Jerry Beaird has 16 wind turbines on his property. They've been producing quite efficiently but Beaird hasn't seen a single penny since November.
"So December, January, February, March and April we got letters saying there was no revenue generated but the site managers say that January was a record month," says Beaird.
So how could record production leave the landowners completely dry? The letters state various market factors attributed to the lack of revenue. They don't go into specifics, but Beaird has his own ideas.
Beaird says, "They're promising more killowatts than they can produce. So they're selling short on the contracts."
Nextera, formerly known as Florida Power and Light, owns the turbines and electricity. Beaird believes Nextera might be selling contracts to Gexa, a subsidary of theirs. Not just selling, but over selling.
"They're selling contracts and they're not fulfilling them so they have to go back in and buy electricity at a higher price than they sold it," says Beaird.
Ultimately, making no money. Tom Cox owns the land next door. His property has 10 turbines.
Cox says, "Part of it is natural gas. As natural gas gets cheaper, electricity gets easier to generate at a conventional plant."
However, Cox believes something internally just isn't right.
"But that's ridiculous," says Cox, adding, "to go from a sizable amount of money down to zero."
And an issue with no immediate solution and out of the hands of the landowners.
Beaird adds, "What they're doing may be legal, but it's very unethical, it's very unchristian, it's very un-American."
"So December, January, February, March and April we got letters saying there was no revenue generated but the site managers say that January was a record month," says Beaird.
So how could record production leave the landowners completely dry? The letters state various market factors attributed to the lack of revenue. They don't go into specifics, but Beaird has his own ideas.
Beaird says, "They're promising more killowatts than they can produce. So they're selling short on the contracts."
Nextera, formerly known as Florida Power and Light, owns the turbines and electricity. Beaird believes Nextera might be selling contracts to Gexa, a subsidary of theirs. Not just selling, but over selling.
"They're selling contracts and they're not fulfilling them so they have to go back in and buy electricity at a higher price than they sold it," says Beaird.
Ultimately, making no money. Tom Cox owns the land next door. His property has 10 turbines.
Cox says, "Part of it is natural gas. As natural gas gets cheaper, electricity gets easier to generate at a conventional plant."
However, Cox believes something internally just isn't right.
"But that's ridiculous," says Cox, adding, "to go from a sizable amount of money down to zero."
And an issue with no immediate solution and out of the hands of the landowners.
Beaird adds, "What they're doing may be legal, but it's very unethical, it's very unchristian, it's very un-American."
Comments
Yes, do see Windfall. I did and spoke with some of those in the movie. These people are average citizens. The one group that lives on the island financed their own wind farm. G.E. is now being sued because they lied about the negative aspects they were told that weren't real. They lied Dennis S. is not being forthright ... If it's about big money lies will fly...
colleen c.
June 11, 2012 at 10:00 am
Do see the movie "Windfall." Wind energy is perhaps the second biggest hoax in history. The first being Obama.
Dennis S.
June 10, 2012 at 11:01 am
You never know what might happen when you make a deal with the devil.
Mary B.
June 7, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Unethical? Unchristian?? Un-American?!? That sounds like the people who, for a quick buck sold out their neighbors, destroyed their view, lowered their property values and blasted them with the constant roaring sound by allowing these worthless monstrosities to be put up on their land. I guess the chickens are coming home to roost.....
dale r.
June 7, 2012 at 8:28 pm
