Teapot Revisited
Remember that tempest in a teapot a few months ago when it was widely reported that U.S.-taxpayer-funded stimulus money for renewable energy projects was being shipped to overseas companies, with little benefit to American workers?
And that buy-American provisions had to be added, lest the flow of American Recovery and Reinvestment Acts cash grants be stopped?
As I wrote at the time, the reality was a little more complicated than that and that the timing of such a demand was problematic.
Well, a routine project announcement came out this week, which included some facts to demonstrate my point.
The nearly $200 million 74-megawatt Hardscrabble wind project in upstate New York is under construction, meaning it will qualify for about $65 million in stimulus cash grants.
The project is being built by Iberdrola Renewables, using turbines built by Gamesa - two suspiciously Spanish names. Iberdrola is headquartered in Spain but has one of the largest project portfolios in the United States. Gamesa will manufacture the turbines and blades in Pennsylvania. And the towers will come from Wisconsin.
That hardly sounds like $65 million is being shipped to some Spanish bank vaults. But that would be a much "better" story if it was.
The editorial staff at RenewablesBiz.com is passionate about exchanging ideas and dedicated to promoting ongoing conversation about renewables and sustainable energy issues. We invite you to join and contribute to our online community. If you have an idea for an article or editorial contribution, please contact me via email, bopalka@energycentral.com, or phone, 860.633.0090.
