June 6, 2011
Letters, Maine

Don't ignore damage that wind turbines would do

Portland Press herald, www.pressherald.com 5 June 2011

I would like to respond to the May 4 editorial concerning wind power (“Nothing to cheer about in wind-power setback”).

In our discussions on the environment, we need to address more concerns than just the hot-button issue of climate change. Although climate change is a major issue, so are many other environmental concerns.

Certainly not the least of these is biodiversity, a word which describes the interdependence of all of Earth’s species on one another.

The demise of any one of them might ultimately lead to our own extinction. To dismiss the importance of the mayfly or the lemming might be as serious a mistake as not addressing the issue of climate change in the most practical way possible.

Unfortunately, industrial wind energy is one of the most inefficient and impractical means of dealing with the problem of climate change. That, combined with the substantial damage that these industrial wind developments do to other facets of the environment, makes them a poor choice when considering our options.

As for the developers, why are their concerns of greater importance than those of the people who derive their livelihoods from the tourism-attracting qualities of our environment, which would be diminished or destroyed by these developments?

Given the limited scope of the jobs created by these developments, we would be better served by protecting the long-term opportunities which now exist because of the pristine, unspoiled conditions now found in many of our mountainous regions.

This paper does us all a disservice when it takes a biased position on a subject of this importance, and prints opinions that blatantly reflect that bias. I hope that you will take a more appropriate and balanced position on this controversy in future publications.

Rebecca Sanchez

Norridgewock

I would like to respond to the letter written regarding the idea that Maine should be embracing forests of windmills.

Yes, alternative energy sources need to be carefully considered. Note the word “carefully” – the proposed Bowers Mountain Wind Project hovering over the Downeast Lakes, overshadowing a virtually unspoiled area of Maine wilderness, lakes and wildlife, is untenable.

These lakes are popular with those who seek a quieter part of Maine where the pace is natural and slow. This project will ruin permanently beautiful views from many lakes where the stars and planets are easily seen at night. From one’s dock you will see white and red flashing lights all the time! How does a sunset canoe ride with red flashers sound? Not very soothing to me! These towers are 43 stories tall.

This project will provide very few permanent jobs once the destruction and building is done. To the polticians: Stop this project before a wonderful part of Maine is lost!

Patricia McKay Verbeeck

Lakeville


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/06/dont-ignore-damage-that-wind-turbines-would-do/