How a little wind can inflate your electric bills.

Is it caveat emptor?

You hear a lot about green power and wind and solar energy, but you don’t hear too much about what it costs. I recall a few years ago passing booths at the Barnstable County Fair in Massachusetts where proponents of Cape Wind had no problem shouting all the benefits including lowering the cost of energy for residents of Cape Cod. Many people actually thought the electricity generated from the Nantucket wind farm would be directed to Cape Cod. Whoopee, what could be better than cheap energy? Well, nothing much, but where do you find it? It’s sure not blowin in the wind.

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At least they could paint them green

Consider this from boston.com

The developers of the proposed Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound have tentatively agreed to reduce its price to consumers by 10 percent, which would save ratepayers $456 million over its expected 15-year life.

The cost of the 130-turbine project has been the source of intense controversy ever since National Grid signed an agreement in May to purchase 50 percent of Cape Wind’s power at prices far higher than electricity from fossil fuels and even other renewable power. The agreement is expected to make it easier for the contract to pass state Department of Public Utilities scrutiny – critical for Cape Wind to get financing. The agency is reviewing the project to see if it makes sense for ratepayers.

How does any source of power that is more costly than current sources make sense for ratepayers?  No matter, you don’t have a choice.