April 19, 2008
Letters, Maryland

Wind decision protects posterity

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s recent announcement of his decision to protect Maryland’s public lands from industrial wind development came from the heart (“Wind farms to be barred,” April 12).

Standing before a breathtaking early spring view of the Monroe Run vista and addressing about 200 Garrett Countians, the governor spoke eloquently about his stewardship obligations for passing down such natural beauty to our posterity – our children and our children’s children.

He also commended the articulate passion of so many Western Marylanders for helping him to understand why this issue is so important here, and how intimately tied it is to our quality of life.

Mr. O’Malley’s decision might even be considered courageous in light of his belief that wind technology should be part of the mix that will drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependence on foreign oil.

But given the thermal implications involved in balancing wind’s volatility, among other factors, the technology can at best offset relatively minuscule levels of carbon emissions.

Mr. O’Malley’s rationale for protecting our public lands should be instructive to our local political leaders, who have stated they believe the entirety of Garrett County should be conserved as a natural heritage resource.

Those politicians are right.

And the oafish presence of ineffectual commercial wind installations is incompatible with that idea.

Jon Boone

Oakland

The writer has testified before the Maryland Public Service Commission against wind power projects.