Perhaps Mr. Levasseur can set me straight, but in his “Shame on you Western Maryland” letter he mentions some industrial windmills near the Golden Gate bridge. (“Area’s opposition to wind turbines proves surprising,” Feb. 18 Times-News)
Not having made it to San Francisco yet, I figured I’d find out more about this miracle by the bay. There are indeed two (yes, two) windmills in Golden Gate Park that were built about 100 years ago. They resemble old Dutch windmills and, based on the specifications I could find and some photos, it appears their maximum height from ground to the tip of a blade at its highest point is about 100 feet. They appear to have been nicely integrated into the park.
This is a far cry from long rows of 400 foot monstrosities dwarfing the little bit of beauty and serenity remaining in this part of the country. With each full-page newspaper ad that contains ridiculous assertions (e.g. comparing judicious and necessary logging of a renewable resource to these hulking industrial eyesores) and their other contentions, the proponents of wind turbines reveal the shallowness of both their arguments and their motivations. Tax credits, money, and political power seem to be the order of the day.
Patrick Brady
Cumberland
10 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/10/san-francisco-windmills-far-cry-from-big-turbines/