Renewable portfolio standards premature

Renewable portfolio standards — what in the world does that mean? In a nutshell, it means a law that says a portion of the electricity sold by an electric company must be generated from renewable energy sources, generally wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydro. On the face of it that is a good thing. It moves us away from the pollution and resource depletion associated with fossil fuels and the radiation threat associated with nuclear power. But there are associated dangers.

The Virginia legislature is considering an RPS law [SB 278] which would mandate that 20 percent of Virginia’s electric energy come from renewable sources by 2016. That would require over 3,000 megawatts [MW] of generation operating at 100 percent capacity to meet this mandate. To accomplish that we will need nearly quadruple the existing renewable sources within ten years.

Solar energy is almost unlimited but photo-voltaic systems are very expensive to install. Wind power is by far the next largest potential source for renewable energy in the near term. Thus, it turns out that an RPS law is largely a wind-power promotional tool. Using the current generation of wind turbines, this would require the erection of over 4,000 1.5-MW turbines 400 feet tall extending over 500 miles of ridgeline. Newer technology might reduce this to 2,000 3-MW turbines 550 feet tall or more, perhaps requiring 400 miles of ridgeline.

That might be acceptable if wind power was a proven technology with few social or environmental consequences, as its advocates proclaim. But we know that bird and bat populations are adversely affected and that the wind power industry has not cooperated with those studying the problem. Extensive fragmentation of forest land, noise and light impacts on nearby residents, gross intrusions on pristine mountain views, and possible reductions in property values, tourism, and the local economy are all problems that require study. It would be foolish to enact any legislation promoting wind power prior to the completion of objective studies of where turbines could be located and what the actual benefits and environmental tradeoffs might be.

At this time the concept of renewable energy should be studied but it is premature to be considering any legislation, let alone enacting it into law. Even if an RPS law contains reasonable siting criteria for wind turbines, it would still amount to mandating their use prior to determining their feasibility. This is the classic cart-before-horse scenario.

If you agree that Renewable Portfolio Standards legislation is premature, please contact your representatives in Richmond.
 
For Highland County these are: Senator Emmett Hanger, P.O. Box 2, Mount Solon, Va. 22843, 804-698-7524 or email at district24@sov.state.va.us