State GOP Divides Over Wind Farm
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Policy and passion clashed at the state GOP meeting last night where Republicans defeated by just one vote a plan to oppose Gov. Don Carcieri on the proposed wind farm.
Michael Napolitano, of Lincoln, proposed a resolution at the Republican state central committee meeting calling on Carcieri to veto three bills that would move the wind farm development forward.
His motion ignited a fierce debate at the meeting, pitting Republicans who said the state needs to draw in more business with small-government conservatives who said the state should not impose more costs on already-burdened taxpayers.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn his resolution, he said the wind farm proposal constituted an “unbalanced, unaffordable energy policy that makes an end run” around the Public Utilities Commission.
State Rep Joe Trillo pleaded with fellow Republicans to not turn their backs on one of their own. “I think we need to support the governor on this,” Trillo said. “I don’t think this is something this party should do right now. I think it’s a major mistake.”
Trillo accused opponents of the wind farm of spreading “fairy tales” and false information.
True, National Grid would be buying energy from Deepwater Wind, the wind farm developer, at a rate of about 24 center per kilowatt hour, but Trillo said only one percent of the energy in the state would be supplied by the wind farm. And, he added, the average homeowner would only be paying $1.23 more a month on their electric bills.
But one Republican committee member said he was against using ratepayers to subsidize the project. “If you need startup money, don’t take it out of my pocket,” declared another member.
Sean Gately, a state Senate candidate from Cranston, criticized “conservative” Republicans for being risk-averse. “We want to worry about stuff, but sometimes you have to roll the dice,” he said.
“We have an opportunity as a state to lead the country, to be the first wind farm in the United States,” he added. “We have to look at this from a long-term standpoint.”
After about half an hour of impassioned debate a committee member called for the motion to be tabled “indefinitely.” The motion passed by just one vote, 20 to 19, according to chairman Giovanni Cicione.
