Taking Back America One Step at a Time




Some might ask why can’t we inherit a better world where people

Can enjoy a better life?



Take a page from Obama: We are the problem; we are the solution.



But what can one person do?



Here’s an example that may help solve the Global Warming problem and it was started by a small group of us who believed that although nobody seemed to care, that we could make a difference.





Tonight, I was invited to a small reception of Bluewater Wind.



We were told that each of us there contributed to BlueWater Wind’s success that produced a signed contract sealed and delivered yesterday..



Three years ago, we suspected that we may be blowing in the wind. But that wasn’t reason not to take on the big guys.



And that we did.



It all began when our utility told us that they were going to have add capacity to accommodate the increase usage of energy in the State.



Their solution: Double the coal usage.





A few of us who had been active in environmental organizations realized that already our rivers were becoming polluted from the effluents emitted from the chimneys and the air had more than its share of heavy metals and other toxins; not to mention the fact that doubling the coal usage would increase CO2 emissions and Global Warming.



This did not sound like a solution.



Some of us had remembered that a professor at the local university had posted a paper and some research about the effects of continued carbon emissions on the environment and trotted out the professor.



We looked over his papers which also included computer simulations of what would happen if global warming increased.



And it was shocking.



In fifty years, the land would shrink by about fifteen percent due to a rise in ocean levels; in fifty years, there would be virtually nothing left of the State.



The people had to find out about this….





Yet, the politicians and the utility were happy with the choice of coal and people seem to accept whatever was endorsed by the in place power structure which was also supported by the government and its officials.



But, we reasoned, this couldn’t go on.



The fish would die and people’s health issues would kill the Golden Goose in this state considered a natural wonder.



What could we do?



A small group of us contacted the professor.



We agreed to write papers and editorials.



One of my colleagues used her organization to serve the ends of spreading the word as to the dangers of enhancing our coal burning would result in.



We got together and started to plan how we could move in another direction.



One of the bidders for an alternative energy program using clean energy was Bluewater Wind, an independently owned subcontractor that was planning to use European wind energy technology as an alternative solution.



We didn’t have the money to buck the coal lobby in our state and they were willing to spend millions to support their choice..



Nevertheless, we arranged to hold forums at the local churches to which we invited the professor and several of his students and also obtained a movie on energy savings that could be generated through prudent management. consumption.



We wrote press releases and sent out email invitations.



In the beginning, it was very slow.



But eventually people started to come out.



They were reading our letters and our editorials.



At the same time, we told members of both houses how we felt as well as our County Board.



We were ignored for the most part; but, finally, we got a couple of members of the House of Representatives to consider a clean air/water bill that we had proposed.



The Utility and the Public Service Commission were not very helpful.



And told us that the cost would be prohibitive.



But what they did not honestly factor in was the prospect of an increase in the cost of coal as well. (In the last year, coal cost has increased more than 80%).



After nearly three years of struggle, we finally convinced the Lt. Governor and others in both houses that the people were willing to support clean air/water.



This did not happen overnight and not without a struggle.



But tonight, the whole thing came full circle.



Bluewater Wind received a signed contract from the major utility for between 12 and 14 megawatts of energy to be controlled by alternative clean wind energy generated 12 miles off shore.



This will be the first installation of off-shore wind energy.



We hope to be able to sell excess energy to New Jersey and Maryland.



And the company has promised to make this their regional base creating both jobs and outreach.



This was wonderful news for what seemed just three years ago virtually impossible.



We started out fighting a company that spent fourteen million dollars to defeat us, a rabble of amateurs trying to fend off the beast of commercialism with no money and no power base..



And we won.



I send you this as an incentive to prove to you that one person can change the world.



Become empowered. Do it in your own State.



And we shall take back America.









The Armchair Curmudgeon

Les Aaron The Ubiquitous Flying Blue Blog