Karl Rove, of all people, voiced support for federal tax credits in support of wind energy last week. "We've got a growing economy that's increasing energy consumption and wind energy should be part of the solution," he argued.
Any chance this might represent a larger shift in conservative opposition to alternative energy? Perhaps not -- Dave Roberts notes today that the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity is organizing protests in New Jersey against wind energy. AFP posted this message online:
Would you believe that this Friday is "Global Wind Day"?
You heard that right! Friday is "Global Wind Day" and environmental extremists throughout New Jersey will be celebrating by flying kites at beaches along the Jersey Shore and calling for more and more of our tax dollars to be used to subsidize their crazy offshore wind pipe dreams!
Now, it's up to you and me to combat their global wind nonsense! AFP will be going toe to toe with the environmental extremists to combat their radical agenda and tell the truth about the costs of offshore wind!
This does not appear to be a parody.
Americans for Prosperity is comfortable with tax subsidies for oil companies, but is nevertheless organizing protests against "environmental extremists" who support public investment in a growing clean-energy industry.
Whether AFP includes Karl Rove among the "environmental extremists" who support "global wind nonsense" is unclear.
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A recently installed wind turbine in the House gallery self destructed, with flying bits injuring several visitors. Gusts from the floor were measured at 12 on the Beaufort Scale.
Lets be real here. Undoubtedly all it means is Rove invested some money in windmills...
I believe what Rove supports most is what Dylan referred to as the Idiot Wind...
CybrGuy - you are probably correct. And if at the end of this month it looks like Congress is about to end the tax credits, thereby grinding the wind turbine industry to a halt, Rove will divest, send his profits to the Caymans, and jump onto the Koch wagon, declaring wind energy a radical left-wing ideology not worth pursuing.
Rove, Tilting at windmills? Gadzooks! Next we'll hear the Neo-Birchers reading him out of the party and then where will they be?
I said last week this is just yet another attempt to confuse the message about the real objectives of Republicans. Sure, Koch said wind needs to be part of the mix. That's what the public gets to hear. What they won't hear is about the organized protests his organization is having, and what he is really all about.
All he's doing is deflection, cover for Republicans, and softening the hard edges on the Republican brand. Nothing more.
The problem is that Republicans are beholded to the anti tax king. We need to see some brave republican leader go on camera and burn the pledge. Once one does it others may follow. The pledge keeps grid lock. Rachel show them how easy it is to burn the pledge. Show them it does not mean you will raise taxes every time but it does mean like ronald reagan and poppy bush knew compromise on taxes to get spending cuts.
Bush III (Jed) has not and will not sign the pledge. Do you see any long lines behind him?
"Whether AFP includes Karl Rove among the "environmental extremists" who support "global wind nonsense" is unclear."
Don't worry it was Karl's "etch-a-sketch" moment. He'll have a martini and forget he ever said that. Or it may just be a "lil red meat" for the "extremists".....
Environmental extremists flying kites! Oh, the humanity!
And the weird thing is, I could have sworn that the Rape-Public-CONs told them to "go fly a kite"...
This "wind" nonsense is a violation of the First Amendment.
These people keep talking about "wind," but how many of you have actually seen it? I'd call it a religion, but real religion is about things that you can actually see, like that family that has the face of Jesus in their bathroom mold.
Dunno what you mean but I have seen hundreds of windmills in operation.
Yeah, we've all seen windmills. But have you actually seen this so-called wind? No, because it's a fantasy invisible force like fairies and ghosts -- something that people made up to explain windmills turning and such.
When the Government has anything to do with this so-called "wind," it's no different from having the Government endorse Islam: you can't see "Allah," you can't see "wind," and both are against the First Amendment.
CybrGuy - The not seeing the wind is just like not seeing congress in action both are invisible. Congress's other form of wind, is natural gas with detectable odors.
We are dealing with a conservative movement that is clueless and wholly ignorant of the rank hypocrisy with which their toxic agenda is based upon. We are simultaneously drowning and burning due to our deadly addiction to fossil fuels, beleaguered by economically crippling consequences of climate change, all the while opening our pockets as taxpayers and handing over billions to dirty energy companies and international oil giants. But the Kochs and Mitt Romney speak of the "dangers" of wind and solar. Might as well get the apocalypse over with now... http://www.sunstateactivist.org
"Conservatives" are getting so reliably against anything beneficial that I bet you could get at least some of them to violently bang their heads into trees if you told them that not doing so would be the best thing for them.
A friend posted a sign on FB that read: "If Obama came out in support of oxygen, Republicans would suffocate themselves". Funny stuff! In a sad, but true kind of way.
I've said pretty much the same thing here more than once. Must be an obvious thought, although it's not just about Obama. There are people who, if urged to cut back on electricity, will up their consumption. If a grocery store encourages the use of reusable bags, they'll seek out one that relies on plastic bags. Some people are just automatically reactionary, it seems, even when there isn't an obvious political or economic motive. Or even personal benefit. Very weird. And sad, as you say.
I can't get rid of that image of environmental extremests flying kites. Republican extremists take loaded weapons to town meetings, grimly threatening the proceedings. Environmental extremists take their kites and loft them in the sunny breeze. No wonder the Republicans took over all the state houses.
Alert: Kite regulations limit the length of string (height 150 ft with flags at 50 ft intervals), distance from airports (5 miles), weight (<5 lbs), and breakable materials, etc.
(If you declared your kite a firearm, you'd might plead the 2nd amendment rights, a campaign sign the 1st Amendment.)
http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/part101.html
FAA Regulations for Kites/Balloons
PART 101 - MOORED BALLOONS, KITES, UNMANNED ROCKETS AND UNMANNED FREE BALLOONS
Subpart A - General
101.1 Applicability.
(a) This part prescribes rules governing the operation in the
United States, of the following:
(1) Except as provided for in �101.7, any balloon that is moored to the surface of the earth or an object thereon and that has a diameter of more than 6 feet or a gas capacity of more than 115 cubic feet.
(2) Except as provided for in �101.7, any kite that weighs more than 5 pounds and is intended to be flown at the end of a rope or cable.
(3) Any unmanned rocket except:
(i) Aerial firework displays; and,
(ii) Model rockets:
(a) Using not more than four ounces of propellant;
(b) Using a slow-burning propellant;
(c) Made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic, containing no substantial metal parts and weighing not more than 16 ounces, including the propellant; and
(d) Operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons, property, or other aircraft.
(4) Except as provided for in �101.7, any unmanned free balloon that-
(i) Carries a payload package that weighs more than four pounds and has a weight/size ratio of more than three ounces per square inch on any surface of the package, determined by dividing the total weight in ounces of the payload package by the area in square inches of its smallest surface;
(ii) Carries a payload package that weighs more than six pounds;
(iii) Carries a payload, of two or more packages, that weighs more than 12 pounds; or
(iv) Uses a rope or other device for suspension of the payload that requires an impact force of more than 50 pounds to separate the suspended payload from the balloon.
(b) For the purposes of this part, a gyroglider attached to a vehicle on the surface of the earth is considered to be a kite.
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6721, June 29, 1963, as amended by Amdt. 101-1, 29 FR 46, Jan. 3, 1964; Amdt. 101-3, 35 FR 8213, May 26, 1970]
101.3 Waivers.
No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part except under a certificate of waiver issued by the Administrator.
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6721, June 29, 1963]
101.5 Operations in prohibited or restricted areas.
No person may operate a moored balloon, kite, unmanned rocket, or unmanned free balloon in a prohibited or restricted area unless he has
permission from the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.
[Amdt. 101-1, 29 FR 46, Jan. 3, 1964]
101.7 Hazardous operations.
(a) No person may operate any moored balloon, kite, unmanned rocket, or unmanned free balloon in a manner that creates a hazard to other persons, or their property.
(b) No person operating any moored balloon, kite, unmanned rocket, or unmanned free balloon may allow an object to be dropped therefrom, if such action creates a hazard to other persons or their property.
(Sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 1655(c)))
[Doc. No. 12800, Amdt. 101-4, 39 FR 22252, June 21, 1974]
Subpart B - Moored Balloons and Kites
Source: Docket No. 1580, 28 FR 6722 June 29, 1963, unless otherwise noted.
101.11 Applicability.
This subpart applies to the operation of moored balloons and kites.However, a person operating a moored balloon or kite within a restricted area must comply only with �101.19 and with additional limitations imposed by the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.
101.13 Operating limitations.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate a moored balloon or kite-
(1) Less than 500 feet from the base of any cloud;
(2) More than 500 feet above the surface of the earth;
(3) From an area where the ground visibility is less than three miles; or
(4) Within five miles of the boundary of any airport.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to the operation of a balloon or kite below the top of any structure and within 250 feet of it, if that shielded operation does not obscure any lighting on the structure.
101.15 Notice requirements.
No person may operate an unshielded moored balloon or kite more than 150 feet above the surface of the earth unless, at least 24 hours before beginning the operation, he gives the following information to the FAA ATC facility that is nearest to the place of intended operation:
(a) The names and addresses of the owners and operators.
(b) The size of the balloon or the size and weight of the kite.
(c) The location of the operation.
(d) The height above the surface of the earth at which the balloon or kite is to be operated.
(e) The date, time, and duration of the operation.
101.17 Lighting and marking requirements.
(a) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite, between sunset and sunrise unless the balloon or kite, and its mooring lines, are lighted so as to give a visual warning equal to that required for obstructions to air navigation in the FAA publication "Obstruction Marking and Lighting" .
(b) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite between sunrise and sunset unless its mooring lines have colored pennants or streamers attached at not more than 50 foot intervals beginning at 150 feet above the surface of the earth and visible for at least one mile.
(Sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 1655(c)))
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963, as amended by Amdt. 101-4, 39 FR 22252, June 21, 1974]
101.19 Rapid deflation device.
No person may operate a moored balloon unless it has a device that will automatically and rapidly deflate the balloon if it escapes from its moorings. If the device does not function properly, the operator shall immediately notify the nearest ATC facility of the location and time of the escape and the estimated flight path of the balloon.
Subpart C - Unmanned Rockets
101.21 Applicability.
This subpart applies to the operation of unmanned rockets. However, a person operating an unmanned rocket within a restricted area must
comply only with �101.23(g) and with additional limitations imposed by the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963]
101.23 Operating limitations.
No person may operate an unmanned rocket-
(a) In a manner that creates a collision hazard with other aircraft;
(b) In controlled airspace;
(c) Within five miles of the boundary of any airport;
(d) At any altitude where clouds or obscuring phenomena of more than five-tenths coverage prevails;
(e) At any altitude where the horizontal visibility is less than five miles;
(f) Into any cloud;
(g) Within 1,500 feet of any person or property that is not associated with the operations; or
(h) Between sunset and sunrise.
(Sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 1655(c)))
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963, as amended by Amdt. 101-4,
39 FR 22252, June 21, 1974]
101.25 Notice requirements.
No person may operate an unmanned rocket unless, within 24 to 48 hours before beginning the operation, he gives the following information to the FAA ATC facility that is nearest to the place of intended operation:
(a) The names and addresses of the operators.
(b) The number of rockets to be operated.
(c) The size and weight of each rocket.
(d) The maximum altitude to which each rocket will be operated.
(e) The location of the operation.
(f) The date, time, and duration of the operation.
(g) Any other pertinent information requested by the ATC facility.
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963]
Subpart D - Unmanned Free Balloons
Source: Docket No. 1457, Amdt. 101-1, 29 FR 47, Jan. 3, 1964, unless otherwise noted.
101.31 Applicability.
This subpart applies to the operation of unmanned free balloons. However, a person operating an unmanned free balloon within a restricted area must comply only with 101.33 (d) and (e) and with any additional limitations that are imposed by the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.
101.33 Operating limitations.
No person may operate an unmanned free balloon-
(a) Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, in a control zone below 2,000 feet above the surface, or in an airport traffic area;
(b) At any altitude where there are clouds or obscuring phenomena of more than five-tenths coverage;
(c) At any altitude below 60,000 feet standard pressure altitude where the horizontal visibility is less than five miles;
(d) During the first 1,000 feet of ascent, over a congested area of a city, town, or settlement or an open-air assembly of persons not associated with the operation; or
(e) In such a manner that impact of the balloon, or part thereof including its payload, with the surface creates a hazard to persons or property not associated with the operation.
(Doc. No. 1457, 29 FR 47, Jan. 3, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 101-5, 56 FR 65662, Dec. 17, 1991)
101.35 Equipment and marking requirements.
(a) No person may operate an unmanned free balloon unless-
(1) It is equipped with at least two payload cut-down systems or devices that operate independently of each other;
(2) At least two methods, systems, devices, or combinations thereof, that function independently of each other, are employed for terminating the flight of the balloon envelope; and
(3) The balloon envelope is equipped with a radar reflective device(s) or material that will present an echo to surface radar operating in the 200 MHz to 2700 MHz frequency range.
The operator shall activate the appropriate devices required by paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section when weather conditions are less than those prescribed for operation under this subpart, or if a malfunction or any other reason makes the further operation hazardous to other air traffic or to persons and property on the surface.
(b) No person may operate an unmanned free balloon below 60,000 feet standard pressure altitude between sunset and sunrise (as corrected to the altitude of operation) unless the balloon and its attachments and payload, whether or not they become separated during the operation, are equipped with lights that are visible for at least 5 miles and have a flash frequency of at least 40, and not more than 100, cycles per minute.
(c) No person may operate an unmanned free balloon that is equipped with a trailing antenna that requires an impact force of more than 50 pounds to break it at any point, unless the antenna has colored pennants or streamers that are attached at not more than 50 foot intervals and that are visible for at least one mile.
(d) No person may operate between sunrise and sunset an unmanned free balloon that is equipped with a suspension device (other than a highly conspicuously colored open parachute) more than 50 feet along, unless the suspension device is colored in alternate bands of high conspicuity colors or has colored pennants or streamers attached which are visible for at least one mile.
(Sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 1655(c)))
[Doc. No. 1457, Amdt. 101-1, 29 FR 47, Jan. 3, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 101-2, 32 FR 5254, Mar. 29, 1967; Amdt. 101-4, 39 FR 22252, June 21, 1974]
101.37 Notice requirements.
(a) Prelaunch notice : Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate an unmanned free balloon unless, within 6 to 24 hours before beginning the operation, he gives the following information to the FAA ATC facility that is nearest to the place of intended operation:
(1) The balloon identification.
(2) The estimated date and time of launching, amended as necessary to remain within plus or minus 30 minutes.
(3) The location of the launching site.
(4) The cruising altitude.
(5) The forecast trajectory and estimated time to cruising altitude or 60,000 feet standard pressure altitude, whichever is lower.
(6) The length and diameter of the balloon, length of the suspension device, weight of the payload, and length of the trailing antenna.
(7) The duration of flight.
(8) The forecast time and location of impact with the surface of the earth.
(b) For solar or cosmic disturbance investigations involving a critical time element, the information in paragraph (a) of this section shall be given within 30 minutes to 24 hours before beginning the operation.
(c) Cancellation notice : If the operation is canceled, the person who intended to conduct the operation shall immediately notify the nearest FAA ATC facility.
(d) Launch notice : Each person operating an unmanned free balloon shall notify the nearest FAA or military ATC facility of the launch time immediately after the balloon is launched.
101.39 Balloon position reports.
(a) Each person operating an unmanned free balloon shall:
(1) Unless ATC requires otherwise, monitor the course of the balloon and record its position at least every two hours; and
(2) Forward any balloon position reports requested by ATC.
(b) One hour before beginning descent, each person operating an unmanned free balloon shall forward to the nearest FAA ATC facility the following information regarding the balloon:
(1) The current geographical position.
(2) The altitude.
(3) The forecast time of penetration of 60,000 feet standard pressure altitude (if applicable).
(4) The forecast trajectory for the balance of the flight.
(5) The forecast time and location of impact with the surface of the earth.
(c) If a balloon position report is not recorded for any two-hour period of flight, the person operating an unmanned free balloon shall immediately notify the nearest FAA ATC facility. The notice shall include the last recorded position and any revision of the forecast trajectory. The nearest FAA ATC facility shall be notified immediately when tracking of the balloon is re-established.
(d) Each person operating an unmanned free balloon shall notify the nearest FAA ATC facility when the operation is ended.
Note: The above is provided only as an example. Check the FAA's own web site if you need current exact copies of regulations.