Crony capitalism doesn't seem an adequate term to describe this.
In addition to the ridiculus financials, Robert Bryce, the author of the above piece, summarizes what one participant in the webinar had to say about defending wind projects:
During the webinar, Justin Rolfe-Redding, a doctoral student from the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University, discussed ways for wind-energy proponents to get their message out to the public. Rolfe-Redding said that polling data showed that “after reading arguments for and against wind, wind lost support.” He went on to say that concerns about wind energy’s cost and its effect on property values “crowded out climate change” among those surveyed. The most astounding thing to come out of Rolfe-Redding’s mouth — and yes, I heard him say it myself — was this: “The things people are educated about are a real deficit for us.” After the briefings on the pros and cons of wind, said Rolfe-Redding, “enthusiasm decreased for wind. That’s a troubling finding.” The solution to these problems, said Rolfe-Redding, was to “weaken counterarguments” against wind as much as possible. He suggested using “inoculation theory” by telling people that “wind is a clean source, it provides jobs” and adding that “it’s an investment in the future.” He also said that proponents should weaken objections by “saying prices are coming down every day.”
Education on the issue is a "real deficit" and the more people find out about wind energy projects the less they support them. Instead of presenting facts and figures supportive of their proposals, the advocate proposes an "inoculation theory" to attack counterarguments and then obfuscate, mislead and outright lie about the proposal.
It's seldom you will see the methodology of environmental advocates so blatantly layed out before you. Remember it, as we will see again.
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