Nova Scotians want answers on use of wind turbines 

They are back in the news again, not by popular demand, but by necessity to sell themselves.

Baileys Brook: This ‘wind farm’ came on line recently to deliver a bit of electricity created by a non-manageable source – the wind.

Going back a few years when the question of wind turbines came up in the Nova Scotia legislature there was no answer. The question was “What do we do if the wind doesn’t blow?” The question was serious but it caught everyone by surprise; the proponents were ill prepared and stalled. There were a few snickers then outright laughter at the question. It was a way out. This question has never been answered seriously and now it is being asked by many Nova Scotians.

After the Dexter government was swept into power they felt it wise to climb aboard the go-green bandwagon – thus the path was cleared for the questionable turbines. They are questionable because the world (Asia, England, France, Sweden, Germany, most of the U.S., many Canadian provinces) has brought a halt to the touted development of wind energy, yet Dexter’s government says we are going to have a banner year with wind development and we are surging ahead.

What do Mr. Dexter’s engineers and advisers know that the rest of the world doesn’t? Why don’t they share this knowledge like good global citizens?

Can Nova Scotia expect an answer – especially now with a proposed mega wind farm suggested for the Hunter’s Mountain-Wreck Cove area in picturesque Cape Breton and in the heart of prime tourist country?

Pictou County has lost the aesthetic beauty and silence given to our Brown’s Mountain area by the Master Architect, we have given it up to the questionable white pedestals with their disturbing red beacons whose beauty and value are yet to be discovered.

The sadness of losing such beauty to the guise of cheap and green electricity causes this writer to turn to literature for some quiet.

Do you recall the American poet Joyce Kilmer of the 1900s? If you are of this writer’s vintage you probably had to memorize his poem “Trees” in about Grade 8.

“I think that I shall never see,

A poem beautiful as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed

Against the eats’ sweet flowing…”

At this point we could dare to paraphrase these beautiful and meaning-filled words for our concerns:

We think that we shall never see,

A windmill as beautiful as a tree.

A windmill whose concrete base is buried

Into the earth’s once green alive…

Those word bring to mind other great authors but at this time only one need be mentioned.

A quick rundown to set your sights: you will probably remember the word quixotic, meaning an impractical visionary. And you recall ‘Don Quixote’ who rushed about Europe tilting and jousting at every windmill he saw. It tells a fantastic tale. Perhaps it should be declared required reading for all MLAs. The book is by Cervantes – Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Perhaps this reading may inspire a talented novelist to write an inspiring tale of an N.S.-styled Don Quixote – the adventurous tales of Daring Darie Dexote.

John G. Lees

RR3 Merigomish