LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

'We have to do something': Everett couple leads preservation group 

As the leaders of Save Our Allegheny Ridges, Laura and Mike Jackson have dedicated the past 2-1/2 years to preserving and protecting the state’s mountains, especially as developers work to place wind turbines throughout the region.

Between extensive research and meetings several times a month, the Jacksons dedicate a lot of time to SOAR, which now boasts 350 members, mostly people from the community concerned about noise or wildlife issues associated with the turbines.

“We’ve seen a lot of people come and go on this thing in the last two or so years,” Mike said. “They get really fired up, but people have families, jobs, lives. We do, too; it’s just something we feel so strongly about that we have to keep working on it.’’

Laura said the couple got interested when people started signing leases on Evitts Mountain. The first SOAR meeting was held in April 2006, although the issue of wind turbines has been around for several years.

‘‘If we had lived in Somerset, SOAR would have been in existence longer,’’ Laura said. ‘‘You don’t really know too much until it hits home. Then you start your research.’’

Critics of SOAR and the Jacksons’ work sometimes accuse them of being too “NIMBY” – Not in My Back Yard.

The Jacksons shrug it off, however, and focus on the facts.

‘‘If you don’t protect your backyard, then who’s going to do it?’’ Laura said.

One of the main problems the Jacksons find in the proposed 350 miles of turbines along Pennsylvania’s ridges is the claims by wind companies to be a clean and green industry.

‘‘They say wind is free and renewable,’’ Laura said. ‘‘That doesn’t mean the industry is clean and green. That’s what a lot of people don’t recognize.’’

Instead, the Jacksons focus on little things that can make a difference – using fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent, buying EnergyStar products, driving economically.

‘‘Once that level has been reached, then we can focus on different types of energy,’’ Laura said, citing major breakthroughs in solar technology as an energy alternative.

‘‘Within the next few years, we hope to see some other techniques available. We have to do something. There’s just so many things that can be done instead of putting these huge monsters into the sky.’’

For more information on SOAR, visit www.saveouralleghenyridges.com.

Fact Box
JACKSON FILE

Name: Laura Jackson
Age: 58
Hometown: Everett
Education: Master’s degree in science education
Title: Co-director of Save Our Allegheny Ridges; part-time job as director of Bedford Elementary School’s Environmental Center; former teacher

Name: Mike Jackson
Age: 58
Hometown: Danville
Education: Master’s degree in elementary education
Title: Co-director of SOAR; former teacher

By Wendy McCardle

Altoona Mirror

11 February 2008

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon