Comments on: Senator Max Baucus Might be Able to Extend Section 1603 Cash Grants for Wind Power Development

By: Marco Lemes

Marco Lemes — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:00:25 +0000

I commend Sen. Baucus for committing to push the extension of sec. 1603 but concur with the other two commentators here that the extension should include other types of renewables resources. We are a publicly owned electric utility currently partnering with a few small local project developers giving their sweat and blood to implement local biomass-to-energy projects. These projects will bring economic and environmental benefits to the local community, California and the planet by creating jobs; generating revenue from the sale of electricity and high quality compost; generating tax revenues; finding alternative, higher use for organic waste; diverging waste from landfills; offsetting the use of fossil fuels; destroying volatile organic compounds (a smog precursor) as well as capturing and destroying greenhouse gases, among other benefits. The successes of these projects are very much dependent on the extension of sec. 1603. Without the extension and the inclusion of biomass projects, our community will probably not reap the benefits that these biomass-to-energy projects can provide.

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:15:44 +0000

Amen. Also I hope the extensions will apply to solar and geothermal as well. Why any renewable has to beg for help every few years, when fossil energy – a mature industry – gets five times the subsidies…. (!!!!) However, I was unable to find that he had promised this in relation to anything but wind power.

By: Hanafi R Fraval

Hanafi R Fraval — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:37:37 +0000

The news that Sen Baucus is supporting a sec.1603 extension for wind is very positive for renewable energy. But what about biomass-based renewable energy? As former chairman of the Ag Biomass Council, and president of an anaerobic digester company, I can confidently write that were it not for the sec 1603 grant, our project would not be going ahead in California. It is literally the difference between go and NO go. And besides the renewable energy lost, it means raw manure continues to be spread on the land. Odor, flies, water issues, and general environmental mayhem continue. I do hope that biomass renewable energy is added to the sec.1603 extensions.