Ocean Current Hydro Project Faces Political Hurdles

A colleague of mine is hard at work developing a solution for ocean current hydrokinetics, and I happen to believe that his approach is the best and most cost-effective method of all those that I’ve reviewed over the years.  He and his partners have spent a great deal of time over the past few years in Florida and Madagascar, refining their product through meticulous testing and refinement in the Gulf Stream and Mozambique Channel.

He wrote me just now in response to an email:

Sorry for the delay, I’ve been in Madagascar working on a small energy project with turbine technology, so been out of communication – just catching up on emails.

Presently, am waiting my FERC permit for the tidal energy project at (location).  Federally it is going well, but state-wise the governor is fighting us (big oil and gas); I should know more in 3rd or 4th part of the year.

I respond:

Your news about the state of Florida impeding your project is disgusting.

I wonder how Americans feel about this generally.  Are we in denial of the fact that powerful vested interests control our government?  Are we resigned?

If this were simply corruption that had no real bearing on things, e.g., building an unneeded road or something like that, I wouldn’t be so upset. Here, however, the state is actively pushing for environmental degradation and lung disease.  That’s really nauseating.

But why should I find this surprising?  (Florida Governor) Rick Scott shows raw courage and true leadership in the perversion of basic human values, as demonstrated by his ban on employees of the state’s lead environmental agency from using such terms as “global warming” and “climate change.”  Why should I have expected anything else?  It’s Orwellian.  It’s like the news we hear about religious cults to the effect that: You’re free to think or say or write anything you want….as long as it’s not critical of the church.

Hope things turn around for you there.