April 10, 2008
Maine

Questions on wind

The debate on wind power leaves many questions unanswered.

If these proposed wind farms are slated to produce 1 percent of our electricity, how many new power plants will they keep from being built?

How many kilowatts are lost per mile of transmission lines when these farms are built in remote areas, such as Kibby?

How much environmental degradation occurs when 26 miles of transmission lines must be cut through our mountains?

Who pays for these lines to be built?

Who pockets the money from selling wind farm carbon credits to Midwest power plants so they can keep polluting our air?

Who gets huge tax breaks for building those inefficient wind farms?

Who pays for the resulting loss in tourism dollars and housing values?

Who protects the migratory birds and bats and the fragile alpine landscapes?

How many Maine households will be using wind-generated power?

Why are we being greenwashed and rushed toward a quick, feel-good solution that will give huge benefits to corporate entities but have a negligible impact on climate change?

If Maine’s beautiful mountains are destined to be transformed into an industrial landscape of thrashing wind turbines, flashing strobe lights and noise echoing through its quiet valleys, we deserve some honest answers.

This planet won’t be saved by sacrificing Maine’s mountains to corporate politics. Simple lifestyle changes would conserve more kilowatts than these wind farms will ever produce. We need to educate ourselves on the true cost of wind power before it’s too late.

Penny Gray, Carthage

Lewiston Sun Journal

10 April 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/04/10/questions-on-wind/