January 19, 2011
Letters, Ohio

Wind energy: Face economic and scientific realities

The Plain Dealer, cleveland.com 17 January 2011

The public trust doctrine for more than 100 years has been that Lake Erie is held in trust for the benefit of the citizens of Ohio, not as an industrial playground for an experiment in one-sixth of the world’s fresh water for special interests.

Wind is not scientifically or economically viable. Electricity is used on demand; its source cannot be intermittent, available only when the wind is blowing; there is no feasible technology to store it. Denmark, which is reported to have the largest concentration of wind farms, also has the highest electric rates. The New York Times reported that China pays one-tenth of U.S. wages in the wind industry and is setting up offices in the United States for its imports. The Nature Conservancy states that the Great Lakes constitute one of two of the most important stopover habitats for migratory birds in North America. According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2009 wind-energy projects produced 24.59 percent of their nameplate capacity.

Is this feasible? If we are looking for solutions to our future energy and economic needs, let’s use facts and sound science to steer us, not the buddy system and political hocus-pocus.

Gov. John Kasich has stated, “If it does not make sense, we will not do it.” I’m counting on him to pay attention to the facts.

Vicci Weeks, Parma


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/19/wind-energy-face-economic-and-scientific-realities/