October 4, 2016
Letters, Vermont

Questions on wind power

Mark Emmons | Oct. 4, 2016 | vtdigger.org

Many residents of Windham and Grafton are rightfully concerned about the future of their communities. As time passes many are realizing that big wind is not what it has been blown up to be, especially in New England and on pristine mountain ridgelines.

Many of our townspeople are asking:

1. Does it make sense to destroy the very environment we are trying to save, the very environment that sustains us? NO! Unless of course you are a wind developer making millions of dollars.

2. Should we focus on an energy source like big wind that does very little to inhibit greenhouse gases when there are many superior sources like hydro, geothermal and properly sited solar.

3. Could we instead focus on using less energy by addressing the issues of home/commercial heating and cooling and vehicle and industrial emissions which account for most of our greenhouse gases?

4. Is it wise to spend millions on wind projects like the Lowell project that avoids only 74,000 tons of CO2 emissions a year when New York City traffic produces that amount in 12 hours?

5. Would it be more beneficial for a community to create permanent sustainable jobs rather than the mostly temporary jobs created by wind projects? We could promote the startup of new local businesses in solar, insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, etc.

6. Is it short-sighted to focus on putting bribe money in our own pockets when it could be used for well-thought-out renewable energy and conservation projects? The love of money is indeed the root of all evil.

7. Can we prudently place solar in existing industrial locations, roof tops, and on land already cleared for power lines instead of mindlessly placing them in beautiful pastures and on spectacular slopes.

8. Why when we have so many brilliant minds do we allow big business to dictate the development and siting of renewables? Are we too apathetic or too self absorbed or maybe just too simplistic?

9. Haven’t we been exploited enough from the oil industry, the asbestos industry, the tobacco industry, Big pharma, GMO, chemical industries, and many others?

10. Act locally think globally by making our homes, town buildings, and businesses more energy efficient. Put millions of dollars in government subsidies into these local projects instead of in the pockets of the corporate world. This would address the real cause of global warming with real solutions!

[rest of article available at source]


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/10/04/questions-on-wind-power/