Prairie in peril
On Kansas Day, I listened as the governor announced that the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was named one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas. Is this a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing?
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has stated a personal goal to achieve 10 percent wind power by 2010. How in the world can the governor celebrate the tallgrass prairie landscape (the last known one of its kind on Earth) and promote big business that is hacking to pieces the very tallgrass we call a wonder?
One ridiculous wind farm destroyed 10,000 acres of significant ecological and scenic area of these precious grasses in Lincoln and Ellsworth counties. Strong-arm types are trying to do the same in Osborne County — home of the North American continent’s Geodetic Center, which is on the National Register of Historical Places.
Why is Kansas paying to destroy herself? The research clearly shows that wind farms produce a scant amount of the energy we consume. They need backup systems, which means the consumer pays double.
Hunting, which is a real industry in these counties of Kansas, will be displaced forever. Land values will decrease, and property taxes will increase. All this is on the backs of farmers and ranchers.
If wind energy is so important to Kansas, why doesn’t the state require a buyback program where small family farms and businesses can put up wind generators and sell the power back direct to the electric company?
Support the farm and ranch instead of corporate big business. Take back the power from the government and big business
EVIE WRAY, Luray
25 February 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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