As we are about to build our new barn, one of our biggest costs is in keeping stock tanks ice free here in Maine. Add in 10 more stock tanks at 1500 watts apiece, churning 24 hours a day, in the state with the highest electrical costs in the nation, and it is easy to see why we came up with a geothermal system that would keep our stock tanks ice free. It would even be cheap to do, so when we were approached about a Rural Alternative Energy Program I had the highest hopes.
Nope, we do not meet the cost requirements...we were too LOW in cost!
They loved the idea, they just did not like that it was not an off-the-shelf commercially available product, and cost $250 per water tank; we needed to be at least $10,000.
The thing of it was, they would gladly pay for an $80,000 windmill at our farm, or a host of other things, but my wife and I did not want to take advantage of tax-payers, we only wanted what we would rightfully use, and help us be productive and kick food onto the national food chain; no more, no less.
The kicker is, the reimbursement is only 25% so the farmers that are funded are the ones who really don't need it. Needless to say I was a bit agitated. Perhaps being up all night due to a blizzard and lambing season did not help, but I fired back a scathing email. It down right angers me. In the National Farm Bill there is only 1% that is available for conservation and so many are vying for it, it is silly to fund a program that continues to hurt low income farmers through the downward spiral that is the current electrical pay-per-killowatt system. Here is my response letter! Keep in mind their replay was something like, "I hope you understand, but we cannot fund your project..."
Dear REAP,
I understand; it is NOT okay, it is just that I have long understood the travesty of the current alternative energy situation. Until the way electrical usage is changed via the pay-per-killowatt system, no real change will come about.
Sadly, people like my Uncle who have exorbitant amounts of money to spend, qualify for cost-share programs and rebates, and obtain them, while the ones with low income are unable to due so. As his energy bills are drastically reduced, the financially struggling end up paying more per kilowatt since it costs Central Maine Power just as much to maintain the lines no matter how many kilowatts are pushed over them. With the Public Utilities Commission increasing electrical rates to compensate Central Maine Power to maintain their portion of the grid, those who can afford efficiency and alternative energy are motivated even more to do so. With Central Power making even less money because of the reduced kilowatt usage, rates continue to climb yet again. Its a downward spiral leaving the fiscally strapped even more burdened; and yes small farmers especially.
I was hoping the REAP Program would help in ending that situation, but I can see its merely government bureaucracy at its worst teeming with overreaching mandates that hinder and not help. Due to the limited amount of funding for farmers as is, rather then fund a program that caters to those that can already pay for their energy costs, I will contact my congressmen to try and eliminate some over-reaching mandates of this program. To be frank, 25% is a pretty low implementation percentage, and until the REAP Program approaches similarities like the USDA-NRCS EQUIP Program, it will not help those farmers who need the most help.
Sadly I lacked the time already put into this endeavor as I am super busy, however now it will take even more time as I try to get this program defunded through the proper channels. This is not about not being funded for a particular project, it is about a program that does not help those whom congress intended it for.
Regretfully,
Rutted Field
Scathing Letter to REAP Coordinator
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire