Louisiana's First Wind Turbine to be Erected in 2024
Terrible news for our state
And the Green New Deal marches on…
I first got word of the unfolding tragedy when the socialist on the Louisiana Public Service Commission announced this as “bright and clean” news. My heart sank.
Here’s the article referenced by the dim-witted Marxist:
By: Leigh Guidry
CUT OFF, LA – Gulf Wind Technology approved a lease agreement at the Greater Lafourche Port Commission’s (GLPC) December board meeting that will make Port Fourchon the first location in Louisiana to have an actual wind turbine.
The wind turbine and its components are currently journeying across the Atlantic to the U.S. Upon their arrival, the process to reassemble this turbine will commence shortly thereafter.
The significance of this announcement can’t be understated, according to GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson. [I believe she intended “overstated”]
“It has always been our desire to become a hub for offshore wind just as we are for deepwater offshore oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico. This wind turbine will serve a crucial role in allowing us to do just that,” Chiasson said.
The turbine, which measures 187 feet tall, will be located at the Port Fourchon Coastal Wetlands Park.
James Martin, President and CEO of Gulf Wind Technology, which is leading the project, said the turbine will collect data while also producing the potential to use its offtake energy to power the GLPC’s nearby emergency operations building as well as some basic infrastructure being planned for the Coastal Wetlands Park through an LWCF (Land and Water Conservation Fund) grant award.
In addition, it is a unique platform for the upskilling and training of regional businesses and workforce in the areas of wind farm installation, operation, and maintenance. The turbine will also be an important vehicle for Gulf Wind Technology to collaborate with STEM, colleges, universities, and national laboratories in demonstrating innovative American technologies designed specifically for the Gulf of Mexico.
“This project is a key enabler for the region to power its future by harnessing the wind. This turbine will demonstrate everything needed to deploy wind energy projects in the region, which is an important stepping stone to enable more technical and economic developments in the future,” Martin said.
The construction, commissioning, and testing of the wind turbine will be approached in a process driven, best-practice way, with the goal of targeting 100% local execution of the project. It is planned to be operational in the latter half of 2024.
“These types of projects wouldn’t be possible if not for the full support of our Board of Commissioners, who are always looking at ways to further opportunities for our region and its people,” Chiasson said. “This project will employ a local workforce and will establish a precedent through the data collected to help facilitate future opportunities that will look to bring more jobs and economic development to Port Fourchon and Lafourche Parish.”
Granted, this will not be as massive a wind turbine that exists, but the purpose, as stated in the article, is to be the first Trojan Horse… “will demonstrate everything needed” and “an important stepping stone to enable more…”
Our opposition to wind power cannot be overstated: it is unreliable, intermittent, and expensive. It is an irrational act to presume a dependence on weather as some means of influencing the climate. As if using these ugly devices will allow humanity to control the temperature of the planet in a century’s time. The additional mining needed to transition to “Green Energy” will be anything but "Green” and good for the planet.
The progression in energy production should be toward nuclear, not wind.
If Louisiana is to be a national trend-setter, let’s take steps toward Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) - NOT WIND!
Add to this news that Carbon Capture and Sequestration is also coming to Louisiana and we are taking multiple punches, committing our state to inferior and ersatz energy production while enriching a chosen few families and industries with the exploitation of the environment.
Their messaging is intended to confuse you
When you hear Louisiana politicians say, as they often do, “I’m all for ‘All of the Above’ energy production” realize the truth: that terrible systems are treated as equal to the best systems, that we should allow the energy barbarians through the gates, that they are making no distinction in the quality of the power production systems they’ll foist upon you. This is grotesque and irresponsible.
Jeff Landry, our new governor, has spoken out of both sides of his mouth on energy, applauding the CCS project while also signaling he will walk away from “Net Zero by ____” goals of the former governor. While it’s reassuring to hear him speak sanely about New Zero - which is a disastrous aspiration - the bec wonders about the depth and thoroughness of his knowledge and the consistency of his judgement, regarding new power systems.
The introduction of wind turbines into the great state of Louisiana is a sad event, nothing to celebrate.
The Louisiana legislature is after the money, plain and simple. The Biden Administration is spending $1.3 billion on two CCS projects, one on King’s Ranch in Texas and the other on property owned by the Stream Family here in Louisiana.
It’s all a lure. Not merely an empty promise, but a destructive one. Don’t take the bait.
the bec
Editor’s Note:
I’ve appreciated taking a bit of a holiday break in writing. I’ll be returning to usual posting moving forward. Many thanks to the hundreds of readers and subscribers to The Big Easy Conservative.
Joe