Woman plans picket of wind energy meeting
CHAMPAIGN -- A Ford County woman says she'll hold an informational picket outside the Champaign Public Library on Monday to protest a wind energy seminar sponsored by state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, the Sierra Club and the Prairie Rivers network.
Cindy Ihrke of rural Ford County said her Energize Illinois group will picket the wind energy seminar scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the library at 200 W. Green St., C.
Ihrke said wind energy "is not a viable source of energy" and said her group is "opposed to the massive amount of subsidies it receives" from governments.
"The wind energy scheme promoted by Ms. Jakobsson," Ihrke said, "has the potential to raise electric rates on every family and business in the state. We are concerned that it will in fact rob the poor who will be impacted the most, and we are opposed to that."
Ihrke also accused Jakobsson of having a conflict of interest because she last year she received a $5,000 campaign contribution from the Illinois State Conference of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which Ihrke said supports wind energy.
"We believe that money has influenced Jakobsson's decision to promote the wind energy industry which offers a very low public benefit," Ihrke said.
Jakobsson was unavailable for comment.
MoreIt's unfortunate that this is a "one sided" pro wind discussion. And, with the spearker being the director of the wind energy assoc. and lobbyist for wind who could expect anything else. It's unfortunate, but Representative Jakobsson is not the first to be taken in by the "green" promise and good salesperson for it.
As an environmentalist before it was "fashionable" and who is a former member of Sierra Club I too would like to "believe" there are no negative issues with wind -- but I've done my homework.
I agree with Cindy it's wasted money - we at the state & fed. level give cash grants, Accerlated Depreciation, there is no state sales tax on purchased wind related equipment, on & on for something that will never close down any coal, etc plants. At 30% efficiency (industry number) these things (Industrial wind projects) have to be backed up by something you can count on. Some states have added a "tax" to electric bills to accommodate this extra cost.
I feel bad for Rep. Jakobsson as it appears she sponsors Earth Day programs every year I believe she wasn't aware of problems. And, probably hasn't read about people (who are non-participant neighbors) abandoning their homes because of the noise when the Wind Turbines are placed to Close to them. Isn't aware of Shadow Flicker or read about any of the protests in Ontario Canada and Europe when wind projects are proposed.
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