Walmart Files Gripe over Proposed Cape Wind Electricity Rates

2 by Timothy Hurst on June 19, 2010

Electricity from the Cape Wind offshore wind farm could cost double the current Massachusetts residential rate.

A contract between the Cape Wind offshore wind farm -- which won final approval from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in April and is expected to begin generating electricity in 2013 -- and the utility purchasing the energy, National Grid, would settle on an energy price that is twice current residential rates.

Massachusetts has passed a fairly aggressive renewable energy standard that requires utilities to get at least 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. The Cape Wind project will provide a significant portion of that requirement.

Electricity rates in Massachusetts are already among the highest in the country. Residential and commercial customers both pay over 15 cents per kilowatt hour (EIA, March 2010), only Connecticut and Hawaii pay higher electricity rates.

Bill Wertz, a spokesman for the retailer, says Walmart “supports the intent of the Cape Wind project.’’ But they have issues with National Grid’s cost estimates, as well as how those costs will be transferred to customers, the Boston Globe reports.

But electricity rates have been rising statewide long before the dream of Cape Wind became a reality.

Accounting for the bulk of the price increase in the proposed contract is a premium of 6.1 cents/kwh Massachusetts requires utilities to pay for renewable energy, a provision designed to stimulate clean energy investment in Massachusetts and create a new industrial sector around it. Economists and supporters of the policy mechanism believe that developing a clean energy sector will eventually bring electricity prices back down.

Is Walmart internally conflicted over renewable energy?

Some renewable energy advocates say Walmarts' challenge to the contract raises questions about the retailer’s commitment to clean energy.

Dan Bakal, director of electric power programs for the green investment coalition Ceres in Boston, told the Boston Globe that it is typical for large companies to express concern about electricity rates. Wal-Mart’s filing was surprising because of the company’s previous high-profile focus on environmental issues. Continued...

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madmilker

Fifteen cargo ships pollute as much as 760 million automobiles.

It takes $9 billion a year in hidden taxes from all Americans to clean the fish from ballast tanks of ships.

There is only 5% foreign in all China Wal*Mart’s.

on Wal*Mart’s China web page!

“Wal-Mart China persists in local procurement which provides more job opportunities, supports local manufacture industry and promotes local economy. So far, 95% of merchandising sold at Wal-Mart China store are local products by which Wal-Mart has established business relations with nearly 20,000 suppliers. At Wal-Mart, we treat suppliers as partners and would like to develop with them. In 2008 Wal-Mart won the Supplier Satisfaction published by Business Information of Shanghai for five consecutive years.”

5% foreign in China….

That does not support American exports and American jobs…..

Retail makes NOTHING….
Governments only make MORE DEBT….
It’s time for less of those two and for America to get back to making stuff.

Where were you thirty five to forty years ago?

Remember what Lance Winslow wrote in that article “The Flow of Trade in a Global Economy”….dang! better yet…just take the time and read this ….”Now let us look at Wal-Mart again; you buy a product there, 6% goes to the employees, 10-18% is profit to the company, 25% goes to other costs and 50% goes to re-stock or the cost of goods sold. Of the 50% about 20-25% goes to China, a guess, but you get the point. Now then, how long will it take at 433 Billion dollars at year for China to have all of our money, leaving no money flow for us to circulate? At a 17 Trillion dollar economy less than 40-years minus the 1/6 they buy from us. Some say that if we keep putting money into our economy, it would take forever, but if we do not then eventually all the money flow will go. If China buys our debt then eventually they own us, no need to worry about a war, they are buying America, due in part to our own mismanaged trade, so whose fault is that? Not necessarily China, as they are doing what’s in the best interests, and we should make sure that trade is not only free, but fair too.”

Also, think for a moment about George Washington….yes the man that is on the US dollar bill…. “Washington had been reelected unanimously in 1792. His decision not to seek a third term established a tradition that is now embedded in the 22d Amendment of the Constitution.”

Take the time to read his farewell address after only eight years of serving his country and than ask yourself this….How do you think George feels being sent overseas in return for all that foreign so-call cheap items and being left in a foreign bank because the American worker doesn’t make anything for the foreigners to buy. Cheap items didn’t make this great union of 57…oops! 50 states the greatest place on the face of this Earth…..the American worker (union and non-union) did.

You can’t have a strong country without having a strong currency and you can’t have a strong currency unless you keep it floating around within your 50 states. This is why the store with the star in the name puts 95% China made items in their stores in China….to keep their “yuan” in their country helping the nice people there. And with only 5% left for all the other 182 country’s that make stuff including the United States of America….that doesn’t produce very many jobs outside of China.

Being an old person myself and knowing how it was back in the 40′s, 50′s and 60′s in this union of 50 states….I look at George each time I pull him out of my billfold and make a promise to send him out for items made in America so after floating around helping each hand he touches just maybe one day he will shake mine again.
Uncle B

The few items that remain on shelves of Canadian stores of American origin are usually far over-priced and of questionable quality and design – same reason we no longer drive American cars! America fights for trade from an foreign oil overdraft position! China has nuclear/electric sourced, electric bullet train network, up and running on veggies and rice, producing from nuclear power, goods for the American market! With this kind of leverage in the world trade situation, they will soon dominate! Next, they will have Nuclear/Electric freighters distributing their goods in a cheaper, cleaner fashion and without the oil barons oil surcharges attached! The will ship raw materials for China’s hungry factories the same way. America’s obsession, or even addiction to oil is beginning to get in the way in the 21st century! Time for change in America but like so many addicts they cannot! Even their “Volt” car has taken on mythical portions and it is still vapor-ware! No so, BYD’s, Shanghai Taxis – the Chinese “Volt” knock-offs – they have been in successful service for over two years! America must wake up, off of its WWII laurels, and get paddling up the creek or lose the battle entirely and live in a Third World state of affairs with a very few rich and a huge number of very poor in feudal positions! Wall Mart does not cause this, American government’s indolence and denial of the truth causes this! China sees a sales opportunity and takes it! Good for them! Progress! Away from the mired corrupt corporatism (Google, Torrent, “Who Stole The Electric Car”) that holds America back! They have shot themselves in the foot and are to damn dumb to apply bandages!