Its a win-win, says Felicia Sara Moore-Jordan, a supervisors aide who explained the requirement to phase in taller, more efficient machines as a prerequisite for continuation of a conditional-use permit at a cost to operators estimated by the board at about $540 million. Operators also must shut down 2% of the deadliest turbines as determined by a 2004 California Energy Commission study, remove "derelict" non-operating turbines and perform phased-in seasonal shutdowns during the winter when the wind power is the lowest and the most birds are flying through the hills. Operators testified that the last two actions would reduce wind production by 9% and cost them $3.7 million.
The bombings could lead Congress to rethink cuts in security funds for mass transit. At ENR press time July 12, the Senate was debating the 2006 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security. Earlier, the Senate Appropriations Committee had agreed to slash the bills mass transit security funds by $50 million to $100 million.