Looks like TheOwl is more chicken than wise.
Yeah, go ahead and keep on thinking there are no scams on behalf of the green movement. BTW, we never did get an answer. Do you buy carbon credits? Well, let me know what you paid.
Also, ENRON was actually busted and all of those companies were busted under the Bush administration. Not that you made that distinction.
Lets look at at the whole article from the Heritage Foundation shall we? Don't worry, I have a lot of other places and examples of green scams.
President Obama's Taxpayer-Backed Green Energy Failures
It is no secret that President Obamas and green energy supporters (from both parties) foray into venture capitalism has not gone well. But the extent of its failure has been largely ignored by the press. Sure, single instances garner attention as they happen, but they ignore past failures in order to make it seem like a rare case.
The truth is that the problem is widespread. The governments picking winners and losers in the energy market has cost taxpayers billions of dollars, and the rate of failure, cronyism, and corruption at the companies receiving the subsidies is substantial. The fact that some companies are not under financial duress does not make the policy a success. It simply means that our taxpayer dollars subsidized companies that wouldve found the financial support in the private market.
So far, 34 companies that were offered federal support from taxpayers are faltering either having gone bankrupt or laying off workers or heading for bankruptcy. This list includes only those companies that received federal money from the Obama
Administrations Department of Energy and other agencies. The amount of money indicated does not reflect how much was actually received or spent but how much was offered. The amount also does not include other state, local, and federal tax credits and subsidies, which push the amount of money these companies have received from taxpayers even higher.
Here is another example......
Wind farms are a 'complete scam', claims the Environment Secretary who says plans for turbines are causing 'huge unhappiness' | Mail Online
Wind farms are a 'complete scam', claims the Environment Secretary who says turbines are causing 'huge unhappiness'
Owen Paterson says communities will get new powers to block turbines which are 'regarded as a complete scam'
Warns of 'huge unhappiness' across the country caused by wind farms
People who live near developments to get 20% discount on energy bills
By MATT CHORLEY, MAILONLINE POLITICAL EDITOR
PUBLISHED: 08:29 EST, 7 June 2013 | UPDATED: 10:01 EST, 7 June 2013
Wind farms have been branded a complete scam by Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, reigniting coalition battle over green power.
As the government unveiled new powers for local residents to block turbines blighting their villages, Mr Paterson condemned many planned schemes as deeply unpopular and causing huge unhappiness across the country.
The outspoken remarks from a senior Tory minister in charge of environmental policy risks a furious reaction from Liberal Democrats pushing for more renewable power projects.
The Conservatives have taken a tougher line on wind farms in recent months, and this week unveiled plans to give communities a powerful veto over controversial new onshore developments.
Schemes will have to gain local residents consent before a planning application can even be made, effectively handing them the power to prevent turbines being erected.
Planning rules are also to be changed so that the drive for renewable energy can no longer be used as a reason for overriding environmental and other concerns.
Mr Paterson signalled that plans for wind farms will have to take into account the impact on the countryside and views as well as the desire to save the planet.
In an extraordinary intervention at the Royal Cornwall Show yesterday, the Tory Cabinet minister said: Turbines are regarded as a complete scam, but as of today we have given power to local communities to decide.
The criteria is now that environment and landscape will have to be taken into consideration as well as the national energy requirement.
Under the new rules councils must look at the cumulative impact of wind turbines and reflect the effect on landscape and local facilities.
There is also a major increase promised in the amount developers pay local communities to win them over, including long-term electricity bill discounts of up to 20 per cent.
However, Mr Paterson suggested anger with many schemes would not be overcome by additional bribes.
He added: I know there is huge unhappiness with some of these projects, both from what I hear nationally and from my own constituency in Shropshire.
There are places where these projects are well prepared, the community wants it and it will be worthwhile. But in inland areas they are very often deeply unpopular, the Western Morning News reported.
Leila Deen, Greenpeace energy campaigner, said: 'Wind farms may seem like a scam to a Government minister who questions the science of climate change and whos pushing for his Shropshire constituency to be fracked for shale gas.
'The public disagrees - two thirds of people would rather have a wind turbine near their home than a fracking site.
'Onshore wind powered almost 2.5 million homes in 2011, is falling in cost and will play a key role in our future energy mix.'
Mr Patersons appointment to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs last September was controversial, with allies forced to deny he was a climate change denier.
In 2007, he described wind farms as ridiculous, claiming they demand vast amounts of public subsidy and do not work.
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Beware of ?green scheme? scammers!
Beware of green scheme scammers!
Consumers are urged to beware of scammers who call offering rebates on energy efficient initiatives or try to sell energy saving devices that don't deliver the promised energy savings.
These days we all want to save money and help the environment. Unfortunately, scammers are preying on this desire to go green by offering fake government rebates for initiatives like solar heating and hot water, insulation and water tanks, as well as fake energy saving devices.
Scammers posing as government representatives are calling consumers and offering rebates for installing energy efficient appliances, solar panels, water tanks, new insulation and the like. The scammer will ask for bank account details or for a fee to be paid before the rebate can be processed. Unfortunately, these promised rebates never appear.
Scammers may also sell plug-in devices that they say will save large amounts of energy in the home, just by plugging them into the wall - but the saving never happens. While some companies legitimately sell energy saving devices, it is important for consumers to check the authenticity of the claims and ensure that the device is authorised to be sold in Australia, by checking for an authorisation number.
SCAMwatch warns you to watch out for green scheme scammers. Australian Government departments will never phone or email you asking you to pay upfront amounts in order to claim a rebate. Never confirm or provide personal details over the phone or by email as you never know what the scammer will use it for. You should also never pay money upfront to receive rebates or free money this is advance fee fraud. If you do pay, you will never see your money again. Always check the authenticity of the claims before buying an energy efficient product.
