Money trumps climate change: California hits customers of clean energy programs with fee increase

Nuclear grade hypocrisy...

Customers of clean energy programs hit with fee increase
The California Public Utilities Commission voted Thursday to allow a nearly 100 percent price increase on exit fees for customers leaving Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for green energy programs like CleanPowerSF and Marin Clean Energy, which will make those and similar programs more expensive.
Many of the programs — where local governments buy green electricity for their residents, while private utilities own and operate the electrical grid — will be undermined financially by the uptick in the charge, called the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment, their officials say.
“We are not surprised that the increase was approved,” said Marin Clean Energy spokeswoman Alexandra McCroskey. “We are disappointed. Our primary frustrations come from the fact that we are becoming almost liable for the market fluctuations for both ourselves and PG&E. If PG&E isn’t planning appropriately for people leaving for community choice aggregation programs, the PCIA will continue to increase. It’s poor planning.”

Sad: Rare bird appears in Britain after 22 years; get's killed by wind turbine...

These things are supported by alleged environmentalists...

 Via The Daily Mail:

There had been only eight recorded sightings of the white-throated needletail in the UK since 1846. So when one popped up again on British shores this week, twitchers were understandably excited.
A group of 40 enthusiasts dashed to the Hebrides to catch a glimpse of the brown, black and blue bird, which breeds in Asia and winters in Australasia.

But instead of being treated to a wildlife spectacle they were left with a horror show when it flew into a wind turbine and was killed.

John Marchant, 62, who had made the trip all the way from Norfolk, said: ‘We were absolutely over the moon to see the bird. We watched it for nearly two hours.

‘But while we were watching it suddenly got a bit close to the turbine and then the blades hit it.

Amusing: Nevada wind farm facing $200,000 fine for killing golden eagle...

Where is PETA when you need them?

ELY, Nev. –  An eastern Nevada wind farm could face a fine of up to $200,000 over the death of a golden eagle.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the bird's death at the Spring Valley Wind Farm near the Utah border, 350 miles east of Reno, spokesman Jeannie Stafford said.

San Francisco-based Pattern Energy, owner of the 152-megawatt wind energy project that sells power to Las Vegas-based NV Energy, turned over the dead eagle to federal authorities within 36 hours of its discovery in February.

Despite reporting the death, the wind farm could face a fine because it does not hold a federal "take" permit that would allow the incidental death of a golden or bald eagle... Keep on reading...

Chart: Green energy stocks tank...

Hopefully, Al Gore hardest hit...

Via The Washington Times:

Electric car battery maker A123 Systems files for bankruptcy...

A123 received $249 million in grants from the U.S.taxpayers.

Via Forbes:

A123 Systems has filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, Bloomberg reports. Late yesterday, the battery company had warned that it was about to default on several loan issues, noting that a bankruptcy filing was a possibility; but it still seems startling to see them file just hours later.

A123 makes rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electric cars. The company has been hurt by the slow development of the electric car market.

Don’t be surprised to see this turn into a Solyndra-style political football; A123 had received $249 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.
A123 this morning is down 14 cents, or 57.9%, to 10 cents.
Keep reading…

Here we go again. Obama fast-tracks seven new green energy projects...

Doesn't he ever learn?

Via The Hill:

President Obama is fast-tracking seven federal wind and solar projects as the administration touts its energy policies amid GOP criticism over green investments and rising gas prices.

The projects in Arizona, California, Nevada and Wyoming will produce 5,000 megawatts of power, enough to run 1.5 million homes, the White House said in a statement announcing the decision.

“These seven proposed solar and wind projects have great potential to grow our nation’s energy independence, drive job creation, and power economies across the west,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a written statement.

While the expedited projects announced Tuesday deal with electricity, rather than direct fuel substitutes for gasoline, it’s nonetheless part of a wider push to promote the administration’s policies on alternative energy and energy security.

Green Fail: 80% of Green Energy Dollars Went to Obama Donors

It's the Chicago way...