Article Contributed on: 8/30/2009 9:04:17 AM
Stepping in for Director George Hier, IREA's general manager Stan Lewandowski gave a wide ranging talk on a number of issues that impact Douglas County last Friday, Aug. 28, at Parker's War Horse Inn.
Fresh from a radio interview with KOA's Mike Rosen, Lewandowski was armed with facts, figures and opinions about those who support the Waxman-Markey cap and trade bill. He decried the developing countries who were not abiding by the rules because these nations wanted the energy lifestyle that the US has.
"If there's good legislation, we'll support it," he avowed, "if there's bad legislation, we'll kill it."
Those supporting the cap and trade bill are trying to please everyone he explained and if they do that they'll lose some of their support. He reiterated that the IREA will continue to fight the bill with all the means available to them.
IREA's goal was to continue to supply energy at a reasonably low cost and at the present time chasing nuclear, wind and solar sources was not in the best interests of the association. He cited the rush for wind power investment.
Douglas County has no access to the wind turbines in northern Colorado. "Transmission lines for wind power are very expensive. We can reduce costs by about 33%m but over time it is not cost effective" he claimed.
One major bone of contention that was highlighted was the permitting procedures. Any major energy source can take anywhere from ten to 11 years to get all the permits required from the various local, state and federal arenas. A question from the floor demanded how we, the public, can improve this delaying tactic.
"We need a blackout to spur the discussion on getting new energy sources" Lewandowski joked. But on a more serious note he added "pain comes before you end up with the answers."