Arctic Sea Lanes, The US Navy, And California Wind Turbines

The AP via Rigzone is reporting:

The U.S. military is looking for ways to expand operations in the vast waters of the Arctic as melting ice caps open sea lanes and other nations such as Russia compete for the lucrative oil and gas deposits. But the effort will take money and resources to fill the broad gaps in satellite and communications coverage, add deep-water ports and buy more ships that can withstand the frigid waters or break through the ice.

President Barack Obama in May unveiled a 13-page U.S. strategy for the Arctic, asserting that nations must protect the region's fragile environment and keep it free from conflict. At the same time, however, the U.S. wants to make sure it is not left behind as countries like Russia, China, Canada and Norway map out plans ranging from gas and oil exploration to research and military exercises.

U.S. officials estimate the Arctic holds 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil reserves and 30 percent of undiscovered gas deposits. Until recently, however, areas that could reap hundreds of billions of dollars in revenues were frozen over and unreachable.

There are certainly mixed messages on the Arctic. Up until "recently," yes, the Arctic ice cap was shrinking, opening sea lanes, but reports this year suggest the trend is changing.

Regardless, the US is poised to cede 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil reserves  and 30 percent of undiscovered gas deposits to the Russians, the Norwegians  the Canadians, the Brits, and the Danes. Does it matter? By the time these reserves and deposits are commercially available, the US will be covered with solar panels and wind turbines.

Speaking of which, a reader sent me this story, originating in Altamont, California. It appears that at least one "locality" has come to its senses and is angry over the slicers and dicers. A developer plans to retire "old" slicers and dicers with taller ones that will kill less birds. The company appears it won't be able to meet the September, 2014, deadline.

The company is asking to eliminate the September deadline for this year's scheduled phase-out by postponing it until 2015, which is the deadline for the next step of wind turbine phase-out.

Opponents say that the postponement would result in additional bird deaths.
AWI has not put up any new turbines, because it does not have a new contract with a power company to purchase power in the future. However, the company is working on a contract, said AWI president Rick Koebbe.

If things go about the way one expects it to go, the company will end up declaring bankruptcy, and the old turbines will be there "forever."