Apparently, if it is some sort of greenie scam, open goverment goes out the window. Looks like the word is getting around in New Jersey. Delaware is the place to go if you want to peddle some overpriced green energy scam. The NJ reports that some other Jersey bunch (not to be confused with the Bluewater Jersey bunch) has come to find some more soft touches in the First State. This one is a deal to build a solar energy plant.
The Dover city government has agreed to conceal the costs from their constituents that they intend to saddle them with. From todays NJ:
For what were described as “commercial confidentiality” purposes, the city’s proposed cost for the energy was redacted from the contract considered Monday, but Hodsoll said its terms would have “less impact than a 5-cent move in the price of natural gas.” City Manager Anthony DePrima said a cost analysis would be shared later with council members meeting in closed session.
I am not aware that contracts for sweetheart deals are exempt from FOIA. One might think that such things are just what sunshine laws are designed for.
Not only would they agree to buy all of the electricity that this White Oak Solar Energy company would produce at this secret price (do you really think that they are keeping it secret because it is a good deal and Dover residents would be too joyful?) but apparently all that they could produce:
Besides obligating itself to buy energy from White Oak, the contract also would require the city to buy the value of the plant’s generating capacity.
And then this:
An LS Power spokesman said last week that the plant, in the final design stages, was expected to cost $50 million to $60 million. Under terms of the 20-year purchase agreement, the city could be called on to contribute, Hodsoll said, if changes in laws serve to increase the cost of the project.
I guess that they may be referring to federal tax credits and grants becoming unavailable. Am I mistaken or is Dover not in the same financial boat as the rest of the country.
Sounds like a great deal for the Jersey types. Not unlike the Bluewater mess. I guess while Kermit found that it isn’t easy being green, these Jersey medicine show types find that at least in Dover, it can be profitable as long as you can get some government types to make people pay for some something that they will not purchase voluntarily.
Well that is a big thumbs down for my city council. They hopefully fixed the cities budget issues but now they want to throw this monkey wrench of uncertainty into the mix.
why, in a state as small as Delaware are we squandering open space by putting solar panels on the ground?
Did they run out of roofs in Dover?
[...] Steve Larrimore looks at alleged green energy scams. [...]
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