Fatherly redemption? Bush dad installs windmill
Adding additional evidence to the case that George Bush Sr. is less evil than his son, word from the East Coast that the Bush family has installed a Skystream 3.7 personal windmill at the oceanfront estate of the former president.
The Skystream is a wind generator I’ve written about before. It’s a relatively small design that has a 1.8 KW capacity but doesn’t dominate the landscape.
According to the article, the Bushes installed the windmill after being approached by Southwest Windpower. Personally, although the article specifies the Bushes bought the system, I’d be willing to bet it was donated in return for free PR. Call me crazy, but I don’t see the Bush family paying for anything out of pocket, especially alternative energy for a second home. Let’s see the receipts. But, hey, what the hell, if it helps move personal wind power forward, who am I to complain?
Hat tip to Maria Energia for the find.
Update 12/3/07 at 6:47 p.m.: Correction from the comments:Â According to company representative Andy Kruse, the former president did, indeed, pay full price for the windmill. This is great news and, I think, a sign that alternative energy may be reaching my much longed-for tipping point:
Part of moving in concert with nature, means moving in concert with human nature. We cannot continue to rely on the altruistic nature of a tiny minority of the population who does the right thing. To get to a truly sustainable society, we must put economics in play. And, yes, greed. When the driver of that pollution-spewing SUV switches to an electric car to save a few bucks, we’ll know we’re on the right track. When the most anti-Al Gore Republican is installing solar panels on his roof to save some cash, we’re going to be OKÂ
So big thanks to Southwest Energy for keeping me honest and thanks to the Bush (Sr) family for doing the right thing.
Tags: Skystream, Southwest Wind Power
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:20 am
Hi –
I am from Southwest Windpower and had the opportunity to visit with the President. I met him with our local dealer Bob Greig of All-Seasons Home Improvement. First of all, I can absolutely say he paid full price for the turbine which was $12,900 installed. Assuming the same tower and type of installation, that is the same price any other person in the area would pay. There have been some 40 or so machines installed in the area. Secondly, we asked him about making a press statement on the machine and he turned us down. His assistant, Jim Applebee said that he wanted to wait a year before he made any public comments regarding the product. Mr. Applebee told me that ultimately the decision by him and Mrs. Bush to purchase the turbine was solely a personal one.
Yes, this does help move personal wind power forward and it is a great statement to the country that anyone with a little wind an acreage can own a personal wind system.
Andy Kruse