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Health & Fitness

Green Power Dollars And Sense

Justifying Green Power Usage. When does utilizing solar and wind power become economically viable. What you will need to do to utilize these sources.

I have been a recycler and conservationist since 1939. When I was nine years old I asked the neighbors to save their Columbus Ohio Post Dispatch newspapers for me and once a week I picked them up in my red Radio wagon. My dad would help me weigh them into bundles of 25#'s each and then when we had a few hundred pounds we would load them into the old '31 Chrysler sedan and take them down to the waste company and sell them. I forget how much we were paid, it wasn't much but then gasoline was only about $13 cents per gallon. In this way, and along with a nickel an "A" on my report card I was able to buy a used bicycle.

So, please understand that I am a green power advocate and a conservationist of the environment and of energy where it makes economic sense. I regularly follow Laclede Gas and AmerenUE's tips for saving utility usage and have spent money on heater blankets, new storm doors, additional attic insulation, open blinds facing South in the Winter and numerous other improvements.I believe in recycling and save my aluminum cans because @$.75 per pound, I like to collect the money rather than giving it to to Allied Waste. 

However, here is my take on the Green Power Challenge: First if you are considering installing either solar panels or a wind turbine you best first check with your Subdivision Trust Agreement and your Trustees to find out if the Trust Agreement allows them to be installed. They are not the prettiest additions to your home.

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Second, assuming you pass that test you need to to review the Creve Coeur permit and installation requirements. You will need a permit for 1 and 2 family dwelling units. There are also zoning code requirements. You will need to contact Steve Unser and Whitney Kelly at city hall for this information. I have reviewed the requirements and they are rigorous because of the need to secure the equipment properly for high winds and storms.

In the investigations I have undertaken on the return on investment for either solar panels and/or wind turbines the returns on investment in this area are very low. Therefore, before undertaking a contract to install either of these green power sources in/on your residence I urge you to do a very thorough analysis of the likely benefit economically from your investment. At the minimum you should get some guarantee of a minimum power output and payment or electrical cost reduction expected from Ameren UE. If the supplier can not or will not provide you with that minimum in writing, run, not walk from the installation. Remember, I was in the foundation repair business for twenty-five years and I have seen every kind of loophole filled guarantee against basement water leakage since man began living in damp caves.

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Now you also have the opportunity to purchase REC's. (Renewable Energy Credits). On December 12th 2011, the City council voted 8 to 0 to purchase 22 blocks of REC's @ $330.00 per month to join the Green Power Partnership. This vote also put the City's imprimatur and authorization to 3 degrees to sell REC's to Creve Coeur Businesses and residents through the Green Power Community Challenge to encourage everyone in the city to consume Green Power via the purchase of equipment or REC's. 

I am opposed to this program for the following reasons. Let's follow the money: Each REC unit (1 megawatt) costs $15.00 per month. The first dollar goes to Ameren UE for accounting and billing. Please note that Creve Coeur in a bit of charity to you does not apply the Utility taxes on these purchases. (There was no voter approval to charge taxes on these specifically either.)   The $14.00 then goes to 3 degrees, a San Francisco Marketing and consulting firm that specializes in partnering with Utilities and promoting green energy for profit. 3Degrees has an exclusive partnering arrangement with Ameren UE. Since this is a private firm we do not know how profitable it is. With this $14.00 they keep part of it for administration, marketing, promotion and "Education". and profit. Check out their website: www.3degreesinc.com.  We did conclude that they went under once but have re-constituted themselves. Now, 3 degrees then buys REC's from the Missouri Wind Farms part of the Wind Capital Group started by Mr. Tom Carnahan and other private investors with $107 million in direct federal stimulus funds. Since this a private company we do not know who the investors are nor the financial status of the company. The Wind Trade Group set up a Wind Farm in Northern Missouri (Around King City)

The WCG got into financial difficulty and sold out a controlling interest to NTR INC for $150 million dollars. NTR is an overseas Irish Environmental firm. NTR is a public company but is unlisted. NTR, Inc. ran into financial difficulty and made a "Strategic Alliance" (that's Wall Street for take me quick before I go bust) with Blackrock Risk Management in their alternative assets division. There are people and companies that for various reasons, i.e. Public Relations, Tax Credits etc that want to invest in alternative assets. The CEO of Blackrock is Larry Fink who previously was associated with the wild and woolly sub-prime business and highly leveraged credit default swaps. Check out Charles Gasparino's book," SELLING OUT". Mr. Fink took home $23 million in compensation last year.

Now, if you want to support a less than transparent uneconomical enterprise in the name of Green Power, please do so. I choose not to and encourage my readers not to because I believe it is principally a scheme to enrich a few in the name of the environment. So, until I get some transparency and facts on the money, I am opposed to subsidizing this economic inefficiency in the name of Green Power.

I do strongly believe in Auto and truck engines operated on natural gas because of the clean air attributes and the low cost of natural gas as a result of the Bakken and Marccellus and Eagle Ford discoveries. This will be the coming low cost energy source and over the road truckers are already in the process of changing over to NG engines. Both Ford and Chevrolet have announced dual fuel use acceptable engines to be installed in their truck models. I am urging the new city administration to investigate this opportunity before purchasing more new trucks and autos for the City because it not only results in cleaner air but saves a bundle of money in fuel costs as well.

 Robert W. Kent Ward IV Greengate Subdivision

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