Has Northampton County Controller Steve Barron become a Don Quixote? Not exactly, but in his review of rising electricity bills caused by energy deregulation, he's recommending that the County become an energy producer. "If the county uses their large land holdings, hillsides and rooftops to place windmills or solar panels, we could begin producing the power that we use and reverse the alarming trend of alarming increases."An alarming trend of alarming increases? Alarming, isn't it? Actually, the County's February's electric bill is 33% higher than the same period last year. But Barron says that's no real cause for ... alarm. He goes on to predict a 20% increase this year.
Asked about solar panels and wind mills, Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle wants the County to go nuclear, just like Iran.
Barron's memo concerning energy deregulation is below.
Northampton County Energy Deregulation Memo Final[1]
22 comments:
Well, I guess...CUCKOO!!!!!
Maybe this is the result of the excellent deal that Stoffa got us by bringing in the electric company that would save us money.
Ya got to love these guys, you can't make this stuff up.
Stoffa never said that it would save us money, His hope was that it would lessen the increase.
The energy production idea is actually a good one, and the County is uniquely suied to accomplish it.
DEP use to print a map with ideal locations in PA. for wind power; I don't think that there are any places in Norco that have enough wind to warrant the multi million investment. Solar requires a like major investment. One source that probably is economical is burning off the methane on the county's two large landfills. From that you can produce electricity cheaply.
One example the county should look at is the York County Jail. They use solar to heat water which substantially reduced power bills for electricity and natural gas. York jail used more power for that purpose for cooking and laundry and the savings were substantial.
Windmills are inefficient eyesores. They need to be regulated before the whole landscape is marred by them. Solar panels can be hideous as well. The stand-alone type are particularly ugly. Regulations need to be put in place before we create a worse problem than the one we're attempting to address.
solar can actually be cost effective, if it is done under the right circumstances, with the right panel technology.
Everyone should switch their electric service away from PPL, just to hurt the greedy fuckers.
I'm sure they have a churn calculation built into their rate increase, to account for those who switch because they are angry or think they can save. But they are counting on inertia to keep most customers on board. One friend of mine, even after being shown how he could save by changing producers, is doing just that.
7:44 is 100% correct. PPL knows they'll keep the lazy and inattentive, and that there are enough of them to sustain their breathtaking increase. They can't be blamed. But consumers who don't switch can be. I don't know how anyone with an ounce of sense retains them. There are options.
5:20, Pen Argyl Knights are burning off the methane from the Waste Management landfill
Here's an idea- instead of having the prisoners sit around all day, we could supply them with stationary bikes hooked up to generators and have them supply their own electricity...
Comments are very good. The cost of wind power and solar power is high for construction. Those monster wind mills are finally be reviewed as to how they can clutter up the environment. Solar panels are a possibility after an intense cost benefit review.
This kid must be taking lessons from Freeman or Grucela with feel good press conferences.
Wow, what the Hell is he positioning himself for. What next, alert the Press that the County uses two-ply instead of one-ply toilet paper?
What a media whore. But then again he is an Ohare favorite.
Northampton County doesn't have the wind energy to pull it off, not even on top of Blue Mountain.
Barron would be defending his house from pitchforks and siege on a daily basis from the township residents he'd try putting this on.
This guy is one of Boss Long's "kiddie corps", along with Dertinger and McClure. He is just looking for some ink in the Press.
Barron is doing his job, and full-time. Contrary to your assertion, he is no Long Dem. He's an independent controller who resigned as Dem treasurer the moment he was elected. Barron will work with Democrat and Rerpublican alike, so he's also more bipartisan than Dertinger or McClure. But yes, he is a proud Democrat, so if you have a problem with that, then he's not your man. I don't think party should mean anything on a local level.
Bernie i think you are off on this one.When the position was part time Steve worked full time. Now that the position is full time he works part time. He has politiczed the offce more than it should be and spends too much tax payer time on political activities.His latest headline grabber effort is not a controller`s role. Where the hell is the administration on this issue ? This is not ths wanna -be- executive`s role as controller.The taxpayer`s aren`t getting what they are paying for....
Excuse me Bernie but 8:10 is informed and you are not. We all know your mancrush issues blind you to certain facts but do some of the research you pride yourself on. Barron was recruited at the same time as McClue and Dertinger. Steve was Longs pick to be Party Treasurer and only left when he wanted to run.
So if someone is working for Long but you like them or they pretend to support Stoffa you are OK but if they are straight about their loyalty you are angry.
You do realize Steve supported Ann McHale against Stoffa don't you. The Stoffa visit was a "cover my ass" move by a very savvy if insincere politician.
Steve will do well.
No, Barron resigned as party treasurer when he was elected, not when he decided to run. In addition, he and Joe Long had a falling out quite some time ago. Barron is on Long's shit list for sdome reason, and that's probably a good thing.
As far as the election goes, Barron was willing to run against McHale, but was not willing to run against Stoffa. That tells me all I need to know. And we all know he was at McHale's event and Stoffa's event. There was a time when that's what Democrats did. They congratulated each other. I see nothing wrong with that. I don't think Steve was involved in the exec race. He tried to be Switzerland. He did the right thing by visiting both candidates.
As far as Barron being too political is concerned, that's probably a fair criticism. But he's in an unusual position. He's not a judge. The Allegheny Cty controller just endorsed a congressional candidate. Controllers are supposed to be independent, but they can still be political. It's a fine line and he is still feeling his way around. I'd prefer that Steve be a little less political but he's the one who has to run and may feel he is paying his dues.
There are several pols I like who have friendly relations with Long. My objection to Long is that he is anti-democratic and acts more like a union thug than someone interested in electing Democrats. He forgot who he was. He was the Dem party boss, not King or County Exec.
Overall, Steve has been a good controller. I published a story about this event, but left many of his audits untouched. If anything, he has not received enough attention for what his office has accomplished. he is smart enough to have a good staff, too.
BO you really do wear the blinders when it suits you. Steve actively supported Ann. Hell everyone in the Party knows that. He wanted to keep it on the down low for the same reason he is trying to make Angle like him, he has political ambitions and wants to be everyone's friend.
Problem is you are a hypocrite. He made the same promises as Lamont and Charles but when the boat started sinking he did the Casablanca thing, "I'm shocked", such things occurred.
That is not character it is political expediency, the kind that we have had more than enough of in Northampton County. We don't need another con artist.
Steve could have actively supported Ann McHale. He could have supported her on the down low. He could not have done both.
Bernie, Bernie, Bernie
The obvious answer to the energy problem in Northampton county is to tap into your blog and Harness the hot air coming forth from your Bloggers. Then harness the Hot Air coming out of the courthouse. Now there's a potential savings for all of us.
Good suggestion. Don't tell Stoffa or he'll shackle me to this blog.
No he won't, he and Angle pay you too well spreading the bullshit.
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