Kill Wind and Solar Subsidies

Senator Baucus has introduced a bill, which would extend subsidies for solar, wind, etc. energy production. In addition, he has included $2.5 billion to cover a 30% investment tax credit.

I don't now know what the cost of extending the present subsidies would be, but let's guess it would be a couple of billion dollars. Is this a time we should be spending $5 billion on a will-o'-the-wisp, which is what solar and wind energy are, compared to standard coal burning electricity plants?

I suggest the House and Senate fight to the death to kill this bill and any others concerning subsidies for wind and solar, which are known losers. Coal and oil drilling should continue to be promoted.

If there is a political need for something new, Congress should start to push small-scale hydroelectric power generation. We have a lot of rivers and streams that could be damned, and the subsequent falling water used also to generate electricity. General Electric will supply the turbines. We have available lots of large earth moving equipment. However, the dams and subsequently formed lakes must be small to avoid displacement of families from flooded land. Small lakes will be environmentally attractive for summer cottages etc.

Note also that we haven't done anything significant in flood control since the Tennessee Valley Authority multi-years ago. We are still plagued with heartbreaking accounts of flood victims, especially this past spring and summer. The TVA was a combination of flood control and electricity production. Let's do it again, with the modifications necessary to be consistent with present needs and technology now available.