From the AP:

The Senate energy committee has approved a draft report critical of a proposed wind farm off the Delaware coast. The panel voted 4-2 in favor after dropping a recommendation that the Senate vote to instruct the legislature’s controller general to vote against the wind farm, which would kill the idea. 

The panel instead recommended that the Senate instruct the controller general to give serious weight to its report.

Stanton Democrat Karen Peterson, who voted against the report, said the hearings on which it is based were biased.  Three of four state agencies delayed a vote after controller general Russell Larson said there was no consensus in the General Assembly.

I spoke with Representative John Kowalko (D-Newark) and he was to the point:

“I consider the report bogus.” ~ Representative John Kowalko

I’m sure there will be more to come…

LOTS of WGMD listeners have their own websites and Dan Gaffney gave everyone an hour to promote their hard work.  Many people have asked for the links - so here’s most of the links that were called in.

• Judson Bennett for County Council - http://www.judsonbennett.com/
• Long Neck Family Practice - http://www.longneckfp.com/
•  Extreme Brewing - http://extremebrewing.com/
• Coldwell Banker/Katy Werner - http://www.cbmove.com/katy.werner
• Katy Decorates - http://www.katydecorates.com/
• Cyber Game Lan - http://www.cybergamelan.com/
• Vintage Delaware Tags - http://www.vintagedelawaretags.com/
• LowTags.com - http://www.lowtags.com/
• Bethany Beach Vol Fire Co. - http://www.bethanybeachfire.com/
• Gumboro Mudbog - http://www.gumboromudbog.com/
• Sussex County Government - http://www.sussexcountyde.gov/
• Delmarva Insulation - http://www.delmarvainsulation.com/
• Your Pet Food Store - http://www.yourpetfoodstore.com/
• Margarita Man - http://www.margaritamande.com/
• Ghost Hunting at Five Locks Canal - http://www.freewebs.com/5locks/
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Sport Stacking - http://www.midatlanticstacking.com/
• Man-Maid Cleaning - http://www.manmaidcleaning.com/ 
• Keenote Music Studio -
  http://www.makingmusik.com/servlet/KM_DisplayMain?s=3083
• Frank Prekup’s Purple Martin Houses - http://www.atlanticbreezes.com/pprekup.htm
• Johnson’s Country Market - http://www.johnsonscountrymarket.com/
• CopyRight Inc - http://www.copyrightinc.net/
• Community of Independence - http://www.independencede.com/home/
• Delaware State Housing - http://www.destatehousing.com/
• Guardian Property Management - http://www.guardian.us.com/guardian/page.html
• My Kids Support.com - http://www.mykidssupport.com/
• Sussex County Bible Church - http://www.sussexbible.com/
• Smith’s Used Cars - http://www.shopsmiths.com/
• Bella’s Cookies - http://www.bellascookies.com/
• Food 2 Go - http://www.food2gode.com/
• Isorobic - http://www.isorobic.com/
• Millman’s Appliance - http://www.millmansappliances.com/
• Indie Rocks Blog - http://www.indierocks.org/

Recently at a public hearing we learned that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources hands out permits that are, shall we say, “lax.”

Click HERE for the official transcript of the Indian River Power Plant’s water discharge hearing released by DNREC so you can read the word for word account of the meeting. I would really suggest reading it, it doesn’t take long at all.

I’m nominating this fish to be the mascot of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources

Now, we have less than 30 days to contact DNREC and voice our opinions about the permit they let expire 16 years ago and their new permit that allows a daily average of “1,803 pounds” of oil and grease and a daily maximum of 3,605 pounds of oil and grease out of one outfall. On top of that it allows for things like “60 pounds of copper” a day to be discharged, which DNREC admits is “toxic” to marine life…really, read the transcript.

We can also tell DNREC that since many of us enjoy fishing and crabbing in our local waters, we’d like the department in charge of protecting our state’s natural resources to be a little more concerned about the estimated 600,000 blue crab, 3.2 million bay anchovies, 543,733 croaker and 834,775 winter flounder the plant killed over a two year period.

Those are fish that people could be cursing at as they break their lines or if they’re lucky, they could be eating them if the plant would just get with the 21st Century, or even the last decades of the 20th Century….

The technology is available to lessen the impact of the plant on its surroundings, and if DNREC and/or NRG Energy would like to argue that they are too cost prohibitive, then they should tell us exactly how much the stuff costs and what the cost breakdown would be for the everyone on the grid who gets power from the plant, cause it ain’t just Delawareans (though Delawareans carry the full burden of the plant’s pollution).

And seriously, our county, state and federal governments need to hear from you, too. That’s why I’m posting some contact information. Just click on a name or copy an e-mail address and you’ll be on your way to venting at our dysfunctional government:

The Governor:

Governor Ruth Ann Minner

Delaware Department of Natural Resources:

DNREC Secretary John Hughes John.Hughes@state.de.us

Director, Division of Water Resources Katherine Bunting-Howarth Katherine.Howarth@state.de.us

This is the guy who is officially taking public comment about the water discharge permit at the Indian River Power Plant, so you can’t leave him out:

Hearing Officer:
Robert Haynes
89 King’s Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-9039
Robert.Haynes@state.de.us

Delaware House of Representatives:

14th District Representative Pete Schwartzkopf Rehoboth Beach: Peter.Schwartzkopf@state.de.us

35th District Representative Benjamin Ewing Bridgeville

36th District Representative George Carey Milford

37th District Representative Joseph Booth Georgetown: Joseph.Booth@state.de.us

38th District Representative Gerald Hocker Ocean View: Gerald.Hocker@state.de.us

39th District Representative Daniel Short Seaford

40th District Representative “Biff” Lee Laurel: biff.lee@state.de.us

41st District Representative Greg Hastings Millsboro: greg.hastings@state.de.us

Delaware Senate:

18th District Senator Gary Simpson Milford: gsimpson@udel.edu

19th District Senator Thurman Adams, Jr. Bridgeville: Thurman.Adams@state.de.us

20th District Senator George Bunting, Jr. Bethany Beach: George.Bunting@state.de.us

21st District Senator Robert Venables, Sr. Laurel: Robert.Venables@state.de.us

Our Congressman:

Congressman Mike Castle

Our Senators:

Senator Tom Carper
Senator Joe Biden

So,I tried to get a meeting with John Hughes the Director of DNREC…

“It’s our job to ensure these plants have the permits they need.”

Tuesday morning I called DNREC to talk to John Hughes, the Director, and I was sent to the Director of Water Resources, Katherine Bunting-Howarth. I asked her straight forward questions about the amount of…stuff…their permit allowed the Indian River Power Plant to spew from its water discharge outfalls.

“Its our job to ensure these plants have the permits they need.” - Katherine Bunting-Howarth, Director of Water Resources, Delaware Department of Natural Resources

(Again, the permit I was asking about was the replacement for a permit that expired 16 years ago, not, of course, that I’m implying that DNREC isn’t doing its “job”…).

I asked Bunting-Howarth to let me come up to Dover to interview her, and she indicated that she wanted Peder Hansen there, and we could possibly do it Wednesday at around 8:30 a.m. and that she would call to confirm the interview.

The confirmation call came from Joanne Wilson, a public information officer, who wanted to know what questions I was going to ask, and basically how the station was going to use the interview.

The last call I received was from Joanne canceling the meeting, with no idea when they could reschedule, or when they could get back to me.

Hopefully I’ll hear from them since many of our listeners and readers are the Indian River Power Plant’s neighbors. And really, just because DNREC didn’t post the information about the public hearing on their website or the State’s website, and just because the information that they DID send out had the meeting place listed at a Senior Center that doesn’t exist, that doesn’t mean DNREC is trying to keep information from the public.

Maybe they’d just rather give the interview to someone who doesn’t live near the plant and isn’t walking around in shock and disbelief after attending the public hearing…or maybe DNREC is just too darn busy making sure everything Delaware’s worst polluters want to do is perfectly legal….

More to come including some political reaction…

Get used to these campaign signs because they’re coming back to the 41st District.

Former 41st District Representative John Atkins was live on the air with me this morning, and I asked him straight out, “Are you going to run for your old 41st District seat as a Democrat, John Atkins?”

His answer was, “Yes I am.”

He goes on to explain why he’s changing parties instead of challenging Republican Representative Greg Hastings, who won the seat during a special election after Atkins resigned, to a Republican primary. We also cover a wide array of topics including his Ocean City police stop, his relationship with the Delaware GOP, the 41st District Democratic Committee’s Resolution to not endorse his candidacy, and his current family life.

Enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The coveted Delaware number 6 license plate.

First, let me say this was the farthest I’ve ever had to park from Rehoboth Avenue…worse than any 4th of July…worse than that terrifying Yuletide when Kathy Lee Gifford came for the tree lighting on the Avenue…and it was all for the black and white number 6 license plate.

When I arrived, (which was just in time and let me take this moment to apologize and thank all of those people whose yards I cut through to get there), there was excitement in the crowd and everyone was anticipating the sale of number 6. And for those of you who have never been, this is what an auction sounds like, it’s just like on TV…AUDIO

The plate was from the estate of Charles Murphy, described by Butch Emmert of Emmert Auctions as a “longtime Milford Delaware resident,” who was “very well known” and who “helped to bring harness racing/gambling to the State.”

The bidding started at $250,000, and Butch Emmert did the auctioneering himself, and let me say he was in rare form, turning up the heat and driving up the price. Even the spectators were having a great time and Emmert had everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. Take a listen to Emmert prodding the bidders and entertaining the packed crowd. AUDIO

Bidding for Anthony Fusco was his grandson Frank Vassallo. Fusco also owns Delaware number 9.

It was a duel between a Sussex County bidder and a New Castle County bidder and in the end, Anthony Fusco, from Fusco Enterprises in New Castle County, won the plate for a whopping $675,000. AUDIO

“…but $675,00 was right where I thought it would be…I really feel like if the economy was better it would have been close to a million dollars.” -Butch Emmert of Emmert Auctions AUDIO

Fusco is also the owner of Delaware number 9. Bidding for Fusco who was in California was his grandson Frank Vassallo who said that tag number 9, bought by his grandfather for $185,000, turned out to be a better investment “than the S&P 500.”

Lt. Governor John Carney at Senator Harris McDowell’s wind farm hearings.

Last month, Lt. Governor John Carney announced that the State of Delaware and Babcock & Brown, the parent company of Bluewater Wind, had reached a deal that would make Delaware a regional hub for East Coast wind farm operations. AUDIO

Today, Carney announced an agreement with Bluewater Wind to “help develop a workforce training program” for wind farm workers:

Lt. Governor John Carney announced today that Bluewater Wind and its parent company, Babcock & Brown, have committed to partner with a two-year college, such as Delaware Technical & Community College, to develop a regional training program for wind turbine maintenance technicians, provided approval of the proposed wind farm project. Babcock & Brown’s commitment includes a $150,000 grant to help Del Tech develop this program, as well as significant contributions in the way of technical expertise.

“This is a great opportunity for our State and the many students who will benefit from such a training program,” said Lt. Governor John Carney. “The wind power industry is set to grow rapidly over the next few decades, and with Babcock & Brown’s previous commitment to locate their regional hub in Delaware, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of high-paying jobs will need to be filled. This partnership would create the skilled workforce here in Delaware that Babcock & Brown, as well as other companies in the industry, will need to meet their demand.”

Carney deserves some credit. The last big idea knocked around to bring new industry to the State was when Congressman Mike Castle wanted to make Delaware a biotech hub (an idea that went down in flames like the Hindenburg). Other than that, all you ever seem to hear about is expanding casino gambling, (Representative Vince Lofink is pushing for sports betting and roulette is coming to the casinos this fall).

This is really some innovative thinking, and it means jobs and job training…I like the idea of new jobs for the State that don’t require learning how to balance five whiskey sours on a tray….

No, this isn’t a line for Hanna Montana tickets, this is the line of people waiting to see Michelle Obama, the wife of Democrat Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

The line outside was long and everyone was anxiously anticipating the words of Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama. I spoke with the first people in line, mostly because I’m always intrigued by the first people in line, and they were fired up:

“Yes we can.” - Ed Money AUDIO

“I’m proud to be here…it is time for a change, we need to get out of the past and into the new.” - Melvin Collier AUDIO

“America is able to put aside all of it’s biases and all and vote for a man of worth and not take color as an excuse” - Anna Hammond Carter AUDIO

Inside, people were energized, and when Michelle Obama came out, the crowd went wild. She spoke with deliberation, and in some cases, a little interesting imagination:

“Barack has more legislative experience than anyone currently in this race.” - Michelle Obama AUDIO

Michelle Obama at Delaware State University.

She also took the time to totally mischaracterize the background of most of the candidates in the Presidential race, namely Mike Gravel, Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, and even Republican frontrunner John McCain, none of whom are lawyers:

“Barack’s a lawyer I’m a lawyer…but everybody in this race is a lawyer. And most of them made their millions before they decided to help the people, but not Barack.” - Michelle Obama AUDIO

Incidentally, that second part about making “their millions before they decided to help the people…” just isn’t really true. (Even Mitt Romney did a 30 month stint as a missionary when he got out of college and most likely wasn’t worth “millions” at that point, and Hillary Clinton, did some “help the people” stuff before she and Bill made their fortune).

And, frankly, I’m not buying into the whole candidate class warfare thingie coming from a Princeton educated lawyer married to a Harvard law school graduate. But Michelle Obama was very inspiring if you weren’t all wrapped up in ridiculous stuff like lapses in accuracy and irony.

You can listen to her entire speech unedited: AUDIO Part One and AUDIO Part Two.

That’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Protack in the back of the crowd and to the left with the moustache. He was the only candidate for governor who bothered to show up at a wind power rally in Rehoboth Beach last November, though all of the candidates claim to support it.

With all of the hoopla today surrounding the GOP candidate for Governor, I asked Mike Protack, the Republican who’s sure that he’s running for the job, to give me his thoughts on the day:

” I wish Alan Levin the best in his personal and business endeavors. Leaving a race or getting in a race is a difficult decision which requires 100% focus and personal dedication. Since I entered this race I have demonstrated the perseverance and results it takes to run and win and I believe the future of Delaware will be better if we address the premiere issues of health care, education and economic growth. Those issues and my proposals are resounding very well within the Republican party and voters all over the state because both want a leader with a voice for the future . I look forward to the campaign within the Republican Party and in the fall with the eventual Democratic victor.”

You can check out Mike Protack’s blog, A Better Deal For Delaware HERE, and you can listen to my interview with Mike HERE. And if you need to see a little more, you can check out his 2008 campaign website HERE.

Steve Forbes (left) meets most likely Delaware Republican candidate for Governor Alan Levin.

Of course Alan Levin was on hand for the annual Lincoln Day Dinner held by the Delaware Republican Party. When you’re running for Governor…well…um…when you’re probably running for Governor as a Republican, it’s a good place to be seen. And Levin was looking forward to a “great night.” AUDIO

Back in September, I interviewed Levin on the air and one of the questions he was asked was about energy. Levin indicated that he supported the proposed wind farm off the coast of Rehoboth Beach. In light of the new and bizarre developments with the General Assembly and the wind farm, I asked Levin if he was still a supporter of the project.

I think we need it (the wind farm) more than ever right now…In fact, I’d even like to do it with the State of Maryland on a regionalization basis and even increase the size of it out there because I think we and Maryland can do this together and really share in a lot of the benefits. AUDIO

Then I asked Levin straight out if he was running.

We’ll see, you know we’re working through some things and we’re having a great time. I’ve been going up and down the state and we’re working through it. AUDIO

But…most of the people at the event spoke about Levin like he was already declared. While talking to me about the condition of the Delaware Republican Party, it’s former Chairman, Basil Battaglia, had this to say:

We have a great candidate in Alan Levin, he’s an excellent person. AUDIO

Come on, Alan, you know you want to tell us….

Steve Forbes won the Delaware Republican Primary in 1996. .

“You know the old joke, when Bill Gates goes into a bar, the average net worth of a patron goes up 2 billion dollars,” quipped Steve Forbes in a speech he delivered to the Delaware Republican Party Saturday night at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner. And while other sites may have flashy video of his speech, all I have is AUDIO of it, and my own interview with Steve Forbes. (And yeah, I ask him if Rudy is broke).

Forbes spoke about his relationship to Rudy Guiliani’s presidential campaign, “I’m one of the co-chairs of his campaign and senior policy advisor and saw first hand what he did in New York City and was very impressed with the major things he did there.” AUDIO

I asked Forbes if Giuliani supported his idea of a flat tax for Americans and he told me a little about where Giuliani stands on taxation. “He’s a backer of radical simplification of the tax codes,” according to Forbes and he went on to say that Giuliani is “proposing the biggest tax cut in American history.” AUDIO

We talked about the race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and Forbes said the race would be a “fierce one,” but predicted that Obama would win South Carolina. AUDIO

And finally, is the Guiliani presidential campaign in financial trouble? Well, not according to Forbes, “No, they’re focusing resources on Florida…They have over $7 million on hand.” AUDIO