I know a women who once when the doors of her train opened accidentally, got up and pulled her husband off the train… In doing so, she stepped out on the platform in Vienna, and thereby escaped Communist suppression for the rest of her life…

Four years ago, she had polyps in her breast. She immediately underwent radiation and beat it. Until now.

If today’s experimental treatment does not work, she will undergo a mastectomy next month and reconstructive surgery. It will be a shame for she has some of the most beautiful breasts … They’re truly a natural wonder.

But the point I’m making is…. when dealing with cancer… you nip it in the bud… You don’t play around.. You take necessary corrective action…

There is a deadly cancer in Delaware’s blogworld today. You may have read something about the Caesar Rodney Institute. It too is a cancer; it too needs excised before it spreads its spores and contaminates our General Assembly and local idiots like Ron Williams…

WTF is a Caesar Rodney Institute?

The answer is two words: Garrett Wozniak…

WTF is Garrett Wozniak?

Hmmmmmmm… let’s take a look together… shall we?

If we pull up Linkaden’s page, we see his prime qualification is:

Campaign Manager at Citizens for Copeland

Oh.. so that’s what makes him an expert in all things political… But wait… who is that guy Copeland? Isn’t he that guy that just disappeared after last November 4th?.. Vanished into thin air? …

Sounds familiar… Hmmmm… Copeland…..Copeland…. Copeland…. Where have we heard that name before… hmmph..

Wasn’t he that silly politician who insisted we should put oil rigs off of Rehoboth Beach? No couldn’t be, for no one here in this state is that stupid… Oil Rigs off Delaware’s number one tourist site… Oil rigs off Delaware’s premier money making site? Never? There’s a no brainer…

Wasn’t he that silly politician who stalled the wind deal so Delmarva Power could charge us 60% more for our electricity? Wasn’t he that person whose approval was required before our state paid out $35,000 so Richard Speck could lynch Arnette McRae on the public stand; she of course being the one in charge of Delaware’s Public Service Commission, and therefore the one responsible for running the best open aired RPS this state has ever seen? So open, in fact, that Delmarva Power’s lies were exposed for all to see for what they truly were? lies?

Wasn’t he that silly politician who said he founded the Challenge Program, only to have Tommywonk say… uhn uhn… wasn’t so?

Wasn’t he that silly republican who begged Bill Lee to run for governor and then handed out flyers telling Wilmington blacks to vote for Obama, Markell, and himself? Selling his own friend down the river? lol.

Wasn’t he that silly republican who spent lavishly at Wilmington’s black churches thinking their votes could be so readily and cheaply bought? lol

Wasn’t he that silly republican who gave his support to Thurman Adams, delivering to him in January 2007, the entire Republican caucus in his favor, and only after that deed was done, did he begin championing the cause of open government once he knew it could never happen? lol

Wasn’t he that silly republican who believes even when proven wrong, that resolute determination can undermine actual facts proving the contrary? lol

If that’s the same Copeland, that Garrett Wozniak supported, then it is hard to take him seriously… is it not? Oil rigs off of Rehoboth… What a card… lol

So what is it that makes Garrett Wozniak an expert? What is it that gives him credibility? Shall we take a look together?

* Campaign Manager at Citizens for Copeland
* Policy Director at Delaware House of ‘Representatives
* Executive Director at Delaware Republican Party

Obviously his view are a little one sided.. Results are thus. These are facts now… not some policy dribble… Hard solid evidence…

As campaign chair, he barely mustered 38% of the vote for his candidate…. as my little kindergardener often says of his elders:FAIL
Even outspokenly gay John Brady received 41% of the vote… Wozniak’s candidate couldn’t even muster that amount…

Policy Director of Delaware’s Majority Party at Delaware’s House of Representatives. That means Republican caucus of the House of Representatives… As policy director of the majority party, nothing of importance was passed in two years that could get by the Senate. As they say at that other state blog: FAIL Consequently, voters rejected Republican candidates in November giving Democrats a plurality, (until Thornberg’s friends threw out Paradee’s win).

Executive Director of Delaware’s Republican Party: As echoed across the tabulations of every voting booth across this state: FAIL
They lost by the largest margin ever in recent memory of anyone living or dead… Sort of like trusting the manager of the Cincinnati Reds to write a book outlining the strategy of winning a baseball game… lol

So we see under the profile of Gary Wozniak, what he is familiar with:

Extensive experience in all aspects of project management including supervising, fundraising, developing marketing strategies, organization/time management and researching federal and state laws.

I’ll let you be the judge of whether he was successful at any of these?

And he sums up his credentials here…

Thorough knowledge of fundraising techniques, managing donor relations, and database management

Was this their most successful year ever? The results are in: you be the judge.

He goes on…

Able to work independently and collaboratively on multiple projects
• Have established positive relationships with most members of Delaware’s General Assembly regardless of political affiliation

Again was this their most successful year ever? The results are in? You be the judge.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT/FUNDRAISING EXPERIENCE
• Responsible for statewide communications, fundraising, strategy, policy research, and general management/operations
• Successfully raised between $700,000 in a six month period
• Managed a budget of $800,000
• Supervised a staff of three employees and coordinated over 100 volunteers
• Created and implemented a district operations plan to allow legislators to more effectively and efficiently communicate with constituents
• Coordinated local campaigns, consulting on policy, budgeting, and strategy for over 30 candidates
• Served as Operations Manager responsible for budgeting, directing all fundraising efforts, developing finance plans and initiatives to grow the organization, and strategic planning
• Drafted press releases, legislation, and speeches; responded to constituent concerns; and planned events in a highly competitive non-partisan internship
• Developed comprehensive plans for municipalities

So how’s he doin’ now?

So why should we even listen to Garrett Wosniak and the Caesar Rodney Institute’s ramblings?

Garrett Wozniak’s Education

*
University of Delaware

MPA , Financial Management & State and Local Management , 2004 — 2006
*
Towson University

B.S. , Economics and Political Science , 2002 — 2004
*
Montgomery College

A.A. , Business Administration , 2000 — 2002

Because since high school graduation, his entire adulthood has only lived through the Republican era… He was only a baby of ten when Clinton cleaned up the former Republican’s mess and barely 18 when he turned it over to the new generation of Republicanism to squander it away to nothingness…

He can’t help it… He simply not old enough to know any better…..

But wait a second… His entire age group overwhelmingly voted for change. Most of his age group does indeed know better…. What’s up with that?

Below are some wise words which should be applied to the Ceasar Rodney Institute the next time they meddle with state policy. For instead of being a thoughtful, introspective, outreaching organization that was dedicated to examining complicated issues to help educate the rest of us, we have a close-minded attempt by a failing philosophy to masquerade a voter rejected policy as intellectual fact….

“A cancer must be removed as soon as possible before it spreads and infects surrounding healthy tissue”.

Is it just me, or do those two candidate’s names sound like twitter birds….  Unfortunately there is no twitter site for the Twenty-ninth Representative District, so this post will have  to do….

Again, featuring the best Delaware Voter’s Guide ever… we go to the top of the page, click voter’s guide, drop down to the Twenty-Ninth District, and click on Charles Paradee.

As is often the case with progressive candidates, the first selection is his campaign website.. I see we are to drop the Charles and call him Trey… Ok, with a quick click on Trey’s website we see….wow… Protect, Preserve, Prepare is his motto… He even breaks it down further… Protect Open Space (sounds what Sussex County needs as well)..Approximately 85% of the 29th District lies outside the Growth Zone. Despite this fact, the 29th District has been one of the fastest growing areas in the State over the past decade. As the results of the 2006 Levy Court elections show, the people of the 29th District want elected officials who are committed to protecting the rural nature of Kent County from unbridled growth. Trey will be your advocate.

Preserve the low tax structure (also needed in Sussex County)We need Representatives who are equipped to understand the complex budget issues facing our State and who are willing to make the tough decisions. Trey is a self-described fiscal conservative whose background and experience in finance and small business will serve Delaware well.

Prepare for future development–The future is bright for Delaware… if we make the right decisions! We have to recognize that people will continue to move here as long as our taxes are low and our quality of life is high. Growth will continue. Will we do it wisely or will we fall into to the same traps as our neighbors, leading us to higher property and school taxes.

Fascinating.. (This guy’s platform is right out of my post below this one, which advocates what Sussex County must do to save itself from a terrible fate… ie vote Joan Deaver)…There is a picture of him and his hunting dog setting out on the Leipsic River.. Now that is someone we can trust to keep the best parts of Delaware…the way they are now……. Thanks to the Coastal Zone Act I have been remarkably surprised at how many parts of Delaware resemble the way it looked during the colonial area… The view of many of the ships plying up the Delaware River differs little from what those first explorers must have seen. Try saying that while traveling up any other ships channel in the civilized world….

With all the controversy swirling around the Democratic Insurance Commissioners candidate’s resume, it is refreshing to see Trey posting his online… How open is that?…. We see UD all the way, and an English major to boot, always a good sign… At least we see that from having lived in Newark, that he knows what overdevelopment looks like, (unlike someone who grew up, went to school, and never left her hometown)….. We see he is familiar with stable duty; which means he already has a pair of high topped work boots to use while dealing with the lobbyists inside the halls of Legislative Hall…Being prepared he will be, as is always a former Eagle scout… We see he worked at Merrill Lynch… oops… oh so that’s why he is running for office now… He is a NRA member and a member of Duck’s Unlimited…He’s a Chamber of Commerce guy, licensed for insurance, securities, and financial planning….

For those of you outside of Dover who as children used to travel through it on your way to the beach… he hails from the Paradee Gas Company lineage…and…. the dude plays drums…Awesome. (I don’t think the blogger’s band has a drummer yet….)

On his issues page, the first thing catching your eye is the title…Education is more important than cheap beer… He continues with this: I purchased some beer to enjoy with friends at a cookout. As I left the liquor store, I glanced at my receipt to see that I had paid $4.85 per six-pack of beer. I wondered for a moment how much my purchase decision would have been affected had I been required to pay $4.89 per six-pack. I doubt anyone would notice an increase of less than 1 cent per individual beer. In the waning hours of the 144th General Assembly, House Bill 518 was defeated in the State Senate, days after passing in the House of Representatives. HB 518 would have increased the tax on a six-pack of beer by 4 cents, 10 cents on a bottle of wine, and 37 cents on a .75-liter bottle of liquor. The tax increases would have generated an estimated $4.5 million in revenue for our cash-strapped State. Three hours after HB 518 was defeated, our lawmakers voted to slash $10.9 million from “programs for remedial readers and students who need extra schooling in the summer” and “funding that provides extracurricular academic help, professional support for teachers and school discipline.” I am proud that my State Senator, Nancy Cook, had the courage to stand up for the children of our State by co-sponsoring HB 518, and I am terribly disappointed that the current Representative of the 29th District, Pamela Thornburg, did not.” Shame on that Pam Thornburg who puts cheap beer before the education of those needing extra schooling. Shame. Shame. (We know how she likes parties)

Other issues… we see he is for open government… (his opponent was one of the few Republicans voting against House Bill 4, much to the chagrin of one Dave Burris..) He offers us his jobs proposal where he arguably points out the ineffectiveness of his incumbent who, in answer to the question what can be done to bring jobs to Kent County… could only come up with one: sports betting at three local racetracks….

Further along he adds: While on the subject of alternative energy, I must also add that it is absolutely shameful how our current legislature has handled the proposed wind power farm. We have an opportunity to attract good paying “green collar” jobs to our State. The development of alternative energy sources is the next great growth industry for our Nation. Delaware needs to get its share of these jobs by providing a business friendly environment that will attract forward thinking
entrepreneurs and businesses.

Here is an inquiry into his family tree. And here is his answer to the News Journal Questionnaire.

Here we see his father owed the city of Dover $800.68 for a sewer tap that was annexed after he had installed it…(I didn’t even know they had computers back on September 13, 1965… lol. )

Here is a search engine report for the Heritage Gas Company, (also known as the Paradee Gas Company..)

From here, Google starts getting confused and substituting items with “parade” in place of Paradee.

Here is his endorsement from the AFL-CIO. And here is his PDD endorsement…. I don’t know how many of either live in his district…

Ok, Let’s Check Out The Other Contender

Click on Pam Thornburg and now we are ready to go.

Pam has an interesting fault.. She has a large wealth of Google data under two spellings of her name..Pam Thornburg (correct) and Pam Thornberg (incorrect).
One thing worth mentioning is that Pam Thornburg has no mention of it, but Pam Thornberg was one of the opponents of the Smoking Ban back in 2002 who introduced bills to water down or delay its taking effect….(Remember… she’s a party girl)….Here we have her at the 11th annual Delaware Standardbred Owners Association (DSOA) Awards Dinner at the Dover Sheraton Hotel on Friday, Jan. 11, 2008.
Here we have her lauded for her work with the Career Transition Project in Kilroy’s own Red Clay District for those with special needs… Hey didn’t I just mention that she voted to cut funding for them? Something like education versus cheap beer? And it was her special project that got budget sliced? Beer IS important.

From beer we go to her official state website… We see she went to high school and college and never left Dover…We see she has been in Legislature since 2000, riding in with Minner, and lists herself as a full time legislator…We see she has oversight of Corrections and she should be answering some hard questions there… since what happened, occurred on her watch…

Here is what she has proudly sponsored…

HB 85 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

HB 175 AN ACT TO AMEND SUBCHAPTER III OF CHAPTER 31 OF TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE PERTAINING TO THE EXERCISE OF EMERGENCY POWERS.

HB 189 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAX DITCHES.

HB 224 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FALSE ALARMS AND SECURITY SYSTEMS.

HB 452 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAX DITCHES.

HB 492 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

HR 7 COMMEMORATING JANUARY 22-26, 2007 AS DELAWARE AG WEEK.

HR 37 ESTABLISHING THE GROCERY STORE BEER SALES TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF BEER SALES IN GROCERY STORES.

HR 39 COMMEMORATING JANUARY 7-12, 2008 AS DELAWARE AGRICULTURE WEEK.

HR 46 PROCLAIMING APRIL 21 THROUGH APRIL 25, 2008 AS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK.

HS 1 FOR HB 224 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FALSE ALARMS AND SECURITY SYSTEMS.

Which one jumped out at you?  Yep… me too…

ESTABLISHING THE GROCERY STORE BEER SALES TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF BEER SALES IN GROCERY STORES.  (I guess the liquor stores close too early in Dover).  That bill was laid on the table only to be strickened upon the opening of the  next session… The Girl loves to party…

So much that only three of her bill got to the governor’s desk… 1) One NRA piece saying the state could never confiscate ones firearm in a Katrina style emergency; 2) one grandfathering encroachments on Tax Ditches, and 3) one fining those with false security alarms… But thanks to her… January 7 – 12 was Delaware AG (Attorney General…lol) week, and April 21 – 25th was Small Business Week… Shucks… I missed it…

Next we have the Delaware Task force that was created by Pam Thornburg who sponsored House Resolution 69,, From the minutes we see the task force met two times and then…Rep. Thornburg stated that she did not feel the task force need to meet again.

Next we have project Vote Smart synopsis of Pam Thornburg’s voting record… There we see that she did not vote on one of John Atkins bills HB 537 back in 2006, even though she was a sponsor.

We see she voted for the 2008 budget, and voted no on the bill to raise her beer 4 cents….She voted yes to collective bargaining…She voted against increasing the cigarette tax,…She voted against raising the minimum wage from $6.15….She voted yes to prevent state employees from paying dues or fair share fees without written consent….She voted “no” against a sterile needle programs, and against a ban on open alcoholic containers in one’s motor vehicle…. (That’s what the drive to the beach is for…) and she voted yes to repeal the statutes of limitation on child abuse cases and to ban the exemption of state employees from being charged under those statutes…

Next we have a wonderful little piece of satire describing here role on the House Committee of Energy in its approval hearing on Bluewater Wind’s proposal… (Like Charlie Copeland, she fought for Delmarva all the way until the final bill was signed…) The piece is appropriate.

Next we have some beautiful pictures of Pam Thornburg as she performs her daily duties as a member of the General Assembly…..

Next we see that on May 8-9th, 2006, the person representing the 29th district, got to party in some really swank digs… The Greenbrier of White Sulphur Springs.. I hope she got a chance to play a round of golf… It is one of the most beautiful courses east of California…. And if she is ever in jail, her supporters can get “Free Pam Thornburg” signs here…

Here is Pam Thornburg’s answer to the News Journal Questionnaire….

Next we have Nancy from Delaware Way’s description showing Pam Thornburg as a tool of Delmarva Power in its battle against Bluewater Wind… It would be wise to remember that even after it was proven that Bluewater Wind cost much less than Delmarva could offer from other sources… Pam Thornburg emphatically backed Delmarva Power against the wishes of 90% of her constituency….She is a special interest legislator… (No doubt, Delmarva Power threw better parties, thanks of course to her fellow party-er... Joe Farley…)

In an effort to stifle John Kowalko, (totally ineffective) she used Joe Farley, lobbyist for Delmarva Power to filabuster most of the time allotted for discussion.. More from Delaware Liberal…

We see another party this time closer to home.. December 2-4, 2005. Minutes of the Kent County Transportation meeting from March 2, 2005 .... are here…

Here, much more pertinent, are the opening minutes of the early meetings of the SEU, that infamous board which tried to scarf $100,000,000 into McDowell’s hands… and still might… A piece is ready for the new session which as shown last June, is full of some shady dealings…..

We see why she is the way she is… As the state chairman of ALEC, American Legislative Exchange Council, she shares with them a common belief in limited government, free markets, federalism, and individual liberty. Just to name some of the original founders, two of which were Henry Hyde (he liked to party as well) and Jesse Helms… But before we go on… isn’t the whole problem we are facing with our economy the result of the policies that organizations like ALEC sneak through our legislative bodies? Isn’t what we are feeling this economic session the result of deregulating and not supervising adequetely those in charge of the money… Doesn’t it seem reasonable that someone who is so into a failed policy of the past, would do our state much more harm than good?

And then we have this.

And from here we see that the Twenty-Ninth District is split 40% Democrats, 35% Republicans, and 25% other.. The key for both candidates is the other…..

The Inevitable Conclusion

That depends entirely upon you….  however if you want my synopsis, it would be that we need forward thinkers now, and not someone playing around in the past to dally in “little” things… I saw Thornburg in action during the Bluewater Wind controversy and it was scary… Why someone would hurt the citizens under their care, who as you all know were struggling so hard to keep up with their utility payments, support the entity beating them down, and be glib and laugh about their plight sarcastically….  I didn’t know people like that ever got elected….  A “small business week” sounds nice, but really…. what does it do…  what does it accomplish… how does it make anyone’s life even a little better?

The twenty-ninth district is so lucky to have someone like Paradee who reflects their values, but looks to carry those values into the future rather than return them to the past….  There are some trying times ahead… someone tackling new problems with an antiqued set of tools is not what the twenty-ninth needs right now…  Thornberg’s philosophy dates back to 1973… as a nation we have moved on since then…

Every two years the Legislature gets shuffled… (but unfortunately not as much lately as it has needed)… Pam Thornburg has, on every one of the great issues that affected this state’s positioning of itself among its neighbors, been on the wrong side…… She was against cheap clean power from Bluewater Wind almost chasing away 500 high paying jobs…… She is against open government; she voted against House Bill 4.  She way back when, was against the smoking ban, in a state with one of the highest cancer rates in the nation for heavens sakes!…  On the other hand if it involves gambling, liquor, beer, wine, cigarettes, open containers in motor vehicles, or any other vice… whoopi… she is all for it…(or so her record would make it seem….) That’s the small town mentality…that comes from never opening ones horizons….

One thing is certain.  Someone good needs to fill that post…Someone forward looking, smart, conservative, family oriented, knowledgeable in business, conservation, the locality, and interested in preserving what is best of western Kent County.  Protect, Preserve, Prepare. The twenty-ninth district could do no better than put Trey Paradee into the House of Representatives on November 4th….

I Founded The Challenge Program
See Tommywonk

Off the top of my head, the following are a synopsis of battles being waged over the election districts of Delaware…

Property Rights:

Do developers have more of a right to your property than you do?

Do property owners have any right to control what happens in their neighborhood, especially alongside their parcels of land, if it directly impacts those very parcels?

Do manufactured housing owners have any rights to the rented property under which they built?

Open Government

Should caucuses and every meeting be open to the public?

Should all expenses be posted on line?

Should all budget and bond bills have 3 days scrutiny before being voted upon by the entire legislature?

State Budget:

Can we possibly cut spending any more, or are we finally forced to raise taxes this session?

Should the State augment local school spending to bring teaching up to standard?

Do we need to spend for more auditors?

How can we do what we do …. cheaper?

Education

Should we continue with Charter Schools?

Should we eliminate the DSEA or whittle down their influence, as voice by Copeland and Lee?

Should Wilmington become it’s own school district, and busing inner city kids out to the suburbs be eliminated?

Environment:

Should we hold those accountable who did not support the Bluewater Wind deal, and who threw up roadblocks at every attempt made to force our electric bills to go down?

Should we do better at holding large corporations accountable to environmental regulations, at the risk of losing jobs to another state which is less stringent?

Should we legislate environmental laws tougher, or more lenient due to economic reasons”

Morality:

Should we reward someone with office, who 1) went to Seacrets, 2) included his legislative id with his driver’s license when pulled over, 3) drove 30 miles in Delaware while intoxicated (oh, he didn’t kill someone?), 4) cause his wife to call for back up in a domestic matter, 5) ask (threaten?) the babysitter not to tell a soul about what she had witnessed?

If he wins, can we still call Millsboro “God’s Country”, and can it still keep the insigna, In God We Trust, up on the corner bank?

“Oh what a great guy… Gee, I’ll think I’ll vote for him…”

Everyone in public office is a great guy… Human beings who wear their assholes on their sleeves, don’t win public contests and therefore, by default, don’t move up to the next step. If a person has been elected to an office, then he obviously can come across as a great guy… not only that, he has to…

Because of this necessary trait, everyone who is running for office this political season…is a great guy…. . the ‘great guy’ characterization on both sides, balances each other and equals each other out… Therefore, it is important to guess what a candidate will do once he is elected into office, based on what they did way back when they weren’t in office…

So when Mike Matthews says Atkins is going to win… and bases it on two reports he received from one meeting that took place near Millsboro… since the subject is none other than Atkins, it gets our attention.

This poster gushes that Atkins is a good ole boy and Hastings seems stiff in comparison…

he *Atkins) seems like a genuinely likable guy. he’s got the personal “magic” that’s critical to campaigning – that ability to joke around and connect with people on an informal level. i don’t know if Hastings has it. seems pretty stiff.

Flashback… where have we heard that before?

Bush and Gore 2000, that’s where… Two weeks of “Which Candidate Would You Rather Have A Beer With?” and a two weeks of discussing why Gore is stiff ( How do you tell Al Gore from the Secret Service agents protecting him… He’s the stiff one…)… and one week talking about his convention smooch (with tongue), mouth to mouth with Tipper…and throughout the first debate: all issues pertinent to our nation, were swept under the rug, in order to discuss the problem with sighing…

I guess then American’s deserve what they got… The lesson which should be learned, is that which candidates stand for and who they profess to support, really does matter…. It impacts what happens to you. It makes a world of difference in your next four years…

So Atkins versus Hastings… Some are already taking a page from Bush/ Gore and trying to frame that contest as about being the friendlier person…?

Here, in that cone of silence, are some of the topics that are not being discussed?

Who of the two, is the more moral person?
Who of the two, is the strongest against the cancer clusterfuck NRG?
Who of the two, is an advocate for Bluewater Wind?
Who of the two, is an advocate for better schools?
Who of the two, is an advocate for smarter, not stupider growth?
Who of the two, makes good decisions when required?
Who of the two, is guided by a moral compass, and not by what is best for him?
Who of the two, even cares that mercury lies on NRG’s property?
Who of the two, even cares whether NRG kills tons of fish, each time it discharges?
Who of the two, even cares whether women have needs of their own?
Who of the two, believes in open government, and who of the two, has Seacrets to hide?

Ladies and Gentlemen of the 41st… Let’s not repeat the same mistake this nation made in 2000 when it elected Bush? We knew what he was going to do… he told us! But we elected him anyway?

Ladies and Gentlemen of the 41st…. Don’t do it twice to yourself? Take a moment to think for once… Take a moment to look closely and remember just what went on before…..

When John Atkins was a legislator, he used his position to oppose statewide recycling.

He used his position on the House Natural Resources & Environmental Management committee to oppose environmental progress.

Atkins helped delay the control of emissions from “lightering” operations in the Delaware Bay (Senate Joint Resolution 6).

Atkins helped block “pollution control strategies” for the Inland Bays (Senate Concurrent Resolution 21).

Atkins helped block limits on unwise rebuilding of beach front houses destroyed in storms (Senate Bill 377).

Atkins presented himself to us as the loyal servant of NRG, owners of the mega-polluting Indian River Power Plant, and he is campaigning in support of another coal-burning power plant at the same location.

Even though Atkins chaired the House Corrections Committee he felt that the Department of Corrections should provide only the most basic health care services to inmates. As the crises within the prison health-care system blew wide open, Atkins wanted to keep it under his rug….“I do not favor federal intervention or investigations.

On October 29, 2006, Atkins was arrested for the “terroristic threatening” of his wife after an argument “became physical.” ( He contends he was drunk)

Atkins chaired a “Delaware Poultry Issues Task Force” that recommended rolling back Delaware’s anti-incineration laws. “Mommy… why does it smell like poop burning outside?”

And one citizen lobbyist, while visiting Legislative Hall, looked into Atkins Office and saw a life size cutout of George W. Bush on display! If there were ever birds of a feather?…..
Will Sussex County go the same way as did the United States in 2008? South?

Not if they elect Greg Hastings, Sunday School teacher and current legislator representing the 41st District, to his second term….

Back when he used to stand for people, Copeland used to have weekly sessions and serve doughnuts.

What would Deluca’s doughnut get together be like, were he ever to have one? Imagine a crowd awaiting him,  filling a certain coffee shop, and in walks Tony DeLuca…..

“Mr Deluca, Mr. Deluca…”
“Hey, Tony, Hey Tony, can you give me an answer on….”
“Senator, Senator…..”

Everyone’s hand is up with a question, clamoring like members of the press for tidbits of information..

The “talk to the hand” hand comes out and the crowd quickly silences, desperate for any forthcoming words of wisdom….  he completes a transaction at the counter cash register, and turns to the crowd…

“Ok, who has the first question”…….   Hands go wild……

“Mr Deluca, Mr. Deluca…”
“Hey, Tony, Hey Tony, can you give me an answer on….”
“Senator, Senator…..”;

  The finger points at one.  “Yes, you.” the nod says…..

Mr. Deluca, you negotiated a deal between Delmarva Power and Bluewater Wind…. How do you respond to accusations that instead of saving Delaware’s citizens money on electricity, you, by assisting in the drop from 300MWh down to 200MWh of contracted power….. you actually increase the cost all Delawareans will pay because they will have to pay for the 100MWh of power supplied by expensive fossil fuels..:

Deluca responds:  ” My answer to you is that, what  less than one week from now,… we will be moving forward onto the next step of achieving offshore wind, gathering permits.  We will not be waiting for a court case to decide the issue for us…. Furthermore by dropping 100MWH, Delmarva Power has become a willing partner, and not some unwanted spouse bonded only by a shotgun wedding…..”

“Hey, Tony, Hey Tony, can you give me an answer on your vote to seize weapons under a Delaware State of Emergency …

Deluca speaks. “Your question makes it sound like I voted to allow for the seizure of weapons by our state law enforcement officers were there ever to be a national emergency equal to that of the size of Katrina in New Orleans….. Nothing could be further from the truth….  I voted… and it passed, to change our state’s code so that the state “could NOT” take one’s weapon were an emergency to occur.  In times when our police protection is inadequate, to take one’s sole protection away, violates every citizen’s right to life…….”

“But Senator, Senator…..You voted for… and it passed, Senate Bill 263.  How do you answer criticism that this dumps all the revenue garnered through rate caps, right into the SEU committee chaired by Harris McDowell?? “

Tony retorts: “Yes it does.  But the SEU as it stands today is illegal. It has expired.  In the future the board will be appointed by the governor, divided up accordingly.   It is our intention that the money flowing in will go to help pay for heat to low income families throughout the state of Delaware…as well as help other individuals achieve energy independence with establishing either solar, wind or geothermal generators on their property….  Hopefully Governor Minner will not appoint McDowell.  I’m sort of hoping she chooses me….”

“Mr Deluca, Mr. Deluca…” You voted for full day kindergarten without deciding where money was to come to pay for it…. Do you regret your decision?”

To be honest, yes, I do.  At that time I believed we would grow our way into it… our revenues were climbing, and without raising additional taxes, we could have afforded it…  As you well know, those times are now gone.

“Hey, Tony, Hey Tony, can you tell us why you were the only one who voted no the first time that the Osborne Eminent Domain bill went through the legislature”

“Sure, I knew ahead of time that it would be vetoed and never pass. I did not change my vote. Others changed theirs in order to be on my side…. Many of my constituents will work on that site. I voted to protect their jobs….”

“Senator, Senator…..”: Why are you not in favor of Karen Peterson’s oven government FOIA bills?

He said; “If that bill was in place….I couldn’t do…..what I currently do……. That’s enough ladies and gentlemen….It’s been fun. Let’s do this again sometime……Oh, and if you haven’t already done so, make sure you vote on the best written blogs of 2008 so far. The deadline is coming up soon……And now if you don’t mind…..I have to eat my doughnuts. See ya Labor and Lobbyists….”

;”But Mr Deluca, Mr. Deluca…”
“Hey, Tony, Hey Tony, can you give me an answer on….”
“Senator, Senator…..”

The PSC meets to discuss the Bluewater Wind PPA. This meeting is for the public. The PSC wants to hear from you, once again…..They want to know if you approve of the PPA as it was signed.

It’s a start. It is a good compromise which will allow Delaware to get its foot in the door of offshore wind building. If this goes forward, we WILL be the first state when it comes to offshore wind farms…..The economy, shortage of fossil fuels, and the cheapness of wind power, collectively insure that up and down the Eastern Shore, wind farms offshore will one day be quite common. Delaware needs and deserves to be the hub of such activity. But this can only happen if we move forward on July 31st, when once again the four departments meet and this time, unlike December 18th, unanimously vote for approving the PPA. They need to hear how much you want it….

Secondly, they want to know how we feel about separating the Bridgeville located Connective gas turbine from the Bluewater PPA. Should they be joined, or should we just go with Bluewater for now?

They need to hear from us that they should just go with Bluewater for now. One, speed is important. More controversy tying up the process will do nothing but give our state’s competitors the time needed to outflank us. The new jobs will go to them.

Two, the gas turbine idea, based on today’s natural gas prices, costs much more than it did a year ago. (Hey, weren’t natural gas prices supposed to go down?)

Three, there is today not enough natural gas in Sussex County. A major pipeline will have to be built across the Chesapeake in order to supply the generator.

Four, the PJM grid is the largest single grid on the planet. Stretching from Illinois to Philadelphia, we can pull energy off the grid whenever needed. It is what we have been doing since deregulation started.

Five, the MAPP high intensity power lines, which will need to be built in order tor Bluewater Wind to move its excess wind into DC markets, can bring additional power cheaper than it arrives through the bottleneck existing at the top ot the Delmarva Peninsula.

Six, better would be to have a bigger Bluewater Wind selling us power outside the PPA, if we need extra. The power we get, would be carbon free…..instead of costing us our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness……

Finally, the old dogs are expected to put the PSC on trial for how it handled the entire Bluewater Process. Personally, I can not offer enough praise on how it was handled. It was open. All could read every side’s views, all could see every side’s offer, all could see all of the facts, benefits, and problems that each side had to offer. The vetting of the Bluewater Wind process, is the perfect example how open government works. In fact, all of the problems slowing the process, came from our closed government within the leadership of our General Assembly….. Literally all of the problems came from that contingent. What will take place on Thursday, if the public is not present to insist otherwise, will be another version of the McDowell hearings. A one sided diatribe with no facts to support it. The attempt will be made to have the PSC run as is the Legislature, behind closed doors. When in fact it should be the other way around. The Legislature, should be run as was the PSC’s RFP. No secrets.

The reason is obvious. Malfeasance does not do well in the open. When one compares Delmarva’s bid, to that of Bluewater’s original bid two winter’s ago, Bluewater’s bid makes sense, whereas Delmarva’s bid was ……I really don’t know what…..Could we say it was a fabrication made to sound important? Obviously, they were used to no one reading it…. (“Give me forty pages…I don’t care whats in it…”)

But read it we did. And the next morning often just as the News Journal logged on and carried the official side, there was the alternative on the blogs, refuting the facts as they had been presented. In the end, Delmarva learned from us that there was a lot of money to be made in wind, both on and off shore. They couldn’t help it…. They had access to the same facts we did……

So tomorrow, anyone, everyone, needs to pack their loved ones into the family car, and head down or up to Dover for this historic occasion. If you are single, head there straight after work. Join us in making sure that the PSC understands that 90% of Delaware supports this PPA between Bluewater Wind and Delmarva, that the co-generation question can be decided independently at a later date, and that the entire state should be modeled on how the PSC ran this operation.

Well done! Arnette McRae! Chairperson of the Delaware PSC….. …Well done.

Photo courtesy of Mars Candies and Sugarstand,

The Interior Department Division of Mining and Minerals, the department given charge of Federally regulating alternative energy sources off the Continental Shelf, released their regulations just minutes before the Delaware PSC met to determine the outcome of Bluewater Wind.

Announced by Bluewater Wind at the meeting, and minutes later scooped on the Rick Jensen show, this alleviates one of the holding blocks that before the agreement transpired in Deluca’s office, would have cast doubts on Bluewater’s ability to deliver the power when scheduled.

With this announcement, that no longer is a problem…..

As we speak, energy gurus are pouring over the four hundred sixty page document,

Obviously we will hear the details little by little over a long period of time….

(As for the title and picture, I was hungry and MMS reminded me of the best candy EVER!)

At 1:00 this afternoon in the auditorium inside 861 Silver Lake Drive, the Delaware Public Service Commission met to discuss that infamous proposal hammered together in Senator Deluca’s office.

The overall theme of the meeting could be lifted from Arnette McRae’s line of ……..”its been an extrodinary journey….”  Starting back with the April passage of House Bill 06 two years ago, ending twenty-four days from now, on July 31st when the four groups meet one final time to vote to fulfill of that piece of legislation…..

It was a love fest,  with everyone loving everyone else….   Delmarva loves Bluewater…Bluewater loves Delmarva, both love the PSC, everyone loves the public, who became the heroes of the day.  Praise abounds for Deluca.  Hmm. There wasn’t any dished towards Markell, Protack, or Carney……

In Dover, another public hearing will occur on the 17th of this month.  Comments on line will remain open until July 25th.  The vote will be held on the 31st.

A couple of wrinkles came out in the hearing as well as some good news.  Wrinkle one:  the 200 MWh version does not satisfy the growing demand downstate.  It is too little and is spread over too wide a base to have any effect on adding energy to the southern part of the grid.  Also, because of this deficit, whether or not to go forward with a backup generation facility, either by NRG or Connectiv will likely cause some controversy, and possibly stall an otherwise done deal.

Hats off to WDEL who broke the story that the MMS division of the Department of Interior has officially ok’d the building of offshore wind facilities and has issued a forty page memorandum which is so new, that not even I have had time to look it over.  ( I believe it was released at 1:00 this afternoon as well)

So where do we go from here?

We need to make sure that a considerable number of people show up on July 17th to represent the overwhelming support that Delawareans exhibited throughout this “journey” in support of wind…..

We need to debate whether or not back up energy is required.

We need to smooth passage of the high voltage MAPP transmission lines which will decrease the transmission cost of exporting wind driven electricity, thereby making a larger Bluewater Wind Farm more commercially viable to other areas besides ours…

With all the pieces in place, we lastly need to push for the largest wind farm possible off of Rehoboth, supplying  DC with enough energy to eventually wean us off of carbon fuel sources.

From this little room,  the wheels have started to roll………

WDEL got to it first.

A new law is in place allowing Bluewater Wind to move forward with an offshore wind farm.

Governor Minner signed the legislation paving the way for the wind farm, shortly after it passed the General Assembly very early Wednesday night.

In one day, 21 of 21 passed it in the Senate, 41 or 41 passed it in the House, and the ink is still drying from the governor’s pen.

Well done, all…. Well done.

It’s like this.

You have squabbled, cajoled, argued, conceded, bargained, then sealed the deal and driven your new car home….

While it sits parked in the driveway you sit in the comfort of your living room, pull out all your financial papers, pull out the car handbook, and ask yourself this question: ‘Ok, what did I just buy?”

And here is what the preliminary read through tells us:

A.) We got 200 MW instead of 300 MW.

B.) We are going to inflate REC credits three and a half times.

C ) We may get power started by 2012 instead of 2014 or 2015.

D.) Delmarva will receive roughly 20% of its electricity from the offshore wind farm instead of 30%.

E.) Somewhere close to 60 turbines will be initially built 11.5 miles off Rehoboth.

F.) Eventually the farm is expected to grow to 600 MWh, selling to outside bidders.

G.) The lower amount means a backup Connectiv generator is no longer needed in Sussex County.

H.) The savings from Bluewater Wind will be thinly spread to all of Delmarva Power’s customers.

I.) The outstanding court cases will be dropped with the signing and approval of this agreement.

J.) Rick Jensen should stick to talk radio and no longer become involved with live broadcasts.

Analysis:

A.) We will pay much more for our power than we would have paid with the current 300 MWh deal.

B.) The 3.5 REC deal means there will be less pollution taken out of the picture than with the 1 for 1 deal.

C.) Assuming a modest rise in fossil fuel cost, the earlier start date will begin saving money for Delawareans two years earlier.

D,) Twenty percent of our electrical bill will stay steady and never rise. 80% will.

E.) If Delmarva keeps the onshore wind deals it has signed, roughly 20% or our power will be onshore, 20% will be off shore, and 60% will come from other……maybe even from the 84% of Bluewater Wind being sold on the market…

F.) With no Connectiv generator being built, the two wind proposals will result in a decrease of the amount of carbon being burned for Delaware’s power…

G.) Because 200MWh will be spread thin among all Delmarva’s customers, instead of 300MWh being spread just among Delaware’s SOS customers, the savings received by each SOS customer, will be watered down considerably.

H.) Because of no outstanding court case, the process towards building can begin faster.

I.) As our automotive jobs leave the state, wind power jobs should be entering the state.

Editorial:

With the new 200MWH deal, Delmarva SOS customers, who were on the verge of having the 300 MWh deal slip past the Senate (there were enough vote) will now have to settle for higher electric bills. Meanwhile Delmarva gets higher profits from selling higher costing energy and collecting a higher percentage of that high cost for itself…. So we will see not relief in our bills as we would have with the additional 100 MWh higher number.. Also, more fossil fuels must now be bought by Delmarva than would have been bought with the 300 MWh plan before. We are proposing to give Delmarva Power permission (by inflating the REC’s) to still burn more fossil fuels yet pay only 1/3 the amount we would have gotten for the privilege…. Whereas House Bill 6 was an attempt to assuage Delawareans fears of paying too much for energy, this deal does just the opposite.

Delaware is a small state. Therefore I guess it cannot be blamed for thinking rather small at times… Somethings never change. In our state’s past, back in the 1830’s, a group of investors got together to build one of the first railroads in this new nation…. (new technology, untested, higher cost to consumers, etc., etc) Afraid to think big with new technology, they built a railroad from New Castle to Frenchtown… Of course at that time,…travel came down from Philadelphia, crossed the land bridge to the Chesapeake, and sailed on to Baltimore… It made perfect sense at the time to build a railroad between those two points….

But it failed ten years later because it did not think big enough.. Someone else did and they chose to build a railroad directly from Philadelphia to Baltimore, and the ship traffic supplying traffic the Delaware railroad,… dried up. And that is why you never hear of the New Castle-Frenchtown Railroad today. Were it them who expanded earlier, they could have taken over the role taken by the Pennsylvanian Railroad and grown accordingly…. But.. they thought too small.

In the end, however, moving forward IS a good idea. A deal in the works is better than theory on paper. Those of us who really understood just how much money Delmarva’s customers would save on their electric bills with Bluewater Wind, are disappointed in the results. Of course anytime you get close to victory, one cannot help but dream of what life will be like once the battle is over… In this case is could have led to a return to $100 monthly electric bills again. Wouldn’t that have been nice?

But when all is said and done, in the end what really matters is NOT whether this deal is better for Bluewater Wind, or for Delmarva Power. NOR is it whether this deal is better for us…(it isn’t)

No….what really matters on the global historical scale of the universe……is whether this is a “better deal for Delaware”……And in my humble opinion, if we get a hub started in Delaware, if we get Wilmington’s port bustling again, if we get new jobs opening up for young people in this area, if we get tourists at our beaches curious to see the future of energy in their lifetimes, if we one day get a 600 MWh farm spinning its rotors off Rehoboth, even if most of the power is going somewhere else, carried by the new MAPP lines being built, if we can get some coal plants shut down, if we can phase out our Cancer Capitol of the World reputation, if we can one day pay less for our power than we do now,

Then this little starter deal is a good thing for Delaware.

And despite misgivings I might have after considering all the numerous ripple effects that this decision will have, (which otherwise would still hang in limbo until the Georgetown Court could finally decide in Delaware’s citizens favor), I weigh in and say it’s time we go forward with it.

Perhaps next year we will have enough votes to re-regulate Delmarva Power again. Regulated states pay much less for their electricity than unregulated states……quite a bit less…………

I pulled this out of the archives to make a point. Make sure you read the comments.

Thanks to Nancy for putting this up…  She has the full thing on her site: The Delaware Way..

From some of Newark’s City Council comes this admonition to Delaware’s Senate to pass HCR 38 and have Russ Larson sign the original deal….

Some excerpts……

First, we strongly support Delaware making an investment in wind power. We hope the negotiations taking place between Bluewater Wind and Delmarva Power result in a power purchase agreement and urge the Senate to act on the House Resolution that would order Delmarva to sign the agreement with Bluewater Wind. Not only would this be the appropriate implementation of the process the legislature set forth last year, it also would be the right infrastructure choice both environmentally and economically.

I would like to point out their emphasis on the word “first”. Remember that there are a large number of issues that will affect the city of Newark and out of all those myriads of issues, the “first” and most important over all to Newark’s well being, is passage of the Bluewater Wind deal…. Obviously anyone responsible for paying for energy in the future, would be on pins and needles waiting for this Hail Mary pass of a deal to go through…

Secondly….

From peak oil to global warming, there are premiums being paid for fossil fuels that are not sustainable. The outcome of the Bluewater Wind negotiations has a direct impact on Newark’s ability to expand our renewable energy portfolio. Last year Newark joined with other municipalities to reach an agreement between DEMEC, our municipal electric cooperative, and Bluewater Wind, for the purchase of clean, cost-effective and reliable power. This agreement will only go into effect if Bluewater Wind and Delmarva Power first sign a long-term power purchase agreement that would bring Bluewater Wind to Delaware. Our municipalities have an opportunity to be the first in the nation to sign an offshore wind power agreement. We ask the State Senate to grant us that opportunity.

Again I would like to emphasize the point being made here…… This agreement will only go into effect if Bluewater Wind and Delmarva Power first sign a long-term power purchase agreement that would bring Bluewater Wind to Delaware The agreement is already signed …..But it can only go forward if Delmarva and Bluewater Wind settle. The stakes are too high to leave with just Delmarva. The Senate must act, if our municipalities will be able to keep their prices low enough for their constituents to afford….

Finally,…

Economically, our state is in transition. One of our efforts in Newark is to establish the area as a center of innovation and a premier destination for advanced research and high-tech 21st Century jobs. These jobs support multiple classes of workers and, most importantly, are sustainable in our ever-changing economy. Welcoming to our state a green, technology-driven industry such as Bluewater Wind will help to transform our economy into one that builds upon exploration, innovation and sustainability.

Newark is losing Chrysler. Not to do Bluewater Wind….. is really simply unthinkable, considering the reality that will occur if Bluewater does not move into fill some of the economic gap….

It is a very good letter and continues on about other points. Newark is very lucky to have the caliber of people it does in Paul J. Pomeroy, Newark City Council—District 1 and Ezra J. Temko
Newark City Council—District 5

Like you we share the hope that our Senators, including your resident Tony DeLuca, decide to put citizens like those of Newark as their top priority and not kowtow themselves for a sprinkling of campaign contributions

Sen. AdamsSENATE RESOLUTION NO. 19

CALLING ON THE SENATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO RELEASE  HCR 38 FROM INACTION BY THAT SAID COMMITTEE AND BRING HCR38 UPON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE FOR A VOTE, UP OR DOWN.

WHEREAS,  the Delaware House of Representatives passed HCR 38 by a vote 25 to 11,

WHEREAS, 8 of 21 Delaware State Senators or 74.5% already of the 51% required for passage,  have signed on as a sponsor of HCR 38.

WHEREAS, everyday this topic is forefront in the minds of all Delawareans, whether itt was placed there through news outlets, advertising commercials, or discussions on talk radio,

WHEREAS, more than 90% of Delawareans are in favor of passage of this bill.

WHEREAS, proponents of this legislation have become more vocal as more knowledge is dispensed to the public, and detractors have grown silent, as more knowledge is dispensed to the public,

WHEREAS, negotiations between Delmarva Power and Bluewater Wind have continued for fourteen days under the auspicies of the Senate Majoity Leader, and no agreement has been forthcoming.

WHEREAS, Delmarva Power historically does not negotiate in good faith,

WHEREAS,  reduction of the amount of Bluewater Wind supplied to Delmarva Power by 100 MWh will drastically impact the rates SOS customers will have to pay over the life of the plan, by 1.65 Billion dollars.

WHEREAS,  the current PPA was created over the entire length of 2007 and was agreed to by 3 of the 4 entities required by House Bill 6,  to approve of the plan,

WHEREAS, the public was given input into which concept would be chosen by the Delaware PSC, and overwhelmingly supported the proposal sponsored by Bluewater Wind,

WHEREAS,  Bluewater Wind at $105 dollars per MWh for the next twenty five years, is already cheaper than what Delmarva buys power from Pepco now:  $110 dollars per MWh.

WHEREAS,  Delmarva Power had promised that their opposing bid of  onshore wind would be available for everyone to see, and still, with only 5 sessions left of the 144th General Assembly, they have still not been given to the Public Service Commission, nor published on Delmarva’s own website.

WHEREAS, there are considerable other matters desperately requiring the General Assembly’s attention over the next four sessions, and debate time will be limited if this is not released for a vote immediately,

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED:  by the Senate of the 144th General Assembly of the State of Delaware that the members do hereby extend to our current colleague, our current Senate president and a man who has been a good friend of long standing to many in this chamber, the Honorable Thurman Adams— our plea to demand the release of HCR 38, as is required under Delaware Code, Title 29, Chapter 9, Sections S911 should a majority of the Senate’s members request that a certain piece of legislation go on the floor of the Senate for an up or down vote.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that with passage of this petition, that HCR 38 is to be released as the very first item of the Senate’s business on the very next day the Senate is in session.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution forces the release from committee of HCR 38 so that it can be brought to the floor for a vote.

Negotiations continue between Bluewater Wind and Delmarva. Despite an imposed gag order of the megavolt discussion going on in DeLuca’s office , there are a a couple of kilowatts of information which have leaked out… some from one side, and some from the other…. And of course, there is some misinformation as well, as is usual in negotiations with which the public is heavily involved….

Much of the discussion centers upon whether Bluewater Wind will supply 30% of our electricity with clean, cheap, and stable prices lasting twenty five years….

Or….

Will they supply 20% of our electricity with chean, cheap, and stable prices lasting twenty five years…

Let us look at how that affects rate payers…. Let’s assume that in 5 years, our rates will have climbed as high as Hawaii’s are today…. $200 per megawatt. As most of you know by now, Bluewater Wind will provide wind generated electricity at a cheaper $105 dollar cost per megawatt.

What Delmarva will do, is average all the power they receive from different sources, and determine an average cost (cough, cough) and tack their approved 4% increase on top of that….. “carrying charges.”

Therefore we can use math to create a model which will determine how our costs will be affected by the current proposal, and how much it will cost if the reduced proposal becomes the finalized version.

With Bluewater Wind contributing thirty percent of our load, it looks like this…

30% @ $105 + 70% @ $200 = $171.50 per MWh X 4% Delmarva charge = $178.36

With Bluewater Wind contributing only 20% or our total:……..

20% @ $105 + 80% @ $200 = $181.00 per MWh X 4% Delmarva charge = $188.24

The difference is $10 per MWh. Not much, really….. Or is it?

Divided by 1000 to get our kilowatt/hour price, our two choices are 0.178 cents or 0.188 cents per every kilowatt hour we use for the next twenty five years…

The standard amount of electricity used per home for calculations of this type, is usually 1000 kilowatt/hr per month. (It simplifies calculations) But you can do these calculations using your own electric bills if you wish to determine how much your household will be paying….

So using a 1000 kilowatt/hours per month, the penny price difference comes to a rough figure of $10 per month….

I hope most of you catch the irony of this….We heard for the last eighteen months, that Delmarva Powers was looking out for its customers, by fighting a $6 increase on their monthly electric bill. But, lo and behold….they are negotiating right now with Senator Tony DeLuca to raise your bill $10 a month. (I’m shocked…Outraged….there’s gouging going on in here…. (here are your winnings, sir) Oh thank you….)

Obviously, twenty five years is a long time… If you are over 65 right now, there is a chance you may not live out the end of the contracts being signed today…. So if one takes that $10 dollars a month, and determines it will cost a customer $120 dollars a year, and $3000 over the life of the contract, then all of Delaware is going to pay (using 550,000 Delmarva customers as a base) ……………
…………
………..$1,650,000,000 or 1.65 Billion Dollars of Delaware’s income, will be sucked from all of us by this reduction of 100 MW being supplied by Bluewater Wind.

Not to belabor the obvious, but that is $1.65 billion we can’t spend at local restaurants, ..That is $1.65 billion we can’t spend at our grocery stores…. That is $1.65 billion we can not put towards our retirement. That is $1.65 billion we will not have to pay for our uncovered medical expenses…. That is $1.65 billion we can’t pay for our sewer bills, our water bills, our cable bills, or gas or propane bills, our gasoline bills, .. that is $1.65 billion we can’t pay for our credit card bills, and how many Delawareans do they employ?

So the cost may be sold to us as being small, just as a single point on our interest rate is often sold as being tiny…. But the long term effects over time, are a different story… It is not about whether or not it will cost us anymore…It is about realizing the fact that the Delawarean Senate can vote tomorrow to force the agreed PPA forward and we will then be able to invest that $1.65 billion over the next twenty five years in something productive, …instead of letting Delmarva siphon it straight up to Pepco Holdings, from whence we will see nary an economic ripple…….

There are just seven sessions left.

Both the dockets of the Senate and the House are full

It looks unlikely that the Senate will override its leadership and vote.

Now again is it time to call.

Senate Majority Leader
Senator Anthony J. DeLuca
(D) Varlano Legislative District: 11

Legislative Hall Office Outside Office
P.O. Box 1401
Dover, DE 19903

302-744-4165

It must go up for a vote…. (it still can if enough of us yell loud enough)

Many of you are familiar with the story and possibly with this year’s movie with the same title: Horton Hears A Who.

In that scenario, the tiny dust speck on which lives a whole civilization of “Who’s”, is about to be boiled alive. Only by making their existence known within the Kangaroo Court on whose decision their fate lies, will their civilization be spared. Even with everyone on the planet yelping, clanging, and gonging, only the giant elephant ears of Horton, can pick up their minuscule vibrations. Entreated by Horton, the mayor races through town to find any voice not appropriately yelling for its own salvation…..

In one room, more interested in playing with his yo yo, is one tiny ‘who”. Racing back to the megaphone, he holds the tiny tot up and gives it a big pinch….

It does the trick. Their existence is acknowledged.

The metaphorical parallels as to whether Delaware survives, prospers, or not, are somewhat scary.
So if you haven’t already done so today, put down your Yo Yo, pick up the phone to the above number….

AND SQUAWK!

Today is a hot day. It is hotter than yesterday, which was hotter than the day before.

This would be a good time to analyze real data to see how Delmarva would perform with Bluewater Wind supplying our power, against how it would perform without Bluewater Wind supplying our power.

Anyone with good eyesight and a sharp mind can go to this site to find out how much money our power is costing our supplier each hour of every day. They can see that during the hours between 2 am and 6 am, that the power actually dipped cheaper than that supplied by Bluewater Wind in its PPA…. That price (bundled) was around $105 dollars per MWh. For the other twenty hours of the day, the bought price was higher. At one point, during the afternoon, it peaked at $378 dollars per MWh…. which is a pittance when compared to $105 dollars per MWh provided by Bluewater Wind. (snark alert….It is actually $273 dollars per MWH more expensive.)

Side Note: It is important for all Delmarva customers to understand that what they pay, is an average of all these prices over a month, averaged together….. But if you clicked the link and looked at the data, you would see that unless our Public Service Commission was actively monitoring this data and imputing these calculations into a calculating apparatus….. Delmarva could charge us whatever they wanted, and who would know?…… Let us make sure that office never sees budget cuts, huh, as is part of Charlie Copeland’s cost cutting plan….

So how does Bluewater Wind play into this equation?

The more Bluewater Power that Delmarva is forced to buy, the less of the $378 dollars per MWh during peak times, will be passed on to us……

So how much would that be?

Remember the argument that wind does not blow in the summer, when power is desperately needed?

Todays data from NOAA provided at the location where the proposed wind farm will sit….directly east of Indian River inlet, approximately 11 miles out……

On this day, June 10th, 2008, winds will range between 5 to 10 KT, becoming 10 to 15 KT late…

Using a GE 3.6 MW Series Wind Turbine (one made in the USA), each turbine would generate from 6 mph to 17 mph (the equivalent range of 5 to 15 KT’s) between .4 and 3.5 MW over the day’s stretch.
Now if we want to find a base level, we take the least amount: .4MW and do our calculations with that figure….

If each turbine of the wind farm is working, the low point of our day would be a collective 40MWH if we assume a base number of 100 turbines in operating mode… remember that is our low point… For reference only, on this slow doldrum of a day, our high point would be 350 MWh of electricity, more that adequate for the 300 MWh to be provided to Delmarva according to the ironed out agreements in the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Therefore, 40 MW of energy would be provided to the grid at a cost of $105 per MWh, instead of the current zero amount we have now… If we take PJM’s entire grid’s previous peak demand’s all time high of 144,644 MW (August 2, 2006) the measly 40 MW added to the grid, is a whopping 0.002% off our peak demand for which we collectively are to pay $378 dollars a MWh for the privilege of staying cool.

I do this to show that when it comes to windpower, more is cheaper than less….Any attempt to whittle down our windfarm will increase our electric bill higher each year….

Now at a 15 KT (or 17.5 mph) winds predicted for today….the 350 MWh generated (300 MWh of which will come to us, would increase the savings factor by a power of ten, and represent 0.002% of the peak demand total…

What impact does that do for the price?

Get ready for some big numbers….

144,644 MW x $378 dollars/ MWh = $54,375,432 dollars / hour

minus 350 MW x $105 dollars/Mwh = $36,750 dollars / hour

The amount saved would be a difference in the two rates $378 versus $105 times the number of Bluewater hourly MWh which according to the PPA will be 40 MW. Bluewater wind, in the worst case scenario, on the most expensive day, will save $10,880 an hour…..not a cost, mind you…..

Every other single day of the year, for the next twenty five year life of the contract, Bluewater Wind will save us much, much, more….

Not much has been said about Tony DeLuca’s ridgewalking, where the slightest misstep will cause the loss of an entrenched majority leader.

His district is primarily working class, the very type of people wondering how on earth the will pay off their current electric bills, refinanced houses, insurance premiums, late credit card fees, and still have enough money left over….to feed their families..

His position, as power broker for special interests, goes in the opposite direction from what 90% of his constituents so desperately need. Firmly entrenched with the lobbying hopeful, he has delivered to his gaggle, time and time again…..

There has been some discussion among some members of ACORN, composed of some 3000 members, to target Deluca’s 11th Senatorial District, and canvas those neighborhoods and fan the flames of discontent. Most of those neighborhoods have not seen DeLuca since 1998 when he defeated Donna Stone by only 253 votes. Imagine opening your front door to someone in your position giving you the flat out truth about the Senator who helped put you there…. Several of ACORN’s charter members live within that district.

I have remarked on other pages, that it is only those legislators who think themselves invulnerable, ever support corporate interests within this state. Wayne Smith is a prime example. Now, Harris McDowell, Thurman Adams, and Charlie Copeland have too come to fit this profile….. On the other hand, those whose political fortunes can flip at any given moment, survive by keeping their ear to the ground and performing admirably, regardless of party line, such as one Dick Cathcart……

The problem with challenging DeLuca, Adams, and McDowell , stems not from a lack of anger towards the bureaucratization of their policies, but rather it comes from a lack of strong candidates within their respective districts, willing to take on first a well heeled incumbent within the Democratic party in a primary, and then…. throw themselves against the Republicans just two months later….. These areas supporting these incumbents, tend to be dominated by one party. So challenges coming from outside that party, would certainly have to overcome the natural constituent disdain of voting for one’s enemy……

But Bluewater Wind has changed things. Angry people are fed up with those willing to sell them to the highest bidder. Angry people are fed up with those who responsible for raising their electrical rates back in May 06 and now want to raise them even higher by voting against Bluewater Wind….. they are fired up enough to show their anger in the voting booth.

Interest has been expressed among several of DeLuca’s Democratic constituents to begin a campaign against the Senate Majority Leader…. Based on the street talk among their neighbors, defeating DeLuca is looking like a “slam dunk” of an opportunity…..

Obviously feeling the pressure, DeLuca is positioning himself to modify his constituents by coming out in favor of the Bluewater Wind deal…. The constituents want R – E – L – I – E – F . Anything perceived as not providing such, will do little to keep him in his seat….. Right now 300MW is the amount that will work for them… It will be enough to cover the minimum amount Delmarva needs to supply all its power…. The lowest point of demand in any report seen so far, was 293 MWh. That level needs to be covered by the wind farm agreement with Bluewater…. or at least close enough to be rounded up to that amount….(say 290MWH)

Were the amount only to turn out to be 250 MWh, as was the onshore proposal a very disappointing 100 MWh of mostly credits, then the impact of the achievement of signing Bluewater Wind will be mollified by its effect. We will get a showcase of windmills off Rehoboth, but will not get relief in our power bills to the extent we should have.

Delmarva is a controlled entity. They have used that relationship to their advantage for years now. It is time that we return the favor and collect our dues paid out to them over all these years…. Let us not forget that every time we pay our electric bills, we are doing them a huge favor based entirely upon the structure of their favored status…. Delawareans deserve cheaper energy. Bluewater will provide it. In fact the 300 MWh is already a compromised figure… To truly benefit Delaware it should be much larger…..

DeLuca must walk a fine line. Delmarva would be wise to understand that signing onto the 300MWh would be their cheapest option…. For if they don’t, there may be a new majority leader chomping at the bit to rectify their favored status, come next January……..

Part of it was due to a funeral that came up, but if you remember well, this was supposed to be the official Russ Larson Day…

Of course it was planned in short notice, and with Delmarva announcement of their signing the onshore wind deal, this day of honoring Russ Larson never got off the ground.

So although it is not much, here is what I could accomplish in quick order….

PROCLAIMING JUNE 6, 2008 “CONTROLLER GENERAL RUSS LARSON DAY”

WHEREAS all acknowledge that as Controller General, Russ Larson wanted to do the right thing and vote for approval of the working agreement between Delmarva and Bluewater Wind,

WHEREAS all sympathize with Russ Larson for having his job and salary threaten by said Tony DeLuca, current Senate Majority Leader.

WHEREAS all understand that instead of voting NO on December 18th, against orders from Senate leadership, with considerable bravery he agreed instead to table the decision until a future time when passage was assured.

WHEREAS all acknowledge that even though no vote has yet taken place within the Senate, the passage was so overwhelming within the House, that over a majority of all legislators have either voted for or sponsored HCR 38, and that Russ Larson is therefore within his rights to vote his conscience knowing that he speaks for the majority of all legislators.

WHEREAS all of Delaware acknowledges the tough spot Russ Larson was put into by the leadership of the Senate, most particularly Thurman Adams, the aforementioned Tony DeLuca, the squirrelly Charlie Copeland, and the buffoon Harris McDowell, and certainly feels for him…

BE IT RESOLVED by all the bloggers following the 144th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, that June 6, 2008, is designated as “Controller General Russ Larson Day” and it is requested that citizens throughout the State join in recognizing the work, effort and contribution that this individual made to improve the quality of life for all families in Delaware.

SYNOPSIS
Controller General Russ Larson Day”. Russ Larson has showed considerable loyalty to Delaware’s citizens, quick thinking, and a steady resolve in supporting Blue Water Wind in Delaware…..

Russ, when this whole thing is over……we are throwing you a party. Sorry we couldn’t get it together in time for the actual date itself

The House voted 25 to 11 to order Russ Larson sign on to the agreement between Delmarva and Bluewater Wind.

In an effort to thwart that, Delmarva issued a surprise announcement that they had onshore wind bids which were much cheaper than Bluewater WInd…..

They would be made public by April,…

Then May…….

Then at the beginning of June.

Tuesday June 3 we have an announcement that one contract was signed….Of course details would be available later……

Now if you go to the website of Delmarva Power, there is a link that says to see contract, click here…The link takes you to a site which says that by the end of June, the details will be available….

To those not privy to the General Assembly’s schedule. It ends June 30th….So if a vote doesn’t take place by June 30th, nothing happens for another year…..

String ‘em along…..String ‘em along…..String ‘em along……

No doubt this was done on the inside advice of their cronies within the Senate leadership: Thurman Adams, Tony DeLuca, Charlie Copeland, and Harris McDowell, all of which have received honorable degrees in Delmarvaology.

Is Bluewater Wind cheaper than no Bluewater Wind.

Absolutely. Only if the offshore wind farm is built, will your rates stay the same of drop… All other options proposed by Delmarva will raise your power bill…… which of course is why they are proposing them……….

Wait, my radio says onshore is cheaper than offshore……

Aye, they tricked you….. Theoretically land based wind can be produced cheaper if on is lucky to find a good location, with few people holding out their hands….. Whereas the onshore windpower is cheaper, Delmarva refuses to buy enough of it to lower your bills…. They are buying it instead to meet the law that states a certain amount of the state’s energy must come from renewable sources. They will continue to make their money on coal, gas, and oil fired turbines….

So why will Bluewater be any cheaper?

Bluewater will supply about on third of all the energy in Delaware at a price lower than what Delmarva pays today. The onshore wind will supply only 1/10th of the wind…That means that 90%, not 70% of our electricity will come from expensive sources, and those expenses will of course, be passed right down to us…..

Can Bluewater really guarantee the same cost twenty five years from now?

Yes.

Those who signed for their house loan thirty years ago, are paying exactly what they signed for…… It is much less than were someone to start paying on the same property today…….. The same principle hold true in Bluewater Wind. the air is free; the only payment is monthly installments on the loan that was used to build it.

What is this exculation fee of 2% on Bluewater’s price, that Delmarva keeps talking about it.

It is called the “Delmarva increase” because that is what Delmarva got year after year for inflation. If Bluewater does not use the 2% yearly, Delmarva will. You are going to pay for it anyway.

Is Bluewater bad for the environment?

No, it is very good for wildlife, Much better for wildlife than land based wind farms are…. In fact Delmarva just signed a deal which if it goes trough, will damage some of Eastern America’s prime wilderness. The locals have fought that power station off for 5 years…….. Whereas Bluewater’s platforms will attract sport fishing, sea plants and animals.

Flat out. What would be the cheapest alternative for supplying Delaware’s power needs?

Building the 300 MW wind farm, cutting back on demand, and then, supplementing the majority of of what’s left, with contracted land based windpower, would be the best option both environmentally and most cost effectively.

How much is Bluewater Wind, I mean exactly?

$105.90 per MWh and that price is guaranteed for 25 years in today’s dollars. As a reference, Delmarva buys power today at $110.00 dollars per MWh and the price goes up again next year.

Has Delmarva been lying to us?

Give them a break. Bluewater Wind will save consumers a ton of money, which is money they will not be able to collect… so what did you expect?

There is nothing better for the environment of an ocean floor, than a large number of wind tower platforms to attract lifeforms living under water. Offshore Delaware would become the sport fishing capital on the East Coast….

But there are environmental problem associated with Gary Stockbridge’s choice of land based energy. As I mentioned yesterday, Delmarva announced they would sign a deal with the Annapolis based company Synergics….

Whereas Delawareans flooded each of the Public Service Commission’s hearings to voice their support for offshore wind, over 700 of our neighbors in Garrett County Maryland, drove 200 miles to Annapolis to voice their opposition to their proposed wind farm, with whom Gary wants to sign the deal…. Indeed, only one hippie from Pennsylvania turned out to be the sole person speaking in favor of the project.

The proposed wind farm, would sit on 400 acres of currently undeveloped wilderness. This wind farm in question, surrounding Savage River State Park, would be built in a world renown unique environment. Situated at elevations nearing 4000 feet, this area has the flora and fauna of Canada’s Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, some thousand miles distant to the northeast…..A spot of Canadian wilderness, full of unique plants and wildlife, can nowhere else be found as far south as the latitude of Washington DC….

Building a wind farm there, would be the equivalent of cutting large swaths through Yellowstone National Park…..At public hearings held in McHenry, Maryland, ” it was clear there was tremendous opposition to the wind turbines.” offered their County Commissioner, Lamont Pagenhardt.

Back in April Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley at the Savage River scenic overlook, announced Maryland would not approve the use of public state land for wind turbines.However he did not rule out Federal, County, or private lands.

But there in Garrett County is local concern that not only animals will be displaced and have their habitats destroyed. Voting citizens may be evicted through the invocation of eminent domain……

“As you know, courts have always recognized that governments can make laws to protect their citizens from potential danger and catastrophe, yet Commissioners Gregg, Glotfelty, and Holliday have shirked and willfully neglected their sworn responsibility to do the right thing by providing necessary safeguards. It is difficult for me to understand how hours of discussion can be spent on the size of signs and the square footage of kitchens, while silence abounds on this issue.”

Can you imagine Delmarva complicit in the exercise of eminent domain? There would be no such problems with Bluewater Wind…..

Back in Delaware we are about to vote on approving Bluewater Wind’s proposal. Yesterday we proved that Delmarva’s new onshore wind plan was too costly because it supplied only 100 MW of energy which would do little to drop our total price as the price of coal, gas, and oil all soared sky high…..

Now today we discover that instead of helping the environment as would Bluewater Wind, Delmarva’s choice of an alternative, has grave environmental concerns which once done, could never again be rectified………..

You may remember that song on an ancient kids show….sung by a bunch of puppets on …Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. From a kids viewpoint, (and parents) it was funny because one character (playing the adult role) tries to suppress the continual outbreak of musical verse, from the other one….It stops for a while, then bursts out spontaneously……

So it is with Delmarva…. Every time they try to quash Bluewater WInd, they screw it up….We have been hearing about how onshore windpower can meet our needs 50% cheaper….. Today we have an announcement that a contract was signed and placed before the Public Service Commission for approval.

Instead of 300 MWh that Bluewater provides, that contract is for a 60 MW deal of credits, and a 40 MW deal of credits…..We will get very little wind…We are buying credits…..For some reason the contract that was promised, is not available for Public viewing on Delmarva’s website. I hope the Public Service commission will continue to honor their tradition of openness by publishing their copy for all to see.

The actual contract is important, because Delmarva has been talking this up since February. At first we were to know in April, then May, and finally June….We have very few days left of this legislative session.

Since the contract is not available, we must assume that as is usual for Delmarva Power, the facts contained within it will not stand up to public scrutiny.

As the public comes to learn that the hope of Bluewater Wind was scrapped for the hype of “credits”. their anger will be palpably felt in the voting booths next Fall..

As mentioned before, there is considerable argument that since the purchase of credits provide money to the wind supplier, they encourage development of that resource……

A more appropriate analogy would be this…..You could choose to support a corporation such as General Electric in one of two ways. One, you could buy a GE refrigerator and in doing so, support that company as well as the workers who put your purchase together….Or…..you could buy stock in the company and put money into it that way, anticipating those funds to climb in value……

the REC (Renewable Energy Credit) is like stock. It has an original value, but after that, it can be bought and sold on a market to the highest bidder.

Both ways help GE and provide it with capital. But stock…..does nothing for your rotting meat………

The News Journal broke this story this morning… Some excerpts.

Attorney Randall Speck, who is representing the states, said there was a strong incentive for generators of the power in the PJM area to withhold some supply to increase prices. PJM tried to mitigate this, but was unable to do so, he said.

Capacity charges in the PJM area increased by about 1,200 percent from 2007 to 2008, and now make up 20 percent of a Delmarva customer’s bill.

The higher rates were supposed to spur construction of new power plants for the constrained East Coast. But despite the higher rates, power companies have been slow to build the new plants, the complaint alleges.

As a share of that, Delmarva Power ratepayers in Delaware will overpay by about $125 million in “unjust and unreasonable” rates, the states claim.

====

Wow. Keep in mind one of the misleading advertisements put up by Delmarva Power says Bluewater will cost more then 80 million a year….Does anyone seem surprised that NOT HAVING BLUEWATER WIND, will cost us 125 million instead?

You and I have been paying this money to increase capacity. We have already written the checks…Not only did our power companies cash the check and sit on the funds, earning interest, but the spent hundreds of thousands to throw a roadblock in the way of a competitor who wanted to do just what we were paying to have happen: build capacity.

This throws a credibility wrench into everything Delmarva has said…..It appears that their only reason for opposing Bluewater Wind, is so they can earn interest on our money while using the capacity shortage, as an excuse to raise our rates higher.

if you are shopping and you do not like how you get treated, you choose a different store with which to do business.

All of Delaware should scream at their Senators to get off their high horses and change vendors. More than ever we need Bluewater Wind in our own backyard, just to ensure that in our future, these shenanigans won’t take place here…….

Today is the day Delmarva Power announces that they have signed a deal for on-shore wind. It is priced much less per MWh than that of Bluewater Wind. It will come from a state which borders Delaware, thereby giving us the benefits of clean air.. The facility is currently under construction and should come on line and begin producing power by December of this year, instead of the 2014 date scheduled for Bluewater Wind…….The announcement and the contract should be up on their website, so all can study it.

So exactly how big is the contract? Does it supply as much or more renewable energy as does the Bluewater Wind deal?

Through a mixture of REC’s and direct power purchases, the land based utility will provide around 100 MW of energy to Delaware….This little bit will still provide more than the percentage of renewable energy required by the General Assembly. Later this week, another press conference should announce plans for an additional 170 MWh’s to have been signed by Delmarva, and that both deals are now awaiting PSC approval. Both of these contracts are long term and range from 16 to 20 years……

This can be good news. But onshore wind is too risky to fall upon if we go forward without having an off shore wind farm to back it up…..

Why? Because of the small amount of energy being supplied by these onshore wind farms….The amounts provided are too small to make a dent in your power bill……even though what little is being sold, it is quite cheap….

According to the contract, Bluewater Wind is required to supply 300 Mw every hour of every day for the life of the contract. Normally the Delmarva grid runs about 1000 MWh during all but its peak hours……There are times, particularly late at night, when the entire grid dips below 280 MWhs and still everything is kept running smoothly…..

So now we will do the math. If Bluewater Wind is supplied at $105 dollars per MWh, and the carbon power grid, which can go as high as $1600 dollars per MWh, is running at $155 dollars per MWh, then the combined total we would pay, based on the average of the two, would be paying [3(105) + 7 (155)]/ 10, would give us our price of $140 per MWh. Pictorially it would look something like this.

That was the Bluewater Plan…..Now here is why Delmarva is trying to use Onshore Wind to block the passage of HCR38 which would order the Bluewater Wind deal to go forward. The are assuming no on will be able to do the math to figure how much they stand to make if we ditch Bluewater in favor of their monopolistic friends……

They bait Delaware with an offer of 100 MWh at $70 dollars per Mwh….As you can see $70 dollars is cheaper than Bluewater’s price of $105 dollars MWh…..But it is only a tiny sliver against a large percentage of very high price carbon fuel fired electricity. So by doing the math, [1($70) + 9($155)] / 10 =  $146.50 per MWh on the average. As you can see the combined totals are cheaper for Bluewater Wind….If you play around with the formulas you will find that around $5 dollars per MWh, the onshore deal provides as much lowering force as does 300 MWh of Bluewater wind. That’s $5 dollars for a full MWh, compared to Bluewater Wind’s $105 and carbons $155 dollars per MWH used to generate power from carbon.

300 MWH of Bluewater Wind will provide more of a lowering influence against other Carbon fuels, than 100 MWh of cheaper on shore wind…. (Which is why Delmarva wants to buy from land based wind..)

But what if both deals go through…..can that hurt? By doing the math we see that [3 (105) + 1 (70) + 6(155)]/10 = $13.15 MWh of electricity. The combination package will save us more…..But any scenario without Bluewater Wind’s off-shore 300 Mwh driving down the price of coal, gas, and oil, …….will cost us more.