I just got back from a conference in Fargo on wind energy and rural developement in North Dakota. While North Dakota has the lowest GDP of all the states, and battles with Montana for the lowest wages, our wind resources rank the highest in the world.

The problem is that our Lutheran/Catholic/German/Ukranian heritage has made us followers. Of all the speakers, the only two who undoubtably acknowledged global climate change were Canadian and Danish. Wind is a gold mine, with incredible potential to help the states' economy. (And to clear the bird issue up: wind turbines built today don't kill more birds than a farm cat. The early research showing that windturbines kill birds was done almost exclusively on a windfarm in Altamont, CA. Windturbines built today follow two documents that guide windturbine placement, all but eliminating bird kills.)

Technology has finally made it profitable to develop our wind resources. However, a lack of pollution regulation on aging coal facilities still stands in the way. A carbon tax on fossil fuel produced energy is what I see as the key to wind energy development. Only then will utilities and consumers be paying closer to the "real" cost of burning fossil fuels. The tax will tip the economics in favor of renewable energy. Instead of paying for green energy (Leif Andersen, the Dane, found this ludicrous) consumers and utilities would be rewarded for developing zero emission energy. It's all about external cost. (What I wouldn't give to send some politicians back to intro economics.) External cost is why Conservatives who spout platitudes about "efficiency" are dead wrong.

Unfortunately, a carbon tax at the national level isn't in the energy bill that is being reworked in congress, nor is it likely to be anytime soon.

Transmission issues is another big problem. 60% of the energy we produce in state is exported. Energy flows east, towards Minneapolis and Chicago. As we develop our wind resources the wires to transmit that energy need to be built. Transmission lines do not come cheap, and nobody wants them in their backyard.

What I'm curious about is a utility owned grid. The utilites at the conference were very concerned with getting people to buy their "green tags" and with telling landowners the money they can make by allowing the utility to construct wind turbines on their land. The issue utilities are skirting around is how much more money landowners, and small co-operatives could make by owning the wind turbines themselves. With utility controlled transmission it seems to me that lines are going to be developed in areas that will benefit the utility first and foremost, and sometimes specifically to the exclusion of other producers who would like to add energy to the grid.

I asked the panelists, "Is having a utility controlled transmission system, as opposed to a publicly controlled transmission stystem one of the impediments to allowing farmers, ranchers, and co-ops to own and develop wind energy. And is a publically controlled transmission system a realizable goal?"

I directed my question toward Leif, the Dane. Instead the moderator directed the question towards a man connected with grid regulation. Leif interupted him and answered my question. Summarizing his answer, "Denmark is a small country, so it is easier. Yes, it's socialism, but it works, and the citizens of Denmark benifitted." The moderator put words in his mouth, "So what your saying, Leif, is the cost is shared by everyone." I couldn't help shouting out, "And the profit!"

It must be the environmentalist in me: the whole conference I spent working out who the "good guys" and "bad guys" were. (And I do mean guys. The conference was 600 strong and almost entirely middle-aged, white, men.) Seeing such strong dualisms isn't such a good political philosphy, but it can be interesting. The utility guys didn't like me so much, but the policy guys had kind words, and promises of internships. I even got a little smooze time with Senator Dorgan. I was so nervous I almost called him Senator Conrad. What do you say when your meeting a senator? Thank him? Compliment him? Ask him a question? I decided to tell him I am applying to his summer internships. That scared him off quick enough.

Hmmm. Now to sort through these contacts and get a job . . .