September 9, 2012
Letters, Maine

Hydro projects make sense; wind farms won’t help at all

Maine Sunday Telegram | www.pressherald.com 9 September 2012

I live in Lexington Township. Spain’s Iberdrola Renewables and Plum Creek are trying to put up an industrial-sized wind turbine farm here despite a signed petition from the majority of this community who are against it. The flicker of those huge blades as the sun rises, the strobe lights at night, the noise. Our beautiful landscapes ruined forever.

These things have popped up all over Maine, and it is time that we put a stop to them before it’s too late.

Mr. T. Boone Pickens recently admitted that he lost $150 million on wind power. He has halted plans for any future wind farms, as they are not efficient.

I think hydroelectric is the way to go. They could be built in the mighty rivers here in Maine like the Kennebec River. Hydroelectric turbines could be put in the middle.

No fish ladders to worry about, as they’d go around the hydroelectric turbines that could be built in line, one after the other in rows. No interference with boating, and most importantly, they’d not ruin the beauty of Maine’s scenic views that we all enjoy.

Hydroelectric makes sense, as that water always flows powerfully, but wind is not reliable. Look up hydroelectric versus wind turbines, see for yourself.

Why ruin our beautiful mountains with wind power? Like solar power and the failed Solyndra, which received a government loan guarantee that cost taxpayers $535 million, wind, too, is a flop.

We put a man on the moon in 1969. I know that we could produce low-cost, clean electricity from hydro power in 2012.

Buck Simpson

Lexington Township

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/09/hydro-projects-make-sense-wind-farms-wont-help-at-all/