February 13, 2011
Letters, Pennsylvania

Don’t think wind power can solve all our problems

www.pennlive.com 13 February 2011

Ken Wolensky in his Feb. 2 column, “Incentives propel wind farms,” called attention to the good points and some history of wind power and the fact that 4,000 megawatts of electricity are already being generated in the state.

However, let’s not be lulled into accepting wind power or the wind turbine as the panacea to our power demands and needs. I would offer that while wind turbines might be part of a solution, wind turbines have a downside.

In cold weather, if reports from Britain are to be believed, where more than 3,000 turbines are in use, they are not working. With demands for power resulting from freezing weather, turbines have required heating to prevent seizing with the outcome that they consume more energy than produced.

Perhaps it is time to step back, examine the science, locations, etc. and be objective as opposed to politicization of the issue. Add to performance issues those of environmental problems, potential health problems from low-frequency noise, space requirements for industrial wind turbines, water loss from soil downwind, particularly in drought-prone areas, and it should give one pause.

Read, learn and make your own decision rather than subscribing blindly to ideologically motivated opinions from either point of view.

CHARLES YOUNG, Lower Paxton Twp.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/13/dont-think-wind-power-can-solve-all-our-problems/