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Windpower: The future of Belize (Feb
2007)
When I left Belize in 2005, I settled in Southwestern
Oklahoma for a year. I lived about 40 miles from a huge wind farm which
generated more than enough power to furnish all of Belize, regardless of Peak
Oil, and ecological impact.
Here are some data and
pictures on that farm.
WHY doesn't Belize use wind power? Well -- it's too
simple. See, if you have a company like Fortis that wants to build a damn,
they will pay out some money (we call it "grease") to the Usual
Suspects in order to ensure that it goes through. Then, as the damn
progresses, we can bury all kinds of costs and bribes, and overruns,
because
1) There is no published project plan
2) There is no published project budget
3) Upon completion (if it ever completes) there is no
accounting for overruns in time or budget.
4) There is no follow-up to see if it delivers the power it
promised!
[This is not just true in Belize; it's true with
hydroelectric damns everywhere!]
OTOH, A wind farm is simple...
A. Buy the turbines.
B. Stick'em in the ground.
C. Hook 'em up to the grid.
Where's the grease in that? See why it really won't
happen in Belize?
Too bad! It's a good idea!.
-- Senor Ric. Feb 2007
PS: Spin No. 1. "It's against the law.
BEL has a monopoly!"
Easy to solve....
a) Start a land development project..
b) Put a wind-farm on your development (private, eh?)
c) Start a co-op. Sell power to the other members of
the co-op..
...all it takes is money... (which will make more money!)
PPS: Does the wind blow? Constantly! Here
are quotes from Belizean sources, courtesy of Lan Sluder.
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