Wind power Archives - Page 4 of 7 Voice For Liberty

Mar

Wind energy split in Kansas

Despite the promise as a temporary subsidy when it started twenty years ago, wind energy is reliant on government handouts. Today's Wall Street Journal brings this into focus, writing: "The truth is that those giant wind turbines from Maine to California won't turn without burning through billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars. In 2010 the industry received some $5 billion in subsidies for nearly every stage of wind production." (See Republicans Blow With the Wind: Another industry wants to keep its taxpayer subsidies..) The piece also properly refutes the argument that oil and gas receives the same type of tax…

Feb

By Guest Author

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran wants to pick losers in the market: His choice is big wind

In Kansas, we have a lot of wind -- no doubt about that. But the economics of wind as a source of electricity generation is another matter. There's a split in Kansas over this. On one side are Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who has been vocal in his support of wind power, along with Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, who has been busy promoting Wichita as a site for wind energy-related industry. Now we see Kansas' newest U.S. Senator Jerry Moran jumping in to promote the wind power subsidy program. Contrast this with U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo of Wichita, who has…

Feb

By Guest Author

An ill wind blows in Kansas: The politics of renewable energy

Kansas Representative Charlotte O'Hara, who represents Kansas House District 27 in southern Johnson County, offers a look at the politics surrounding wind power in Kansas. Besides O'Neal, other prominent supporters of renewable energy in Kansas include Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who has been vocal in his support of wind power. So too has been Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, who has been busy promoting Wichita as a site for wind energy-related industry. Contrast this with U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo of Wichita, who has introduced legislation to end all tax credits related to energy production. An ill wind blows in Kansas: The…

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Friday December 9, 2011

Ethanol subsidy. According to Wichita Eagle reporting, the head of an ethanol trade group says the subsidy for ethanol will likely disappear after January 1, but the change might be good for the industry. It has to do with image, said the speaker. The subsidy the speaker mentioned is in the form of a tax credit, and is one of the programs that would be eliminated by proposed legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo of Wichita. His bill would end tax credits for all forms of energy. ... The production tax credit is just one of three government interventions…

Nov

By Bob Weeks

Pompeo to introduce ‘Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act’

This week U. S. Representative Mike Pompeo of Wichita plans to introduce the "Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act," a bill that would eliminate all tax credits related to energy. Tax credits, sometimes called tax expenditures, are spending accomplished through the tax code rather than by legislative appropriations. Two prominent tax credits related to energy production are the tax credit for producing and blending ethanol with gasoline, and the production tax credit for wind and solar power production. These industries have claimed that the tax credits are necessary for these forms of energy to be economically viable. Pompeo's office estimates…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback on wind energy

Recently Kansas Governor Sam Brownback wrote an editorial praising the benefits of wind power. (Gov. Sam Brownback: Wind offers clean path to growth, September 11, 2011 Wichita Eagle) Brownback has also been supportive of another form of renewable energy, ethanol. But not everyone agrees with the governor's rosy assessment of wind power. Paul Chesser of American Tradition Institute offers a rebuttal of Brownback's article, which first appeared in a Bloomberg publication. Chesser writes: "Apparently Gov. Brownback has overlooked the horrid results of efforts in recent years to spur the economy and employment with government renewable energy 'stimulation' from taxpayer dollars.…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Clusters as economic development in Kansas

Is the promotion by Kansas government of industry clusters as economic development good for the future of Kansas? The formula for creating these clusters is always the same: Pick a hot industry, build a technology park next to a research university, provide incentives for businesses to relocate, add some venture capital and then watch the magic happen. But, as I have noted before, the magic never happens. Most of the top-down cluster-development projects in the United States and around the world have died a slow death in relative obscurity. Politicians who held the press conferences to claim credit for advancing…

May

By Bob Weeks

Pickens criticism illustrates divide between free markets and intervention

Last week's criticism by energy investor T. Boone Pickens of U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo, a Wichita Republican serving his first term, continues to illustrate the difference between those who believe in economic freedom and free markets, and those -- like Pickens -- who invest in politicians, bureaucrats, and the hope of a government subsidy. Pickens is pushing H.R. 1380: New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011, or NAT GAS act. The bill provides a variety of subsidies, implemented through tax credits, to producers and users of natural gas. The goal is to promote the use of natural…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday March 23, 2011

Health information campaign. What happened to an all-star group that was to promote President Obama's health care plan? Politico reports: "Democrats are under siege as they mark the first anniversary of health care reform Wednesday -- and they won't get much help from the star-studded, $125 million support group they were once promised. Wal-Mart Watch founder Andrew Grossman unveiled the Health Information Campaign with great fanfare last June. ... But nine months later, the Health Information Campaign has all but disappeared." Eisenhower book author to speak in Wichita. At this Friday's meeting (March 25) of the Wichita Pachyderm Club, David…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Friday March 11, 2011

Owens said to be blocking judicial selection reform. From National Review Online All Eyes on Kansas: "Unfortunately, I am reliably informed that the liberal Republican chair of the state senate Judiciary Committee, Tim Owens, is obstructing the reform legislation, refusing to even hold a hearing. I hadn’t heard of Owens until now, and I doubt very many people have, but apparently this is not the first time he has used his power to thwart the goals of his colleagues. ... If Owens wants to make policy for the entire state of Kansas, he should run for statewide office. Until then,…