BOSTON UTILITY TO SELL NEW ENGLAND WIND
Submitted by New Energy News Blog
The people of Boston now have the option of supporting the development of wind energy in New England.
Massachussetts utility NStar was given approval by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to enroll customers in a special program to buy wind generated electricity at a small monthly premium ($4.25/month for half the power bill, $7.25/month for all of it). The money will support the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in upstate New York and the Kibby Wind Power Project in Maine.
NewEnergyNews has never been enthusiastic about this kind of “charity” program. It highlights New Energy’s failure so far to readily meet - on the uneven playing field created by subsidies to Old Energy that New Energy can’t rely on - market competitive rates. On a level playing field, wind would not need such special rates.
Leadership in Washington, however, is showing every indication of ignoring even a gesture toward extending vital production tax credits (PTCs) for the wind energy industry and investment tax credits (ITCs) for the solar energy industry. It therefore becomes necessary – knowing how important it is for the next generations to have a New Energy infrastructure – to take what is available and await the time when national leadership exhibits some wisdom and vision.
So, Thanks, NStar.
Tell Congress their failure to support New Energy won’t do. Sign the petition at Support Renewable Energy Tax Credits
