January 9, 2014
Letters, Rhode Island

Wind turbines aren’t what they seem

January 9, 2014 | www.independentri.com

After reading the letter submitted by Michael Toolin and Travis Simpson (“Lift the moratorium on new wind turbines,” North East Independent, Jan. 2, 2013), I had to respond to their request for lifting the moratorium.

The following is a list of reasons not to use wind turbines:

• The wind power movement momentum is shrinking, not growing.

• You cannot claim to have a public mandate for windmills, because public support turns into strong opposition when the cost of wind power is disclosed.

• You cannot use pollution or oil-use reduction as a reason to erect windmills in Rhode Island, because that accomplishment has already been accomplished by others, for example, natural gas.

• You cannot make an honest state program of land-based windmills, because the state almost totally lacks sufficient wind. “Saudi Arabia of Wind” is offshore, not onshore.

• Wind power requires two generators to do the work of one. You need a backup to power the turbine when there is insufficient wind.

These are just a few of the reasons not to pursue wind power and does not include the health factors mentioned by Travis Simpson and Michael Toolin. The list is mounting. The power generated by the Turbine I, North Kingstown Green, might benefit the houses in the neighborhood but not the town of North Kingstown. We the residents end up paying a premium in our electric bills each month to support this turbine.

Ralph Crockford

North Kingstown


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/01/09/wind-turbines-arent-what-they-seem/