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Here’s what happened with one wind turbine that was supposed to save a bunch of money over 10 years (“when the wind blows”) that was funded with #NewJersey and federal tax dollars and was supposed to create US jobs, per an Obama infrastructure bill.
- “When the wind blows, it can power up to 600 homes
- it was supposed to be a “shovel ready infrastructure project” out of Obama’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
- Construction delays due to red tape caused the US wind turbine supplier to back out
- it was supposed to be a “shovel ready infrastructure project” out of Obama’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
- Construction delays due to red tape caused the US wind turbine supplier to back out
- Though Obama’s, infrastructure bill contained a “Buy American” clause, the town got an exception to use a company that partly built the turbines in Italy.
- Getting that exception caused more delays, of course
- It cost $5.6 million and US taxpayers paid $4.7 million for it.
- Getting that exception caused more delays, of course
- It cost $5.6 million and US taxpayers paid $4.7 million for it.
- More delays, more costs, but they finally had it built & started in June 2012
- By June 2015, the wind turbine broke down
- Repairs took forever & ended up costing even more $ since they needed specialized repair people.
- It cost Bayonne $25K/month while waiting for repairs
- By June 2015, the wind turbine broke down
- Repairs took forever & ended up costing even more $ since they needed specialized repair people.
- It cost Bayonne $25K/month while waiting for repairs
- The best part....the turbine was no longer under warranty 🙄
- It took 9 MONTHS to get it repaired and it cost the city $800,000.
- They had some sort of insurance that paid half the cost, but it doesn’t say if the $800K was that half.
- It took 9 MONTHS to get it repaired and it cost the city $800,000.
- They had some sort of insurance that paid half the cost, but it doesn’t say if the $800K was that half.
- A few months after this repair, it broke down again.
- It was fixed more quickly that time, but was still out of service & cost more money.
- They were supposed to be paid back in cost savings over 10 years, but at the current rate of problems, it’ll take at least 25 years.
- It was fixed more quickly that time, but was still out of service & cost more money.
- They were supposed to be paid back in cost savings over 10 years, but at the current rate of problems, it’ll take at least 25 years.
