send this text to a friend Print this article
Turbines, localism and We're Not Alone
Thanks to Douglas's Blog in the U.K.
Wind turbines: nobody wants it, but they don't care
Another victory for big government and big corporations against local people; the Earls Hall wind turbines outside Clacton have been given the go-ahead. Please don't call it planning consent.
410 foot-high monster turbines will now be erected less than a thousand yards from people's homes - despite the fact that it was opposed at district, county and Parliamentary level. The industrialisation of the English countryside continues despite the opposition of those who live in it. So much for democracy.
Remember this next time you hear a politician talk the localist talk.
Contests such as this are always unequal. Plucky local campaigners rely on volunteers and themselves. Yet big corporate interests are able to hire big legal guns - paid for from the £ billions the developers receive in hidden subsidy taken from every householder's electricity bill.
And it will do nothing to stop the costs of your electricity bill increasing. On the contrary, your bill will rise very significantly to finance this stitch-up between big business and big government.
Posted on 24 November 2009 by Douglas Carswell
Comments
Unfortunately Douglas your party are signed up to all this environmental unproven idea.
We cannot have 'Direct Democracy' until we can disentangle ourselves from the EU and the political 'rule' they are able to exert on this country.
Posted on 24 November 2009 10:02 by WitteringsfromWitney
This process illustrates the problems with 'localism' Tendring council spent a large amount of taxpayers money against the advice of their planning offices and without any chance of winning. They should be personally accountable for wasting our money.
Posted on 24 November 2009 10:45 by Chris Southall
Wind turbines produce a minimal percent of energy which is needed to power the UK yet we are told its good for the environment. how can a big ugly 410 foot high wind turbine be good for the environment? it spoils the environment you can see the eyesores for miles but what can we do to stop it? There must be an alternative solution to these ugly monsters!
Posted on 24 November 2009 10:48 by Pip
The real shame of it is that windmills are so totally & completely useless. The big corporate interests make far more out of the subsidies than they can ever get from selling electricity. I have little objection to big corporate interests - who else will build the nuclear power stations we need to keep the lights on - but I do object to such interests whose profits & indeed solvency depend entirely on payola from the political class.
The visual intrusion of one such windmill is more than that of a nuclear power station (producing over 1,000 times as much), hundreds of homes or indeed a golf course & their support of windmills & opposition to building homes or CO2 free nuclear shows the "environmentalists" to be absolutely opposed to environmentalism & simply Luddites under a false flag.
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:16 by Neil Craig
So the "government inspector" isn't accountable to Parliament? Presumably he's from another Quango. Not a surprise, I suppose.
Do we save a fortune by not having district, county and national "democracy", leaving everything to the quangocracy and EU to run, or do we do it the other way around? There doen't seem to be any middle ground.
Which parties are going to listen to our opinions on this one, and which parties might be in Government after the next election? No, I can't see a correlation either.
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:33 by Mick Anderson
As much as I am "on board" with the whole Localism idea, it's never going to happen.
What we will get is some half-hearted 'nod' towards localism which entirely misses the point.
Most politicians don't want to give power away, they want to increase it. "Small government" sounds great in opposition, but once the reins of power are in hand - it's too addictive.
Don't get me started on the EU and Global Warming. Both just parts of the game being played to centralise power, IMHO.
Collectivism is alive and well and - everywhere.
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:35 by Steve Tierney
Good heavens, Douglas! You've found something upon which we can agree! Go-Dougie, Go-Dougie!
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:51 by Daid Gale
I want Direct Local Democracy now, I want a House of Commons legislature that holds government and big business to account on behalf of the people.
I do not want to wait for Douglas to eventually win the leadership of the Green and Red Conservative party in order to start the process of democratisation , I haven't got that long.
We are crying out for a leader with the courage to take on the fight and break the old order.
Posted on 24 November 2009 12:07 by libertarian
Mussolini would be proud of the UK, it's almost exactly his form of fascim with big business and the state calling the shots.
When are the likes of yourself going to gain control of the concervatiive party Douglas, it needs to become concervative again.
Posted on 24 November 2009 13:39 by chris southern
Libertarian - you and millions of others!
What politicians fail to realise is that the electorate is slowly but surely becoming more volatile. There may be few outward signs of what's coming but I fear that, if the current trend for disenfranchisement continues, there will be large-scale civil unrest. Of course, the government of the day will blame whichever small group of activists that are target of the month for the trouble but the reality is that people have had enough of government and business pulling their trousers down around their ankles, bending them over and giving their bottoms a right royal seeing to.
Politicians of all flavours - the writing is on the wall. Ignore it at your peril.
Posted on 24 November 2009 14:10 by David Gale
What is crazy is that the unelected inspector was not allowed to include the Gunfleet Sands wind farm as part of his decision.
Why the 'eck not?
I am all for renewable energies but we in Tendring are doing our bit. I suppose he cant include the Gunfleet sands extension project either.
Why dont they go the whole hog and flatten Holland on Sea and build a nuclear power station, and while your at it build a tidal barrage on the river colne.
Or even better: lets not worry about any of these and simply harness the hot air coming out of the Government benches
Posted on 24 November 2009 21:56 by David Filce
Wind turbines: nobody wants it, but they don't care
Another victory for big government and big corporations against local people; the Earls Hall wind turbines outside Clacton have been given the go-ahead. Please don't call it planning consent.
410 foot-high monster turbines will now be erected less than a thousand yards from people's homes - despite the fact that it was opposed at district, county and Parliamentary level. The industrialisation of the English countryside continues despite the opposition of those who live in it. So much for democracy.
Remember this next time you hear a politician talk the localist talk.
Contests such as this are always unequal. Plucky local campaigners rely on volunteers and themselves. Yet big corporate interests are able to hire big legal guns - paid for from the £ billions the developers receive in hidden subsidy taken from every householder's electricity bill.
And it will do nothing to stop the costs of your electricity bill increasing. On the contrary, your bill will rise very significantly to finance this stitch-up between big business and big government.
Posted on 24 November 2009 by Douglas Carswell
Comments
Unfortunately Douglas your party are signed up to all this environmental unproven idea.
We cannot have 'Direct Democracy' until we can disentangle ourselves from the EU and the political 'rule' they are able to exert on this country.
Posted on 24 November 2009 10:02 by WitteringsfromWitney
This process illustrates the problems with 'localism' Tendring council spent a large amount of taxpayers money against the advice of their planning offices and without any chance of winning. They should be personally accountable for wasting our money.
Posted on 24 November 2009 10:45 by Chris Southall
Wind turbines produce a minimal percent of energy which is needed to power the UK yet we are told its good for the environment. how can a big ugly 410 foot high wind turbine be good for the environment? it spoils the environment you can see the eyesores for miles but what can we do to stop it? There must be an alternative solution to these ugly monsters!
Posted on 24 November 2009 10:48 by Pip
The real shame of it is that windmills are so totally & completely useless. The big corporate interests make far more out of the subsidies than they can ever get from selling electricity. I have little objection to big corporate interests - who else will build the nuclear power stations we need to keep the lights on - but I do object to such interests whose profits & indeed solvency depend entirely on payola from the political class.
The visual intrusion of one such windmill is more than that of a nuclear power station (producing over 1,000 times as much), hundreds of homes or indeed a golf course & their support of windmills & opposition to building homes or CO2 free nuclear shows the "environmentalists" to be absolutely opposed to environmentalism & simply Luddites under a false flag.
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:16 by Neil Craig
So the "government inspector" isn't accountable to Parliament? Presumably he's from another Quango. Not a surprise, I suppose.
Do we save a fortune by not having district, county and national "democracy", leaving everything to the quangocracy and EU to run, or do we do it the other way around? There doen't seem to be any middle ground.
Which parties are going to listen to our opinions on this one, and which parties might be in Government after the next election? No, I can't see a correlation either.
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:33 by Mick Anderson
As much as I am "on board" with the whole Localism idea, it's never going to happen.
What we will get is some half-hearted 'nod' towards localism which entirely misses the point.
Most politicians don't want to give power away, they want to increase it. "Small government" sounds great in opposition, but once the reins of power are in hand - it's too addictive.
Don't get me started on the EU and Global Warming. Both just parts of the game being played to centralise power, IMHO.
Collectivism is alive and well and - everywhere.
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:35 by Steve Tierney
Good heavens, Douglas! You've found something upon which we can agree! Go-Dougie, Go-Dougie!
Posted on 24 November 2009 11:51 by Daid Gale
I want Direct Local Democracy now, I want a House of Commons legislature that holds government and big business to account on behalf of the people.
I do not want to wait for Douglas to eventually win the leadership of the Green and Red Conservative party in order to start the process of democratisation , I haven't got that long.
We are crying out for a leader with the courage to take on the fight and break the old order.
Posted on 24 November 2009 12:07 by libertarian
Mussolini would be proud of the UK, it's almost exactly his form of fascim with big business and the state calling the shots.
When are the likes of yourself going to gain control of the concervatiive party Douglas, it needs to become concervative again.
Posted on 24 November 2009 13:39 by chris southern
Libertarian - you and millions of others!
What politicians fail to realise is that the electorate is slowly but surely becoming more volatile. There may be few outward signs of what's coming but I fear that, if the current trend for disenfranchisement continues, there will be large-scale civil unrest. Of course, the government of the day will blame whichever small group of activists that are target of the month for the trouble but the reality is that people have had enough of government and business pulling their trousers down around their ankles, bending them over and giving their bottoms a right royal seeing to.
Politicians of all flavours - the writing is on the wall. Ignore it at your peril.
Posted on 24 November 2009 14:10 by David Gale
What is crazy is that the unelected inspector was not allowed to include the Gunfleet Sands wind farm as part of his decision.
Why the 'eck not?
I am all for renewable energies but we in Tendring are doing our bit. I suppose he cant include the Gunfleet sands extension project either.
Why dont they go the whole hog and flatten Holland on Sea and build a nuclear power station, and while your at it build a tidal barrage on the river colne.
Or even better: lets not worry about any of these and simply harness the hot air coming out of the Government benches
Posted on 24 November 2009 21:56 by David Filce
Ads on, or for, Turbine Towers?
From www.adn.com
Wind turbines OK, Kenai says, but no ads please
Published: November 24th, 2009 10:49 AM
Last Modified: November 24th, 2009 10:49 AM
Link: Peninsula Clarion Kenai has become just the second community in Alaska to adopt guidelines for construction of electricity-generating wind turbines, and proponents say the rules are better than those of Homer, the only other city to address the issue. The Kenai City Council says owners of a 20,000-square-foot lot in residential districts can build a turbine up to 80 feet high. In Homer, residents need a full acre. But Kenai residents can forget about selling advertising rights to their towers: The council prohibited billboards as well as bright colors.
Wind turbines OK, Kenai says, but no ads please
Published: November 24th, 2009 10:49 AM
Last Modified: November 24th, 2009 10:49 AM
Link: Peninsula Clarion Kenai has become just the second community in Alaska to adopt guidelines for construction of electricity-generating wind turbines, and proponents say the rules are better than those of Homer, the only other city to address the issue. The Kenai City Council says owners of a 20,000-square-foot lot in residential districts can build a turbine up to 80 feet high. In Homer, residents need a full acre. But Kenai residents can forget about selling advertising rights to their towers: The council prohibited billboards as well as bright colors.
Island Nurse Practioner Issue Not Resolved
From the Chronicle Herald
Nurse practitioner likely out of a job
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
Fri. Nov 27 - 4:46 AM
A group of about 60 residents of Digby Neck protest outside Province House in Halifax last month. They are upset over the recent dismissal of a nurse practitioner in their area. (Peter Parsons / Staff)
It now looks like a nurse practitioner on Long Island, Digby County, who was let go last month won’t be getting her job back soon.
And that doesn’t sit well with most folks.
Some say nurse practitioner Karen Snider was fired after she made public comments about the need for a full-time office clerk in a health clinic on the island.
And if she wants her job back, the local health authority wants her to recant by signing a letter that would possibly include an apology to be presented to the public, said Warden Jim Thurber of the Municipality of the District of Digby.
He is also the councillor for the district the clinic serves.
Ms. Snider was employed by the South West Nova district health authority.
Before the health authority would even discuss other conditions of her return, it requested "that she make a public statement which, in my opinion . . . would have made it look like she was the reason for . . . her dismissal," Mr. Thurber said Thursday.
"I guess that would be what would be insinuated from the statement she would have been required to make.
"It appears to us that the district health authority has no flexibility and we’ve been let down.
"We have a perfectly capable health practitioner who’s going to leave Nova Scotia (and) we don’t feel a proper replacement is going to come in.
"She was liked by the people. The people felt they were being properly looked after. The clinic was working better than it’s worked since it was established there.
The problem may have originated when the nurse practitioner commented locally in a community newsletter about how a clinic receptionist-clerk should be given full-time hours because more than 20 patients a day were often being seen.
"So the nurse practitioner made the case . . . (for) full-time funding by going directly to the public to argue for good health care for the islands," Andy Moir of the Islands health liaison committee said in an earlier interview.
The hours that the part-time office receptionist worked were never cut back, said an authority spokesman.
"They were temporarily increased to full time while they were implementing a new computer system and once that was done successfully, they put the clerical person back to her regular hours," said Fraser Mooney.
He said nurse practitioners are hard to recruit for places like Digby Neck.
"We’re not about to dismiss a nurse practitioner who has apparently been embraced by the community just because she spoke out or hurt our feelings," said Mr. Mooney.
"We would expect that there would be a lot more issues of concern that would lead to someone’s dismissal," he said, without going into detail.
The employer has been talking with the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union about the case, which has not been resolved, said Mr. Mooney.
The health authority said earlier that care provided by the nurse practitioner was never an issue.
On Saturday, the community will get together to decide on how to proceed, said Mr. Thurber.
Health Department officials said they cannot intervene, he said.
"We’ve still got hope that someone there can give us the right resolution to this."
He said he wanted to invite the health minister, the deputy minister and the premier to Saturday’s meeting.
"I’m sure the community . . . isn’t going to let this just disappear. They’re going to regroup and probably come back stronger than ever."
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald said Thursday she is aware the community is concerned, but the matter is an employer-employee issue.
( bmedel@herald.ca)
Nurse practitioner likely out of a job
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
Fri. Nov 27 - 4:46 AM
A group of about 60 residents of Digby Neck protest outside Province House in Halifax last month. They are upset over the recent dismissal of a nurse practitioner in their area. (Peter Parsons / Staff)
It now looks like a nurse practitioner on Long Island, Digby County, who was let go last month won’t be getting her job back soon.
And that doesn’t sit well with most folks.
Some say nurse practitioner Karen Snider was fired after she made public comments about the need for a full-time office clerk in a health clinic on the island.
And if she wants her job back, the local health authority wants her to recant by signing a letter that would possibly include an apology to be presented to the public, said Warden Jim Thurber of the Municipality of the District of Digby.
He is also the councillor for the district the clinic serves.
Ms. Snider was employed by the South West Nova district health authority.
Before the health authority would even discuss other conditions of her return, it requested "that she make a public statement which, in my opinion . . . would have made it look like she was the reason for . . . her dismissal," Mr. Thurber said Thursday.
"I guess that would be what would be insinuated from the statement she would have been required to make.
"It appears to us that the district health authority has no flexibility and we’ve been let down.
"We have a perfectly capable health practitioner who’s going to leave Nova Scotia (and) we don’t feel a proper replacement is going to come in.
"She was liked by the people. The people felt they were being properly looked after. The clinic was working better than it’s worked since it was established there.
The problem may have originated when the nurse practitioner commented locally in a community newsletter about how a clinic receptionist-clerk should be given full-time hours because more than 20 patients a day were often being seen.
"So the nurse practitioner made the case . . . (for) full-time funding by going directly to the public to argue for good health care for the islands," Andy Moir of the Islands health liaison committee said in an earlier interview.
The hours that the part-time office receptionist worked were never cut back, said an authority spokesman.
"They were temporarily increased to full time while they were implementing a new computer system and once that was done successfully, they put the clerical person back to her regular hours," said Fraser Mooney.
He said nurse practitioners are hard to recruit for places like Digby Neck.
"We’re not about to dismiss a nurse practitioner who has apparently been embraced by the community just because she spoke out or hurt our feelings," said Mr. Mooney.
"We would expect that there would be a lot more issues of concern that would lead to someone’s dismissal," he said, without going into detail.
The employer has been talking with the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union about the case, which has not been resolved, said Mr. Mooney.
The health authority said earlier that care provided by the nurse practitioner was never an issue.
On Saturday, the community will get together to decide on how to proceed, said Mr. Thurber.
Health Department officials said they cannot intervene, he said.
"We’ve still got hope that someone there can give us the right resolution to this."
He said he wanted to invite the health minister, the deputy minister and the premier to Saturday’s meeting.
"I’m sure the community . . . isn’t going to let this just disappear. They’re going to regroup and probably come back stronger than ever."
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald said Thursday she is aware the community is concerned, but the matter is an employer-employee issue.
( bmedel@herald.ca)
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Danny on Politicians
Dear Editor:
"For the good of the Municipality", say's one; "for the good of Nova Scotia" say's the other. I'm talking about the local Warden and the Minister of the Environment at two levels of government which hold our well-being in their hands, (but hardly in their hearts), with regard to Wind Farms. I think they confuse their understanding of "good" with what we have revered through the ages as "the common good."
But to appease the "religious" in me and perhaps some of like-kind, I quote:
"Caiaphas,who was High Priest that year,said: "What fools you are! Don't you realize that it is better for you to have one man die for the people, instead of having the whole nation destroyed?" (Jn.11:49-50 Good News New Testament,4th.ed)
Our elected politicians see "the good" with dollar signs in their eyes; while the humanist of religious faith or none sees "people." People don't need all that much save for quality of life, health, home,respect,happiness and security. But when my politician with neither training in the humanities nor the sciences dictates to me in year 2009 (and to you) what they have learned from "paid underlings" who may well be in bed with the proponents of consumerism and greed, as to what is the "common good", I say "taurinal excrement" Sir! or M'am!
The recent history of Digby Neck and Islands bespeaks catastrophe to me. Our unlearned leaders listen not to me or anybody else who at least may have read a book, and like the ostrich, bury their heads in the sands of utter denial and of any possibility that I or my compatriots may know something they don't.
Quarry after quarry; water bottling plant; and wind turbines, I am sure, outstretched from East Ferry to the Digby Town line is what's ahead......n'ere to traverse Islands nor the stretch between the affluent Lighthouse and Shore Roads....Mark my words! Thank God, by then I shall be dead but hardly as dead as they are now to truth.
Daniel Mills
9396 Waterford
RR 4,Digby NS
BOV 1AO
1-902-245-5171
"For the good of the Municipality", say's one; "for the good of Nova Scotia" say's the other. I'm talking about the local Warden and the Minister of the Environment at two levels of government which hold our well-being in their hands, (but hardly in their hearts), with regard to Wind Farms. I think they confuse their understanding of "good" with what we have revered through the ages as "the common good."
But to appease the "religious" in me and perhaps some of like-kind, I quote:
"Caiaphas,who was High Priest that year,said: "What fools you are! Don't you realize that it is better for you to have one man die for the people, instead of having the whole nation destroyed?" (Jn.11:49-50 Good News New Testament,4th.ed)
Our elected politicians see "the good" with dollar signs in their eyes; while the humanist of religious faith or none sees "people." People don't need all that much save for quality of life, health, home,respect,happiness and security. But when my politician with neither training in the humanities nor the sciences dictates to me in year 2009 (and to you) what they have learned from "paid underlings" who may well be in bed with the proponents of consumerism and greed, as to what is the "common good", I say "taurinal excrement" Sir! or M'am!
The recent history of Digby Neck and Islands bespeaks catastrophe to me. Our unlearned leaders listen not to me or anybody else who at least may have read a book, and like the ostrich, bury their heads in the sands of utter denial and of any possibility that I or my compatriots may know something they don't.
Quarry after quarry; water bottling plant; and wind turbines, I am sure, outstretched from East Ferry to the Digby Town line is what's ahead......n'ere to traverse Islands nor the stretch between the affluent Lighthouse and Shore Roads....Mark my words! Thank God, by then I shall be dead but hardly as dead as they are now to truth.
Daniel Mills
9396 Waterford
RR 4,Digby NS
BOV 1AO
1-902-245-5171
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Nurse Practioner Stalemate
Hopefully Andy and Jim won't mind me posting this. Hopefully others will read and support the return of the nurse practioner.
DHA shows its true coloursAs of tonight, we have come to a stalemate in our attempt to get Karen rehired as our nurse practitioner. In the past 36 hours the DHA put forward a set of non-negotiable demands, which no one in their right mind would or could accept. The demands would be charitably described as punitive. Vindictive is another word that leaps to mind. In essence their demands are designed to humiliate rather than heal. Over the last eight weeks we have asked you to trust us…as we did in others we were dealing with. Our trust was misplaced. At the end, the knowledge our communities have that Karen is a wonderful nurse practitioner, who suits us just fine, didn’t matter to the decision makers. Some wanted blood. Others just wanted this whole thing to go away. In the end, the importance of “process” won out over our health care. There is nothing left to negotiate with the DHA. They have demonstrated beyond any doubt that our lack of confidence in them is entirely justified. We now have to explore our options, as Karen explores hers. Unless the Government is convinced to come up with a new plan soon, she will most certainly have to leave this place. Nova Scotia, and especially our Islands, are going to lose a top notch health professional because of the petty actions of health care bureaucrats. The community will have to come together soon to decide on the next steps we want to take. I, for one, am not defeated. The disregard these people have for what is right and important doesn’t just make me angry, it energizes me for the fight ahead. I’d propose a community meeting for Saturday afternoon at the Community Hall in Freeport. Andy and Jim
DHA shows its true coloursAs of tonight, we have come to a stalemate in our attempt to get Karen rehired as our nurse practitioner. In the past 36 hours the DHA put forward a set of non-negotiable demands, which no one in their right mind would or could accept. The demands would be charitably described as punitive. Vindictive is another word that leaps to mind. In essence their demands are designed to humiliate rather than heal. Over the last eight weeks we have asked you to trust us…as we did in others we were dealing with. Our trust was misplaced. At the end, the knowledge our communities have that Karen is a wonderful nurse practitioner, who suits us just fine, didn’t matter to the decision makers. Some wanted blood. Others just wanted this whole thing to go away. In the end, the importance of “process” won out over our health care. There is nothing left to negotiate with the DHA. They have demonstrated beyond any doubt that our lack of confidence in them is entirely justified. We now have to explore our options, as Karen explores hers. Unless the Government is convinced to come up with a new plan soon, she will most certainly have to leave this place. Nova Scotia, and especially our Islands, are going to lose a top notch health professional because of the petty actions of health care bureaucrats. The community will have to come together soon to decide on the next steps we want to take. I, for one, am not defeated. The disregard these people have for what is right and important doesn’t just make me angry, it energizes me for the fight ahead. I’d propose a community meeting for Saturday afternoon at the Community Hall in Freeport. Andy and Jim
Carbon Hunters
Carbon Hunters
Thursday November 26, 2009 at 8 pm on CBC-TV
Repeating: Friday November 27, 2009 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network
Carbon Hunters
Watch the promo online.
2:01 minutes
Is it possible, considering the many obstacles, to stop global warming, or at least reduce its harm? Anticipating the important United Nations Climate Change Conference starting December 7 in Copenhagen, Doc Zone presents the World Premiere of a timely and intriguing new documentary by Vancouver filmmaker/journalist Miro Cernetig, Carbon Hunters.
Carbon Hunters delves into the controversial, little-understood, yet booming industry of carbon credit trading as a potentially workable mechanism towards solving what most people now acknowledge as the greatest crisis facing the planet: global warming.
This is a crisis with no easy solutions. Voters so far seem reluctant to accept carbon taxes so, while we wait for industry and governments to sign on to binding international agreements that will fix limits on air pollution, one possible solution is good to go right now: carbon trading.
Sometimes called emissions trading, carbon offset, or cap-and-trade, carbon trading is attractive to many because it is a market-driven solution that puts a fixed price on pollution, allowing those who pollute to pay and those do not pollute to profit from their position.
Enter Vancouver entrepreneur Shawn Burns. They say every cloud has a silver lining. In Burns' case, he thinks that cloud is global warming and that there may be a way to stop it and make money along the way. The CEO of Carbon Credit Corp. is a 'carbon hunter' - a whole new breed of entrepreneur in a booming new industry: global traders who scour the planet looking for carbon credits. Burns and his partners package those credits and sell them to polluters, taking a cut from the sale.
The plan for trading carbon as a global commodity was hatched at the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Today, that carbon trading market is a 'green rush' that's already worth $100 billion and climbing. But how does it actually work, and what does a carbon credit actually buy?
Filmmaker Miro Cernetig travels from BC to the Canadian prairie, and on to India, Philippines, Hollywood, Chicago, London and New York to find answers, linking seemingly disparate elements like the dung of sacred cows in India, the band Coldplay, Alberta wheat farmers, movie star Cameron Diaz, Filipino garbage scavengers, U.S. President Barack Obama, sea algae, the Assembly of First Nations in Canada, an English funeral director, the Amazon rain forest, and the Alberta Tar Sands.
Cernetig hears from supporters of this profit motive-driven solution, like influential Canadian Maurice Strong, who feels that carbon trading is "an essential element in the solution...and the most effective one that's actually working at this moment," and detractors, like Kevin Smith of the group Carbon Trade Watch and author of the book Carbon Neutral Myth - Offset Indulgences for your Climate Sins, who argues that the carbon trading business is all smoke and mirrors. As for Shawn Burns, he concludes, "Rather than just exploiting resources now we can make money protecting resources. I think you can make money and save the planet at the same time. And I think you should."
And where does the average Canadian come into this? Cernetig talks to a Vancouver man who learned whether the tree he bought as a carbon credit to offset an airplane trip really made a difference. "This is the first film that takes a global look at how you buy a carbon credit and what you get - or don't get - when you do," says Cernetig. "In our travels we've discovered the difficulties and ethical quandaries behind creating a new commodity - carbon credits - to deal with climate change."
Carbon Hunters is produced by Force Four Entertainment in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporatio
Thursday November 26, 2009 at 8 pm on CBC-TV
Repeating: Friday November 27, 2009 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network
Carbon Hunters
Watch the promo online.
2:01 minutes
Is it possible, considering the many obstacles, to stop global warming, or at least reduce its harm? Anticipating the important United Nations Climate Change Conference starting December 7 in Copenhagen, Doc Zone presents the World Premiere of a timely and intriguing new documentary by Vancouver filmmaker/journalist Miro Cernetig, Carbon Hunters.
Carbon Hunters delves into the controversial, little-understood, yet booming industry of carbon credit trading as a potentially workable mechanism towards solving what most people now acknowledge as the greatest crisis facing the planet: global warming.
This is a crisis with no easy solutions. Voters so far seem reluctant to accept carbon taxes so, while we wait for industry and governments to sign on to binding international agreements that will fix limits on air pollution, one possible solution is good to go right now: carbon trading.
Sometimes called emissions trading, carbon offset, or cap-and-trade, carbon trading is attractive to many because it is a market-driven solution that puts a fixed price on pollution, allowing those who pollute to pay and those do not pollute to profit from their position.
Enter Vancouver entrepreneur Shawn Burns. They say every cloud has a silver lining. In Burns' case, he thinks that cloud is global warming and that there may be a way to stop it and make money along the way. The CEO of Carbon Credit Corp. is a 'carbon hunter' - a whole new breed of entrepreneur in a booming new industry: global traders who scour the planet looking for carbon credits. Burns and his partners package those credits and sell them to polluters, taking a cut from the sale.
The plan for trading carbon as a global commodity was hatched at the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Today, that carbon trading market is a 'green rush' that's already worth $100 billion and climbing. But how does it actually work, and what does a carbon credit actually buy?
Filmmaker Miro Cernetig travels from BC to the Canadian prairie, and on to India, Philippines, Hollywood, Chicago, London and New York to find answers, linking seemingly disparate elements like the dung of sacred cows in India, the band Coldplay, Alberta wheat farmers, movie star Cameron Diaz, Filipino garbage scavengers, U.S. President Barack Obama, sea algae, the Assembly of First Nations in Canada, an English funeral director, the Amazon rain forest, and the Alberta Tar Sands.
Cernetig hears from supporters of this profit motive-driven solution, like influential Canadian Maurice Strong, who feels that carbon trading is "an essential element in the solution...and the most effective one that's actually working at this moment," and detractors, like Kevin Smith of the group Carbon Trade Watch and author of the book Carbon Neutral Myth - Offset Indulgences for your Climate Sins, who argues that the carbon trading business is all smoke and mirrors. As for Shawn Burns, he concludes, "Rather than just exploiting resources now we can make money protecting resources. I think you can make money and save the planet at the same time. And I think you should."
And where does the average Canadian come into this? Cernetig talks to a Vancouver man who learned whether the tree he bought as a carbon credit to offset an airplane trip really made a difference. "This is the first film that takes a global look at how you buy a carbon credit and what you get - or don't get - when you do," says Cernetig. "In our travels we've discovered the difficulties and ethical quandaries behind creating a new commodity - carbon credits - to deal with climate change."
Carbon Hunters is produced by Force Four Entertainment in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporatio
Labels:
carbon offsets,
carbon trading,
CBC
Industrial Wind Projects
When are MPP's going to take action and support an investigation into the complaints from people living within Industrial Wind Projects??? The Norfolk victims continue to try find an alternate place to live with little success. AIM Powergen has yet to provide these people with a solutions. Many of the Ripley, Amaranth and Melancthon residents have had to abandon their homes. MOE complains that they do not have a proper methodology to assess for uncompliant noise levels, yet use noise as the parameter by which setbacks are determined. Wind developers continue saying they are meeting the MOE noise guidelines and continue with construction of their projects despite MOE indicating that they are suppose to meet site plan agreements that were in place prior to the proclamation of the Renewable Energy approval process.
Is your political will so hampered by perception, that residents must be used as expendable collateral in order to promulgate an ideology that will never reduce greenhouse gases in significant amounts because it will never replace coal generation, will never provide long term jobs, or provide this province with a new "green" economy?
Can I ever expect an answer and solution to these problems?
Colette McLean
Essex County
Is your political will so hampered by perception, that residents must be used as expendable collateral in order to promulgate an ideology that will never reduce greenhouse gases in significant amounts because it will never replace coal generation, will never provide long term jobs, or provide this province with a new "green" economy?
Can I ever expect an answer and solution to these problems?
Colette McLean
Essex County
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Flu Shots at Bear River Clinic
From: Bear River & Area Community Health Clinic
Date: 11/23/2009 1:01:44 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:,
Subject: Upcoming flu shot clinic
Good afternoon everyone,
Just wanted to remind you that we are having another flu shot clinic this Thursday, November 26 at 5:00 pm. We have both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine available. For pregnant women, we will have a supply of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine for you.
I expect this to be a very busy clinic, please bring your health card and register on arrival. Be prepared for a significant wait time and please remember to dress warmly. If you like, you can also bring a folding chair.
Just an update for those with small children...
For all children from 6 months to less than 3 years, a second dose is recommended
For those 3-5 years old, a second dose in only needed if your child has a chronic medical condition of if he/she is immunocompromised
Children 3-5 years old who are healthy do not need a second dose*
* - This information may change. This is the current recommendation
Leslie Harris, LPN
Clinic Coordinator
Bear River & Area Community Health Clinic
1112 River Road, PO Box 85
Bear River, NS
B0S 1B0
(902) 467-3611 [p]
(902) 467-3339 [f]
www.bearriverandareaclinic.ca
Date: 11/23/2009 1:01:44 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:,
Subject: Upcoming flu shot clinic
Good afternoon everyone,
Just wanted to remind you that we are having another flu shot clinic this Thursday, November 26 at 5:00 pm. We have both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine available. For pregnant women, we will have a supply of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine for you.
I expect this to be a very busy clinic, please bring your health card and register on arrival. Be prepared for a significant wait time and please remember to dress warmly. If you like, you can also bring a folding chair.
Just an update for those with small children...
For all children from 6 months to less than 3 years, a second dose is recommended
For those 3-5 years old, a second dose in only needed if your child has a chronic medical condition of if he/she is immunocompromised
Children 3-5 years old who are healthy do not need a second dose*
* - This information may change. This is the current recommendation
Leslie Harris, LPN
Clinic Coordinator
Bear River & Area Community Health Clinic
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Bear River, NS
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www.bearriverandareaclinic.ca
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Nova Scotia Renewable Energy
establishing Designated Areas and/or Exclusion Zones for the development of large wind farms in Nova Scotia
This is from David Wheeler’s group which is working up recommendations on renewable energy for Darrell Dexter. The formal name is Nova Scotia Renewable Energy Stakeholder Consultation Process. The following quote is from the Draft Synthesis Report by Dr Yves Gagnon of Universite de Moncton dated November 2009.
“...for certain areas, the development of wind farms can generate a lot of opposition, notably if the wind farms have an impact on landscapes that are important for the surrounding communities. A good practice that has been applied in other jurisdictions is to define Designated Areas and/or Exclusion Zones for the development of large wind farms. Since Nova Scotia has an exceptional wind resource, and considering the relatively small absolute quantity of wind energy that can be integrated in the province (because of the relatively small electricity system), it should be relatively easy to identify sufficient locations to install wind farms that will minimize the negative impacts in communities”.
This is one of the more positive things that has come out of this group’s discussions.
The synthesis report was discussed at the group’s meeting last week (Nov 17). Their final stakeholder meeting is Dec 15. They expect to submit a report by the end of the year.
This is from David Wheeler’s group which is working up recommendations on renewable energy for Darrell Dexter. The formal name is Nova Scotia Renewable Energy Stakeholder Consultation Process. The following quote is from the Draft Synthesis Report by Dr Yves Gagnon of Universite de Moncton dated November 2009.
“...for certain areas, the development of wind farms can generate a lot of opposition, notably if the wind farms have an impact on landscapes that are important for the surrounding communities. A good practice that has been applied in other jurisdictions is to define Designated Areas and/or Exclusion Zones for the development of large wind farms. Since Nova Scotia has an exceptional wind resource, and considering the relatively small absolute quantity of wind energy that can be integrated in the province (because of the relatively small electricity system), it should be relatively easy to identify sufficient locations to install wind farms that will minimize the negative impacts in communities”.
This is one of the more positive things that has come out of this group’s discussions.
The synthesis report was discussed at the group’s meeting last week (Nov 17). Their final stakeholder meeting is Dec 15. They expect to submit a report by the end of the year.
The Globe and Mail: Gwyn Morgan
From the Globe and Mail
Gwyn Morgan
A few questions to put your energy literacy to the test
Access to affordable energy is essential to our way of life, making the upcoming gathering of world leaders in Copenhagen profoundly important
Published on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 12:00AM EST Last updated on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 6:51AM EST
Gwyn Morgan is the retired founding CEO of EnCana Corp.
Access to affordable energy is essential to our way of life, making the upcoming gathering of world leaders in Copenhagen profoundly important. Yet few Canadians possess the level of "energy literacy" needed to understand what's at stake. Here are a few questions that will help test your own energy literacy.
What is the fastest-growing form of global energy use?
If you said electricity, you're right. And because coal is the major fuel for electricity, power generation contributes about 21 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared with land, sea and air transportation at 11 per cent, according to International Energy Agency data.
What is the case in Canada?
Electricity generation produces 17 per cent of Canadian GHG emissions. Transportation produces 25 per cent, much higher than the global average and reflecting the size of our country.
Which fuels generate Canada's power?
Nationally, hydro contributes about 61 per cent, coal 20 per cent, nuclear energy 15 per cent, natural gas and oil 4 per cent. Wind contributes less than one-half of 1 per cent, according to Canadian Electricity Association data.
Are there differences in how provinces generate power?
There certainly are. Hydro supplies almost all power in British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland. Coal dominates power generation in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. Coal, hydro and nuclear provide New Brunswick's and PEI's power. Ontario's top source of power generation is nuclear, followed by hydro and coal.
How important is the cost of electric power?
It's absolutely crucial. The cost of electrical power is embedded in virtually everything we produce and consume. And in a globalized economy, the cost of electricity is a major competitive factor for Canadian exporters. China, the world's most formidable exporting competitor, already has a significant power cost advantage because of its cheap (and dirty) coal-fired plants.
Won't the Copenhagen framework level the playing field by imposing emissions restrictions on competing exporters such as China?
First, it's important to understand that besides Canada, only Scandinavia, Japan and some members of the European Union have committed to reduce emissions below the 1990 Kyoto base year. And Canada's targets are by far the hardest to reach because both our population and economy have grown a lot more than in those countries. Going into the Copenhagen Summit, statements made by officials from China and India leave little hope those countries will accept any binding reduction targets. So whatever measures Canada agrees to in Copenhagen will only increase other countries' competitive advantage.
British Columbia and Ontario have introduced "green power" plans. How will these policies affect power costs?
Let's look at Ontario first. The current wholesale price of power is less than 5 cents per kilowatt hour. The new "green power" plan offers 13 cents for land-based wind farms, 19.5 cents for offshore wind and bio-gas projects, and up to 80 cents for solar power that will be rolled into provincial power rates. This means that Ontario power consumers will pay from 2.6 to a whopping 16 times their current power cost for green power. The implications for households and businesses caused the Ontario Power Authority to resist the government's green power plan, prompting the provincial minister of energy to "direct the OPA" to authorize the subsidized rates.
British Columbia has a similar green power plan, providing subsidized rates for wind, bio-mass, geothermal and "run of the river" power projects. The cost implications caused the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) to reject the inclusion of the subsidies in BC Hydro's rates. The provincial government has vowed to override the decision of the very experts it has appointed to safeguard the public interest.
What about the reliability of green power?
An interesting aspect of the BCUC's to decision reject the green power plan was the need to retain a standby natural gas fired power plant to meet load requirements during low wind conditions. Thus, wind power is not only more expensive to generate, but its lack of dependability requires costly redundant standby facilities. And plans for a national cap and trade system would see consumers of coal generated power send even more money to green power producers in the form of "carbon credit offsets". Together with paying more for green power, paying for standby generation facilities, this amounts to a triple subsidy for the green power industry, and a triple whammy for consumers.
If wind and solar power are costly and unreliable, what are the low-emission alternatives to coal?
The zero emissions alternative is nuclear. Canada's nuclear technology is not only one of the world's safest, but it can also use a form of fuel not conducive to weapons production. And we have one of the world's largest reserves of uranium. Yet while implementing wind and solar subsidies, B.C. has slapped a ban on uranium exploration. Nova Scotia recently followed suit. Both provinces cited "public resistance" to nuclear power.
How much will green power subsidies increase electricity costs?
That depends on the private sector's reaction to the subsidies. If past experience is any guide, there will be a lot of players ready to grab their share of the largesse. I welcome the addition of various forms of green power to our energy supply. But development of a multibillion-dollar industry based entirely on public subsidies is both a hazardous road for investors, and an unaffordable road for consumers.
Here's the final question, dear readers: Do you think it's time to find out just how profoundly both local and global energy policies could affect your future?
Gwyn Morgan
A few questions to put your energy literacy to the test
Access to affordable energy is essential to our way of life, making the upcoming gathering of world leaders in Copenhagen profoundly important
Published on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 12:00AM EST Last updated on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 6:51AM EST
Gwyn Morgan is the retired founding CEO of EnCana Corp.
Access to affordable energy is essential to our way of life, making the upcoming gathering of world leaders in Copenhagen profoundly important. Yet few Canadians possess the level of "energy literacy" needed to understand what's at stake. Here are a few questions that will help test your own energy literacy.
What is the fastest-growing form of global energy use?
If you said electricity, you're right. And because coal is the major fuel for electricity, power generation contributes about 21 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared with land, sea and air transportation at 11 per cent, according to International Energy Agency data.
What is the case in Canada?
Electricity generation produces 17 per cent of Canadian GHG emissions. Transportation produces 25 per cent, much higher than the global average and reflecting the size of our country.
Which fuels generate Canada's power?
Nationally, hydro contributes about 61 per cent, coal 20 per cent, nuclear energy 15 per cent, natural gas and oil 4 per cent. Wind contributes less than one-half of 1 per cent, according to Canadian Electricity Association data.
Are there differences in how provinces generate power?
There certainly are. Hydro supplies almost all power in British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland. Coal dominates power generation in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. Coal, hydro and nuclear provide New Brunswick's and PEI's power. Ontario's top source of power generation is nuclear, followed by hydro and coal.
How important is the cost of electric power?
It's absolutely crucial. The cost of electrical power is embedded in virtually everything we produce and consume. And in a globalized economy, the cost of electricity is a major competitive factor for Canadian exporters. China, the world's most formidable exporting competitor, already has a significant power cost advantage because of its cheap (and dirty) coal-fired plants.
Won't the Copenhagen framework level the playing field by imposing emissions restrictions on competing exporters such as China?
First, it's important to understand that besides Canada, only Scandinavia, Japan and some members of the European Union have committed to reduce emissions below the 1990 Kyoto base year. And Canada's targets are by far the hardest to reach because both our population and economy have grown a lot more than in those countries. Going into the Copenhagen Summit, statements made by officials from China and India leave little hope those countries will accept any binding reduction targets. So whatever measures Canada agrees to in Copenhagen will only increase other countries' competitive advantage.
British Columbia and Ontario have introduced "green power" plans. How will these policies affect power costs?
Let's look at Ontario first. The current wholesale price of power is less than 5 cents per kilowatt hour. The new "green power" plan offers 13 cents for land-based wind farms, 19.5 cents for offshore wind and bio-gas projects, and up to 80 cents for solar power that will be rolled into provincial power rates. This means that Ontario power consumers will pay from 2.6 to a whopping 16 times their current power cost for green power. The implications for households and businesses caused the Ontario Power Authority to resist the government's green power plan, prompting the provincial minister of energy to "direct the OPA" to authorize the subsidized rates.
British Columbia has a similar green power plan, providing subsidized rates for wind, bio-mass, geothermal and "run of the river" power projects. The cost implications caused the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) to reject the inclusion of the subsidies in BC Hydro's rates. The provincial government has vowed to override the decision of the very experts it has appointed to safeguard the public interest.
What about the reliability of green power?
An interesting aspect of the BCUC's to decision reject the green power plan was the need to retain a standby natural gas fired power plant to meet load requirements during low wind conditions. Thus, wind power is not only more expensive to generate, but its lack of dependability requires costly redundant standby facilities. And plans for a national cap and trade system would see consumers of coal generated power send even more money to green power producers in the form of "carbon credit offsets". Together with paying more for green power, paying for standby generation facilities, this amounts to a triple subsidy for the green power industry, and a triple whammy for consumers.
If wind and solar power are costly and unreliable, what are the low-emission alternatives to coal?
The zero emissions alternative is nuclear. Canada's nuclear technology is not only one of the world's safest, but it can also use a form of fuel not conducive to weapons production. And we have one of the world's largest reserves of uranium. Yet while implementing wind and solar subsidies, B.C. has slapped a ban on uranium exploration. Nova Scotia recently followed suit. Both provinces cited "public resistance" to nuclear power.
How much will green power subsidies increase electricity costs?
That depends on the private sector's reaction to the subsidies. If past experience is any guide, there will be a lot of players ready to grab their share of the largesse. I welcome the addition of various forms of green power to our energy supply. But development of a multibillion-dollar industry based entirely on public subsidies is both a hazardous road for investors, and an unaffordable road for consumers.
Here's the final question, dear readers: Do you think it's time to find out just how profoundly both local and global energy policies could affect your future?
Wind Reports and Links
From Reportlinker.com
Wind Turbine Opportunities and Outlook
Wind Turbine Oppoirtunities and Outlook
Technology Innovations, Regulatory Structures, Key Market Players, and Global Growth Drivers
New wind power generation capacity additions grew from 13% of all electricity additions in 2007 to 40% in 2008, reaching 121 GW by the end of 2008, up from 94 GW the year before (29% growth). The global market for wind turbines will continue to grow through 2015 driven by new generation additions as well as replacements of smaller, older turbines with new, larger, more efficient turbines.
Drivers of growth include rising demand for electricity, pro-wind regulatory environments, advantages over other renewables, and technological innovations driving down lifetime costs of producing wind power. Still, the growth of wind power will be inhibited by persistent economic disadvantages to traditional fuels and transmission line constraints. Taking these factors into account, Pike Research expects wind turbine sales to reach $43 billion by 2015.
This Pike Research report analyzes the opportunities and challenges facing wind power – particularly turbine manufacturers – in the current economic and political climate. The report provides a deep examination of the key market factors in the wind industry, including technology issues, regulatory frameworks, access to capital and financing structures, supply chain issues, and the wind turbine competitive landscape. Key players in the wind energy business are profiled and the report also includes rich quantitative analysis including market sizing, segmentation, market share analysis of top turbine vendors, and global growth forecasts by country through 2015.
Key questions addressed:
What will be the global installed wind generation capacity by 2015?How many turbines will be required to meet wind generation capacity goals, including replacing aging fleets?What are the key industry growth drivers and challenges inhibiting growth of wind power?What are the economics of turbine manufacturing, installation, operations, and maintenance?What technological advances may drive down the lifetime costs of wind power production?What market shares do the top turbine manufacturers have of installed wind generate on capacity?
Who needs this report?
Wind turbine manufacturers (OEM and components)Wind energy developersWind turbine raw materials suppliersWind energy investorsWind energy EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) providersGovernment agencies and regulatory officialsIndustry associations
1. Executive Summary2. Market Issues2.1 Defining the Market2.1.1 Wind Power in the Context of All Electricity Sources2.1.1.1 Global Cumulative Electricity Capacity and Additions – All Sources2.1.1.2 Global Renewable Electricity Generation Capacity and Additions2.2 Industry Growth Drivers2.2.1 Increasing Demand for Energy2.2.2 Legislative, Regulatory, Incentives, and Subsidies2.2.3 Advantages to Other Renewables2.2.3.1 Lower Lifetime Costs than Solar and Hydroelectric2.2.3.2 Potential Forecasting Improvements2.2.3.3 Less Land Use Impacts than Solar2.2.4 Improvements to Existing Technologies2.2.4.1 Increasing Turbine Capacities2.2.4.2 Self-Erecting Towers2.2.4.3 Better Component Reliability2.3 Implementation Issues2.3.1 Economic Disadvantages to Nonrenewable Sources2.3.2 Transmission Line Constraints3. Technology Issues3.1 Wind Turbine Basics3.1.1 Towers3.1.2 Nacelles and Interior Components3.1.3 Rotors – Blades and Hub3.1.4 Wind Turbine Raw Materials3.1.5 Types3.1.5.1 Horizontal Axis vs. Vertical Axis3.1.5.2 Upwind vs. Downwind3.1.5.3 Three Blades vs. Two Blades3.1.5.4 Onshore vs. Offshore3.1.5.5 Direct Drive vs. Traditional Geared Turbine3.1.6 Marketability and Commercialization3.1.6.1 Cost3.1.6.1.1 Equipment Costs3.1.6.1.2 Balance of Station Costs3.1.6.1.3 Operations and Maintenance Costs3.1.6.1.4 Refurbishment Costs3.1.6.2 Efficiency3.1.6.3 Reliability3.1.6.4 Scalability3.1.6.5 Availability4. Market Forecasts and Demand Drivers by Region4.1 World Energy Generation by Region4.2 World Renewable Energy Generation by Region4.2.1 Wind Energy Market Forecasts – Three Scenarios4.2.2 Baseline Scenario (1) by Region4.2.3 Recession Scenario (2) by Region4.2.4 Recession Scenario (2) by Region4.2.5 Estimated Global Wind Turbine Sales – Baseline Scenario4.2.5.1 Turbine Prices Expected to Increase with Inflation4.2.5.2 Demand for Turbines Partly Driven by Replacement of Aging Fleet4.2.6 Estimated Wind Energy Production by Region – Baseline Scenario (1)4.2.7 Wind Energy Forecasts by Region and Select Countries (Baseline Scenario)4.2.7.1 North America4.2.7.1.1 United States4.2.7.1.2 Canada4.2.7.2 Latin America4.2.7.2.1 Brazil4.2.7.2.2 Mexico4.2.7.3 Europe4.2.7.3.1 Germany4.2.7.3.2 Spain4.2.7.3.3 Italy4.2.7.3.4 France4.2.7.3.5 United Kingdom (UK)4.2.7.3.6 Portugal4.2.7.3.7 Netherlands4.2.7.3.8 Denmark4.2.7.3.9 Other European Countries4.2.7.4 Asia Pacific4.2.7.4.1 China4.2.7.4.2 India4.2.7.4.3 Japan4.2.7.4.4 Australia4.2.7.4.5 Other Asia Pacific Countries4.2.7.5 Africa and Middle East5. Key Industry Players5.1 Established Turbine Designers, Integrators, and Manufacturers5.1.1 ACCIONA Energia5.1.2 Enercon5.1.3 Gamesa5.1.4 GE Wind Energy5.1.5 Mitsubishi Power Systems5.1.6 Nordex Group5.1.7 REpower Systems AG5.1.8 Siemens Energy Sector5.1.9 Suzlon Energy Limited5.1.10 Vestas5.2 New Entrants and Innovators: Turbine Designers, Integrators, and Manufacturers5.2.1 American Superconductor (AMSC) and Windtec (subsidiary)5.2.2 Clipper Windpower5.2.3 Eozen5.2.4 Nordic Windpower5.3 Turbine Component Manufacturers5.3.1 Bosch Rexroth5.3.2 LM Glasfiber6. Company Directory7. Acronym and Abbreviation List8. Table of Contents9. Table of Figures10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, NotesTable of Charts and FiguresGlobal Cumulative Electricity Capacity by Source: 2007Global Electricity Capacity Additions: 2007Global Cumulative Renewable Electricity Capacity by Source: 2007Global Renewable Electricity Capacity Additions by Source: 2007Comparative Household Electricity Prices for Industrialized Countries: 1999-2006Comparative Industry Electricity Prices for Industrialized Countries: 1999-2006Global Installed Electricity Generating Capacity by Geographic Region: 2005-2025Electricity Generation Sources for U.S., OECD Europe and Japan: 2007Global Cumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity by Scenario: 2006-2015Global Annual Wind Power Capacity Additions by Scenario: 2007-2015Cumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity by Region, Baseline ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Recession ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Recession ScenarioCumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity by Region, Government Pullback ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Government Pullback ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Policy ForecastCumulative Wind power Production, Baseline Scenario: 2006-2015Cumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity in North America, Baseline ScenarioCumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity in Latin America, Baseline ScenarioCumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity in Top 8 European CountriesCumulative Power Generation Capacity, Top 4 Asia Pacific Countries: 2006-2015Wind Turbine Market Share by Manufacturer: 2008American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, Energy FundingEstimated Lifetime Generation Costs by Renewable Fuel TypeWind Speeds Can Drop SuddenlyLand Conversion from Agriculture: Wind vs. Concentrated Solar EnergyCauses of Bird FatalitiesWind Turbine Sizes Have Grown Dramatically Over 30 YearsEstimated Lifetime Generation Costs by Power Production Plant TypeDiagram of a Simple Wind TurbineEvolution of Turbine Tower DesignsDiagram of a Sample NacelleRotor Diameters Increased More than 5X Since 1980Main Raw Materials Used in Wind Turbines: Concrete and SteelOther Key Raw Materials Used in Wind TurbinesHorizontal and Vertical Axis DesignsSelect Wind Turbine PricesSample Capital Costs of an Installed Turbine: 1.5 MW ExampleTypes of Repairs on Wind Turbines (2.5 kW to 1.5 MW)U.S. Renewable Portfolio Standards, Goals, and Required RenewablesSummary of Opportunities and Challenges for Wind Power and Turbine ManufacturingCost for Wind Turbine ComponentsPolicy Discount Factor by CountryRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Latin AmericaRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Top EuropeRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Other EuropeRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Top Asia Pacific CountriesRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Other Asia Pacific CountriesRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Africa and Middle EastTable of TablesCumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2006-2015New Additions of Wind Capacity by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2007-2015Growth in Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2007-2015Wind Energy Production by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2006-2015Average Wind Turbine Price per Kilowatt by Country: 2007-2015New Wind Turbines Deployed by Country: 2007-2015Replacement Wind Turbines Deployed by Country: 2007-2015Total Wind Turbines Deployed by Country: 2007-2015Wind Turbine Revenues by Country: 2007-2015Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Recession Scenario: 2006-2015New Additions of Wind Capacity by Country, Recession Scenario: 2007-2015Growth in Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Recession Scenario: 2007-2015Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Government Pullback Scenario: 2006-2015New Additions of Wind Capacity by Country, Government Pullback Scenario: 2007-2015Growth in Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Government Pullback Scenario: 2007-2015Wind Turbine Market Share by Manufacturer: 2008
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Wind Turbine Opportunities and Outlook
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Technology Innovations, Regulatory Structures, Key Market Players, and Global Growth Drivers
New wind power generation capacity additions grew from 13% of all electricity additions in 2007 to 40% in 2008, reaching 121 GW by the end of 2008, up from 94 GW the year before (29% growth). The global market for wind turbines will continue to grow through 2015 driven by new generation additions as well as replacements of smaller, older turbines with new, larger, more efficient turbines.
Drivers of growth include rising demand for electricity, pro-wind regulatory environments, advantages over other renewables, and technological innovations driving down lifetime costs of producing wind power. Still, the growth of wind power will be inhibited by persistent economic disadvantages to traditional fuels and transmission line constraints. Taking these factors into account, Pike Research expects wind turbine sales to reach $43 billion by 2015.
This Pike Research report analyzes the opportunities and challenges facing wind power – particularly turbine manufacturers – in the current economic and political climate. The report provides a deep examination of the key market factors in the wind industry, including technology issues, regulatory frameworks, access to capital and financing structures, supply chain issues, and the wind turbine competitive landscape. Key players in the wind energy business are profiled and the report also includes rich quantitative analysis including market sizing, segmentation, market share analysis of top turbine vendors, and global growth forecasts by country through 2015.
Key questions addressed:
What will be the global installed wind generation capacity by 2015?How many turbines will be required to meet wind generation capacity goals, including replacing aging fleets?What are the key industry growth drivers and challenges inhibiting growth of wind power?What are the economics of turbine manufacturing, installation, operations, and maintenance?What technological advances may drive down the lifetime costs of wind power production?What market shares do the top turbine manufacturers have of installed wind generate on capacity?
Who needs this report?
Wind turbine manufacturers (OEM and components)Wind energy developersWind turbine raw materials suppliersWind energy investorsWind energy EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) providersGovernment agencies and regulatory officialsIndustry associations
1. Executive Summary2. Market Issues2.1 Defining the Market2.1.1 Wind Power in the Context of All Electricity Sources2.1.1.1 Global Cumulative Electricity Capacity and Additions – All Sources2.1.1.2 Global Renewable Electricity Generation Capacity and Additions2.2 Industry Growth Drivers2.2.1 Increasing Demand for Energy2.2.2 Legislative, Regulatory, Incentives, and Subsidies2.2.3 Advantages to Other Renewables2.2.3.1 Lower Lifetime Costs than Solar and Hydroelectric2.2.3.2 Potential Forecasting Improvements2.2.3.3 Less Land Use Impacts than Solar2.2.4 Improvements to Existing Technologies2.2.4.1 Increasing Turbine Capacities2.2.4.2 Self-Erecting Towers2.2.4.3 Better Component Reliability2.3 Implementation Issues2.3.1 Economic Disadvantages to Nonrenewable Sources2.3.2 Transmission Line Constraints3. Technology Issues3.1 Wind Turbine Basics3.1.1 Towers3.1.2 Nacelles and Interior Components3.1.3 Rotors – Blades and Hub3.1.4 Wind Turbine Raw Materials3.1.5 Types3.1.5.1 Horizontal Axis vs. Vertical Axis3.1.5.2 Upwind vs. Downwind3.1.5.3 Three Blades vs. Two Blades3.1.5.4 Onshore vs. Offshore3.1.5.5 Direct Drive vs. Traditional Geared Turbine3.1.6 Marketability and Commercialization3.1.6.1 Cost3.1.6.1.1 Equipment Costs3.1.6.1.2 Balance of Station Costs3.1.6.1.3 Operations and Maintenance Costs3.1.6.1.4 Refurbishment Costs3.1.6.2 Efficiency3.1.6.3 Reliability3.1.6.4 Scalability3.1.6.5 Availability4. Market Forecasts and Demand Drivers by Region4.1 World Energy Generation by Region4.2 World Renewable Energy Generation by Region4.2.1 Wind Energy Market Forecasts – Three Scenarios4.2.2 Baseline Scenario (1) by Region4.2.3 Recession Scenario (2) by Region4.2.4 Recession Scenario (2) by Region4.2.5 Estimated Global Wind Turbine Sales – Baseline Scenario4.2.5.1 Turbine Prices Expected to Increase with Inflation4.2.5.2 Demand for Turbines Partly Driven by Replacement of Aging Fleet4.2.6 Estimated Wind Energy Production by Region – Baseline Scenario (1)4.2.7 Wind Energy Forecasts by Region and Select Countries (Baseline Scenario)4.2.7.1 North America4.2.7.1.1 United States4.2.7.1.2 Canada4.2.7.2 Latin America4.2.7.2.1 Brazil4.2.7.2.2 Mexico4.2.7.3 Europe4.2.7.3.1 Germany4.2.7.3.2 Spain4.2.7.3.3 Italy4.2.7.3.4 France4.2.7.3.5 United Kingdom (UK)4.2.7.3.6 Portugal4.2.7.3.7 Netherlands4.2.7.3.8 Denmark4.2.7.3.9 Other European Countries4.2.7.4 Asia Pacific4.2.7.4.1 China4.2.7.4.2 India4.2.7.4.3 Japan4.2.7.4.4 Australia4.2.7.4.5 Other Asia Pacific Countries4.2.7.5 Africa and Middle East5. Key Industry Players5.1 Established Turbine Designers, Integrators, and Manufacturers5.1.1 ACCIONA Energia5.1.2 Enercon5.1.3 Gamesa5.1.4 GE Wind Energy5.1.5 Mitsubishi Power Systems5.1.6 Nordex Group5.1.7 REpower Systems AG5.1.8 Siemens Energy Sector5.1.9 Suzlon Energy Limited5.1.10 Vestas5.2 New Entrants and Innovators: Turbine Designers, Integrators, and Manufacturers5.2.1 American Superconductor (AMSC) and Windtec (subsidiary)5.2.2 Clipper Windpower5.2.3 Eozen5.2.4 Nordic Windpower5.3 Turbine Component Manufacturers5.3.1 Bosch Rexroth5.3.2 LM Glasfiber6. Company Directory7. Acronym and Abbreviation List8. Table of Contents9. Table of Figures10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, NotesTable of Charts and FiguresGlobal Cumulative Electricity Capacity by Source: 2007Global Electricity Capacity Additions: 2007Global Cumulative Renewable Electricity Capacity by Source: 2007Global Renewable Electricity Capacity Additions by Source: 2007Comparative Household Electricity Prices for Industrialized Countries: 1999-2006Comparative Industry Electricity Prices for Industrialized Countries: 1999-2006Global Installed Electricity Generating Capacity by Geographic Region: 2005-2025Electricity Generation Sources for U.S., OECD Europe and Japan: 2007Global Cumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity by Scenario: 2006-2015Global Annual Wind Power Capacity Additions by Scenario: 2007-2015Cumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity by Region, Baseline ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Recession ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Recession ScenarioCumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity by Region, Government Pullback ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Government Pullback ScenarioAnnual Wind Power Generation Capacity Additions by Region, Policy ForecastCumulative Wind power Production, Baseline Scenario: 2006-2015Cumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity in North America, Baseline ScenarioCumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity in Latin America, Baseline ScenarioCumulative Wind Power Generation Capacity in Top 8 European CountriesCumulative Power Generation Capacity, Top 4 Asia Pacific Countries: 2006-2015Wind Turbine Market Share by Manufacturer: 2008American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, Energy FundingEstimated Lifetime Generation Costs by Renewable Fuel TypeWind Speeds Can Drop SuddenlyLand Conversion from Agriculture: Wind vs. Concentrated Solar EnergyCauses of Bird FatalitiesWind Turbine Sizes Have Grown Dramatically Over 30 YearsEstimated Lifetime Generation Costs by Power Production Plant TypeDiagram of a Simple Wind TurbineEvolution of Turbine Tower DesignsDiagram of a Sample NacelleRotor Diameters Increased More than 5X Since 1980Main Raw Materials Used in Wind Turbines: Concrete and SteelOther Key Raw Materials Used in Wind TurbinesHorizontal and Vertical Axis DesignsSelect Wind Turbine PricesSample Capital Costs of an Installed Turbine: 1.5 MW ExampleTypes of Repairs on Wind Turbines (2.5 kW to 1.5 MW)U.S. Renewable Portfolio Standards, Goals, and Required RenewablesSummary of Opportunities and Challenges for Wind Power and Turbine ManufacturingCost for Wind Turbine ComponentsPolicy Discount Factor by CountryRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Latin AmericaRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Top EuropeRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Other EuropeRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Top Asia Pacific CountriesRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Other Asia Pacific CountriesRenewable Energy Targets and Wind Energy Policies by Country, Africa and Middle EastTable of TablesCumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2006-2015New Additions of Wind Capacity by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2007-2015Growth in Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2007-2015Wind Energy Production by Country, Baseline Scenario: 2006-2015Average Wind Turbine Price per Kilowatt by Country: 2007-2015New Wind Turbines Deployed by Country: 2007-2015Replacement Wind Turbines Deployed by Country: 2007-2015Total Wind Turbines Deployed by Country: 2007-2015Wind Turbine Revenues by Country: 2007-2015Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Recession Scenario: 2006-2015New Additions of Wind Capacity by Country, Recession Scenario: 2007-2015Growth in Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Recession Scenario: 2007-2015Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Government Pullback Scenario: 2006-2015New Additions of Wind Capacity by Country, Government Pullback Scenario: 2007-2015Growth in Cumulative Installed Wind Capacity by Country, Government Pullback Scenario: 2007-2015Wind Turbine Market Share by Manufacturer: 2008
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Planning Consent for Wind Turbines
From the Somerset County Gazette
MP slams wind turbine proposals
7:00pm Monday 23rd November 2009
By Lloyd Vaughan »
GOVERNMENT proposals to enable wind turbine companies to sidestep planning consent are "a serious worry", according to West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.
The new rules, designed to cut red tape and costs, would have strict noise, appearance and size conditions attached.
But wind turbines up to 50ft high could still be put up without going out to consultation or needing planning permission.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said the move mentioned in last week's Queen's Speech was "disturbing".
“Wind turbines at sea is fair enough,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.
“But if they can just put them up on land willy-nilly, we'd end up with a forest of the things on the Quantocks, Exmoor, the levels and heaven knows where else.
“This is just not the way to do it.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said there had been full consultation over Hinkley C and D power stations: “Such consultation is valuable and essential - but the wind turbine companies could just go ahead and do it.
“It's a serious worry,” he added.
MP slams wind turbine proposals
7:00pm Monday 23rd November 2009
By Lloyd Vaughan »
GOVERNMENT proposals to enable wind turbine companies to sidestep planning consent are "a serious worry", according to West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.
The new rules, designed to cut red tape and costs, would have strict noise, appearance and size conditions attached.
But wind turbines up to 50ft high could still be put up without going out to consultation or needing planning permission.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said the move mentioned in last week's Queen's Speech was "disturbing".
“Wind turbines at sea is fair enough,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.
“But if they can just put them up on land willy-nilly, we'd end up with a forest of the things on the Quantocks, Exmoor, the levels and heaven knows where else.
“This is just not the way to do it.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said there had been full consultation over Hinkley C and D power stations: “Such consultation is valuable and essential - but the wind turbine companies could just go ahead and do it.
“It's a serious worry,” he added.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Events Coming Up
This weekend, don’t miss the 3rd Annual Festival of Trees in Weymouth and the Holiday Spirit Craft Fair in Bear River.
Labels:
Bear River,
Nova Scotia,
Wemouth
Ferry Link in Nova Scotia
Important Tourism Noitce: Southwest Nova Scotia Transportation Study
The Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA) is undertaking a broad review of the transportation needs of Southwest Nova Scotia in order to identify the range of transportation options that will best serve the region in the future.
As this topic is important to the growth and sustainability of tourism in the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores and the South Shore (as it relates to the ferry services in the region) we encourage you as tourism inudstry stakeholders to visit the SWNS transportation study webpage to learn more about the project and to submit your comments: www.swnstransportationstudy.ca.
Please contact SWNovaStudy@cpcstrans.com if you have any questions about the study.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA) is undertaking a broad review of the transportation needs of Southwest Nova Scotia in order to identify the range of transportation options that will best serve the region in the future.
As this topic is important to the growth and sustainability of tourism in the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores and the South Shore (as it relates to the ferry services in the region) we encourage you as tourism inudstry stakeholders to visit the SWNS transportation study webpage to learn more about the project and to submit your comments: www.swnstransportationstudy.ca.
Please contact SWNovaStudy@cpcstrans.com if you have any questions about the study.
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