CHART: Energy Costs And Recessions 1973-2009
The combination of rising gasoline prices and the steepest increase in the cost of food in a generation is threatening to push the US economy into a recession, according to Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners.
Of the six US recessions since 1970, all but the "9-11 year 2001 recession" have been linked to—of not triggered by—energy prices that crossed the 6 percent of personal consumption expenditures, he said. (During the shallow 2001 recession, energy prices had risen to about 5 percent of spending, which is higher than the long-term 4 percent share.)
What may make matters worse this time around, is there has been a steep increase in food prices that occurred as well. In other recent recessions food costs were benign, at between 7.5 percent and 7.8 percent of spending.
This year food prices have climbed 6.5 percent since the beginning of early January, according to Consumer Growth Partners.
Jul 12, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Reader Comments (18)
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/12/take-away-the-ipccs-cash-source-problem-solved/
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/google-delay-on-renewables-will-cost-us-trillions-over-million-jobs/7371
Note: Al Gore is an advisor to google with interests in the energy and green sector.
Google hires 12 lobby firms in wake of FTC probe
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/01/us-google-lobbyists-idUSTRE76056T20110701
[snip]
The 12 newly hired lobbying companies are Akin, Gump; Bingham; Capitol Legislative Strategies; Chesapeake Group; Crossroad Strategies; Gephardt Group; Holland & Knight; Normandy Group; Prime Policy; The First Group; The Madison Group; and The Raben Group.
"We have a strong story to tell about our business and we've sought out the best talent we can find to help tell it," the spokeswoman said.
Google, which has an office in Washington, previously hired six other lobbying firms: Crowell Strategies, Dutko Worldwide, Franklin Square Group, McBee Strategic Consulting, Podesta Group, and RB Murphy & Associates, according to government filings.....
......The firms will be working on the FTC investigation as well as on several other issues that Google is interested in, the spokeswoman said.
It is easier to just ignore speculation and keep repeating over and over again "green shoots", and "our new economy".
http://www.ascension-publishing.com/BIZ/WH-loan-guarantee.pdf
NOTE: The Renewable Energy Loan Guarantees and Grants are set to expire (sunset) on Sept. 30, 2011
http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2011/07/contract-further-entangles-nation-in-global-peruvian-and-world-bank-enviro-agreements.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-08/google-profits-from-tax-credit-to-boost-750-million-energy-plan.html
[snip]
All except two of the company’s investments in clean energy projects were structured as tax-equity financing, tapping government incentives that encourage large companies to back promising projects that often have yet to generate income, said Rick Needham, Google’s director of green business operations.
NOTE: Credits and Grants per Larry Summers memo are to expire Sept. 30, 2011
National Grid seeks OK for power line
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1351452
[snip]
National Grid and Emera Inc. subsidiary Bangor Hydro Electric are seeking a key federal approval for a 220-mile underground transmission line that would run from northern Maine to Massachusetts. The $2 billion, 1,100-megawatt cable would mostly carry electricity from wind farms developed by Boston-based First Wind.
$130M Rollins Mountain wind project almost ready
http://bangordailynews.com/2011/07/12/business/130m-rollins-mountain-wind-project-almost-ready/
[snip]
With 37 of its 40 Rollins turbines successfully tested and commissioned, officials from First Wind of Massachusetts will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the project site off Route 6 near Lee on July 20 to formally launch the state’s first wind site that will generate electricity for Maine’s utility ratepayers, officials said Tuesday. Testing of the remaining three turbines is ongoing.
From comments:
Karen Bessey Pease Yesterday 01:43 PM
Unfortunately, Benny1947 is wrong. Brad DOES have money invested in this wind project, as well as every other one built, thus far, in Maine. We ALL do.
These projects would not exist if the developers were not the recipients of huge amounts of tax-payer subsidies… in some cases, up to 65%-70% of the project’s value. On a $130 million project such as this, OUR investment is around $80 million. And in the best-case scenario, this facility will generate 18MW of power. In addition, townspeople pay when they grant a TIF. Money which should be paid by the developer to reduce the tax burdens of locals is funneled back to First Wind…to increase THEIR profit margin.
WHY is this ‘the future’? It’s not because wind energy is inexpensive, or dependable, or able to be stored. It’s not because it has low impacts on the environment or local wildlife. It’s not because Maine currently needs more electricity generation, since we already produce far more than we consume. It’s not because wind turbines will have a significant impact on reducing global warming or because it will ‘bring American soldiers home’. If readers have believed any of those wind industry claims, I urge them to do independent research on this topic.
No; this is ‘the future’ because billions of dollars of our money--and our children’s and grandchildren’s money—are up for grabs to those developers who can get their projects built before the subsidies disappear. And… this is because citizens don’t take the time to do their homework and get the facts; but believe, instead, the rhetoric and oft-repeated tag lines of the wind industry. And-- because our lives are hectic and stressful, and we tend to stay uninvolved and uninformed until an issue affects us directly.
If you haven’t seen the wind energy plan for the state of Maine, then you may not realize this… but very soon, this WILL affect the majority of Mainers. This is just a partial list of what’s already in the pipeline (not updated for the last couple of months). Triple it. Then think about it, and consider helping to take charge of that ‘future’. We’re supposed to be running the show, not international corporations from countries like Italy, Spain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates—all of which are heavily involved in the wind scheme here in Maine.
LAND-BASED INDUSTRIAL WIND COMPLEX PROJECTS IN MAINE
Bowers Mountain
Champlain Wind LLC (First Wind)
Originally presented to the host communities as a 17 turbine project, in 2010 developer increased size to 22 turbines. Developer then petitioned LURC to add Kossuth to the expedited zone based on a total project of 25 turbines of 2.3MW each. On 12/1/10 LURC granted Champlain’s petition. In the development permit application, Champlain increased the project size to 27 turbines (seventeen 2.3MW plus ten 3.0MW). Project will overshadow the Grand Lakes Watershed, Maine’s greatest concentration of Class 1A and 1B lakes. LURC is reviewing permit application for completeness.
T16MD / Eastbrook
Blue Sky East LLC (First Wind)
DP 4849 permitted MET towers. Jan 31, 2011 LURC accepted the final permit application for consideration. The plan is for 19 Vesta turbines of 1.8 MW each. These would rise 476’ above the 616’ Bull Mountain. First Wind has stated that they hope to expand the project into Eastbrook. On 2/22/11 ABC News reported that Blue Sky has presold this project’s electricity and hopes for it to be online by May 2012.
Passadumkeag Mtn
Noble Environmental Power LLC
MET towers in place.
Devereaux Twp
Green Mountain Wind LLC (First Wind)
DP 4857 permitted MET towers to be installed. Not currently in the expedited permitting area. May request expedited permitting area expansion – undetermined at this time.
T28 MD
Green Mountain Wind LLC (First Wind)
DP 4859 permitted MET towers to be installed. Not currently in the expedited permitting area. May request expedited permitting area expansion – undetermined at this time.
T34 MD
Green Mountain Wind LLC (First Wind)
DP 4855 permitted MET towers to be installed. Not currently in the expedited permitting area. May request expedited permitting area expansion – undetermined at this time.
Codyville
Cerro Wind Power LLC (First Wind)
DP 4823 permitted MET towers to be installed.
T19 MD BPP
Passamaquoddy Tribal project. MET towers installed.
Number Nine Mtn
Aroostook Wind Energy LLC (Horizon Wind--Energias de Portugal)
LURC permit 4774a granted for 2 MET towers. This is planned to be a 130 turbine development that will eventually include Fort Kent, Bridgewater, Limestone and Fort Fairfield.
Mars Hill
Mars Hill Wind, LLC (First Wind)
28 turbines, 1.5 MW each. Became operational in March 2007.
Freedom / Beaver Ridge
Beaver Ridge Wind, LLC (Patriot Renewables)
3 turbines, 1.5 MW each. Commissioned November 2008. Developer has asked Freedom for a tax abatement even though tax was based on their figures. Possible plans to expand.
Vinalhaven
Fox Island Wind Elec. Coop
3 turbines, 1.5 MW each. Commissioned 11/17/09. Proven to exceed State mandated noise levels.
Stetson I
Evergreen Wind Power V, LLC (First Wind)
38 turbines, 1.5 MW each. DP 4788 issued 01/03/08. Operational as of 01/19/09.
Stetson II
Stetson Wind II, LLC (First Wind)
17 turbines, 1.5 MW each. DP issued 03/04/09. Commissioned 04/06/10
Kibby Mountain, Phases I & II
TransCanada Corp.
44 turbines, 3 MW each. DP 4794 issued 07/09/08. Both phases are now online.
Rollins Mountain
Evergreen Wind Power III, LLC (First Wind)
40 turbines, 1.5 MW each. DEP issued permit 04/21/09. After numerous legal challenges, construction began 09/28/10 prior to proof of financial capacity. Legal challenges still pending.
Bingham, Brighton, Mayfield, Kingsbury, Blanchard
Blue Sky West LLC & Bingham Wind Power LLC (both First Wind)
MET towers in place. Plan calls for 52+ turbines. First Wind wants Brighton to loosen up its zoning law and is actively lobbying townspeople. On 1/19/11 Somerset Cty Commissioners voted down First Wind’s TIF proposal. This is the first refusal in Maine of a request by a wind project developer.
Record Hill/Roxbury
Record Hill Wind, LLC (Independence Wind)
22 turbines, 2.3 MW each plus an 8-mile transmission line. DEP issued permit 08/20/09. Construction began September 2009. In August 2010 the PUC approved a line upgrade to support the project. U.S. taxpayers are guaranteeing the $102 million loan.
Sisk Mountain / Kibby Expansion
Transcanada Corp.
11 turbines, 3 MW each. On 01/05/11 LURC, in a 5 to 1 vote, granted this permit. Friends of Boundary Mountains has filed a petition with Maine’s supreme court challenging LURC’s approval.
Oakfield
Evergreen Wind Power II (First Wind)
34 turbines, 1.5 MW each. DEP issued permit 01/21/10. Initial appeal denied.
Clifton
Pisgah Mountain LLC (Paul & Sandy Fuller of Bangor, Michael Smith of Bangor, Gail & Wally Kimball of Veazie and John & Eileen Williams of Clifton)
5 turbines of unknown size. In planning stage.
Highland Plantation
Highland Wind LLC (Independence Wind)
39 turbines. In April 2010, LURC was forced to suspend the permit when it was found out that the developer did not have TRI to all property. On 2/23/11 LURC accepted a new permit application for processing. On 5/2/11, Highland Wind temporarily withdrew application due to MDIF&W comments that the site was not appropriate for development of the scope and scale proposed.
Spruce Mountain
Spruce Mtn Wind LLC (Patriot Renewables)
10 turbines, 2.3 MW each. Project was approved but approval date, and therefore right to appeal, has been questioned.
Stacyville
First Wind
Meteorological Testing towers in place.
Aroostook Wind - Bridgewater
Wind Energy LLC (Horizon Wind--Energias de Portugal)
Planned 195MW facility. Currently in the planning stages.
Aroostook Wind - Future Phases
Aroostook Wind Energy LLC (Horizon Wind--Energias de Portugal)
Long-term plan calls for up to 270 turbines over a wide area. Developer currently negotiating leases. More than 26 MET towers in place and over 100,000 acres under agreement.
Lexington
Atlantic Wind LLC (Iberdrola)
DP 4875 permitted a single MET tower to be installed. Citizen complaints have been filed regarding unnecessary damage to the land, and lack of permit compliance during construction as well as an appeal of the issuance of the permit. Appeal to be heard by LURC 3/2/11.
Concord
Atlantic Wind LLC (Iberdrola)
DP 4874 permitted 2 MET towers to be installed. Installation took place in Dec 2010 on Fletcher Mtn. Citizen complaints have been filed regarding unnecessary damage to the land, and lack of permit compliance during construction as well as an appeal of the issuance of the permit. Appeal to be heard by LURC 3/2/11.
Trescott
Atlantic Wind LLC (Iberdrola)
On 10/19/10 LURC granted permit DP4879 allowing 2 MET towers to be installed in the area known as The Porcupine.
Longfellow Wind, Rumford
Longfellow Wind LLC (First Wind)
This project would put 12 turbines on Black Mountain in Rumford and 7 turbines on North and South Twin Mountains in Roxbury. Current Rumford ordinance expires May 2011. A wind turbine ordinance will go to voters in June, 2011.
Saddleback Ridge
Saddleback Ridge Wind LLC (Patriot Renewables)
12 turbines, 450ft tall, 2.75 MW each. Development Permit application accepted by DEP on 11/15/10.
Col. Holman Mtn Dixfield
Timberwinds LLC (Patriot Renewables)
Plan calls for 13 turbines. On hold while town officials devise a wind ordinance.
Canton Mtn
Timberwinds LLC (Patriot Renewables)
MET Tower in place. Environmental studies are underway. Plan is for 7 to 10 turbines of 2.75MW each. Developer hopes to submit an application to DEP summer of 2011.
Moscow/Caratunk
Maine Windpower LLC (Cianbro Corp. & Larry Warren)
MET Towers were erected near the former radar facility in Fall of 2009. On 12/02 Moscow approved a wind ordinance requiring turbines to be 2500+ feet from the nearest residence. Caratunk enacted a moratorium on wind development in June 2011.
Also new prospecting in Sumner, Frankfort, and other towns.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-google-idUSTRE76B67A20110714
[snip]
Google Inc's 36 percent revenue surge smashed Wall Street's expectations and eclipsed concerns about mounting expenses, sending the Internet giant's shares up more than 12 percent.
http://www.masterresource.org/2011/07/connecting-dots-wind-costs/
[snip]
Comparison to the Sub-Prime Mortgage Schemes
Before a closer examination of wind costs, consider the financial system risk. This was suggested in a 2008 Harpers article, which described the next major “bubble” as follows:
“Like housing in the late 1990s, this sector of the economy must already be formed and growing even as the previous bubble deflates. For those investing in that sector, legislation guaranteeing favorable tax treatment, along with other protections and advantages for investors, should already be in place or under review. Finally, the industry must be popular, its name on the lips of government policymakers and journalists. It should be familiar to those who watch television news or read newspapers.”
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-07/14/c_13985806.htm
[snip]
Judith Rodin, the president of Rockefeller Foundation, said fighting the effects of climate change could provide an opportunity for increasing investments into the agricultural, financial and medical sectors in a way that generates economic growth.
Note: the Rockefeller foundation finances Bill Mckibben of 350 {dot} org.
http://politicalcontext.org/sci-tech/2011/04/rockefellers-1sky-unveils-the-new-350-org-more-more-delusion/
http://bangordailynews.com/2011/07/15/business/maine-mills-at-center-of-regional-power-struggle/
[snip]
Proponents of paying for both demand response and generation say most mills can’t send power into the grid without first cutting back on the power demands — the system is balanced. And it’s not economical for mills to provide power without compensation for demand response, said Buxton.
Yoshimura suggested that companies that want to sell power into the grid work in the costs of dropping demand into their bids — how much they want to sell the power for.
Buxton said the amount of power use dropped by the mills is significant. At one point, he said, Verso’s mills supplied 238 megawatts of grid demand within a half-hour’s notice.
“That equates to doing a wheelie with an aircraft carrier,” said Buxton.
Buxton also noted the value of demand response to ratepayers. Simply speaking, when demand is high, power generators get paid more per kilowatt-hour. When demand response kicks in, demand drops, and the price paid for a kilowatt-hour also drops.
He noted a period in June 2010 when the market clearing price was 94 cents a kilowatt-hour. Demand response kicked in, and the price plunged to 5.8 cents a kilowatt-hour. That sort of thing doesn’t make power generators happy, he noted.
Note: The last sentence says it all....
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/18/clintons-solution-for-the-jobs-crisis-painters/#comment-702649
[snip]
Yep, that’s the big plan. Paint your roofs white.
NOTE: I see Bill hasn't painted his yet..
http://www.zillowstatic.com/static/images/famoushomes/presidents/ClintonChappaqua.jpg
Monthly US Total Retail Gasoline Deliveries By Refiners.
http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=A103600001&f=M
Now take a close look at this.
http://www.ceridianindex.com/userfiles/file/Index-Report-Jan-2012.pdf
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2012/03/04/the-new-mediterranean-oil-gas-bonanza-part-ii/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/us-chesapeake-land-deals-probe-idUSBRE86117H20120703
note: as in the green energy blues thread, I have more links in the above comments.
http://www.ki4u.com/webpal/b_recovery/3_alternate_energy/electricity/water/pumps/xftpfiles/pumps_as_turbines-a_users_guide.pdf