Wind Power News: Letters
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Gov. Cuomo’s power grab — take action
Dear neighbor: Are you aware that Gov. Cuomo included the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act as part of a 30-day budget amendment titled Article 23? This amendment is to the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) bill. The act, unveiled a few weeks ago in a 30-day budget amendment, is now included in the governor’s 2020-21 budget proposal: https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy21/exec/fy21bills.html. Read TED New Part JJJ (pdf). This rushed action will not allow public hearings or the ability . . . Complete story »
Reducing consumption may be the only effective way to reduce carbon emissions
To the Editor: Your March 19 editorial ends with the opinion that large-scale wind projects should be sited “in locations where they won’t hurt human health or the local economy,” an idea nobody should dispute. Adding new wind farms to an upstate grid that already provides 90 percent of electricity emissions-free (thanks to hydro- and nuclear power) when health and local economies are on the line does not appear to be wise. However, the editorial misses the mark by reciting . . . Complete story »
Big wind: too much of a good thing?
Wind and solar power are great things and when properly integrated into the fabric of things. In Burt County, we have the potential to go from a few small turbines scattered around to being completely saturated by massive turbines that will dominate our county for decades. Citizens United recently polled county residents and found Burt County residents to be overwhelmingly against such a development. However, this fact is not enough to protect us from something the minority desires for the . . . Complete story »
Industrial wind turbines hurt rural economic development
Iowa is an agricultural state that produces corn, beans, and livestock, and we feed the world. Our agricultural productivity is the engine of all Iowa communities and businesses. Wind energy is not an agricultural commodity as hogs, cattle, and grain are. It is not a product that supports rural economic development. It does not revitalize communities, it damages them. Around the world, industrial wind turbines have driven people away from homes due to their noise, flicker, and adverse health effects. . . . Complete story »
Don’t despoil Dan’s Mountain
I grew up in Baltimore County. While in college there I made friends with students who lived in various parts of Appalachia. My visits to them during semester breaks and summers would take me through Western Maryland. I fell in love with the natural beauty of this area and the lifestyle here. When I was able, I purchased land in Allegany County, built a home and was blessed to find a wonderful wife. I have now resided here for 25 . . . Complete story »
Landowner’s position on wind turbines dismissive of consequences
I write in response to Mr. Woodard’s recent op-ed, nominally about a landowner’s perspective on the Rail Tie Wind Project. The piece was actually more about a landowner who expects a windfall in the form of turbine royalties, who views his neighboring landowners as the main impediment to money he believes he deserves, and who relentlessly belittles what his neighbors have to say. We need a reset. First, Mr. Woodard has no right to change the use of his property . . . Complete story »
Rocky Forge site is close to the worst
It was extremely disappointing to read the Feb. 10 commentary by Dan Crawford, chair of the Sierra Club Roanoke Group titled “Rocky Forge site is close to perfect.” Similar to a commentary by Christopher West in the January 21 paper, Mr. Crawford appears to have drunk the Kool-Aid being served by Apex Clean Energy, the company responsible for the proposed Rocky Forge Wind project. When Mr. Crawford writes that “The Rocky Forge site is as close to perfect as we . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines make our air dirty
I have a concerns about putting wind turbines in Botetourt County. Government mandates requiring renewable energy (wind turbines) have been making the air dirtier. As of right now, wind turbines must be backed up by conventional power plants (read coal and natural gas) for times when the wind slows or stops altogether. Since it often takes many hours to get conventional power plants running to function as backups, they are kept running at a rate great enough to take over . . . Complete story »
Reader: Skipjack Wind moves forward, blindly
Regarding “Wind farm company meets with local contractors,” Coastal Point, Feb. 14, 2020: It appears as if the Skipjack Wind project off the coast of Delaware has all the permits pre-approved, as contractors are posed to submit requests for proposals (RFP’s) on land-based construction projects (i.e. the Fenwick Island State Park improvements). Public concern as to the scope and due process of this project is warranted. Both the federal and state permits required to build structures in the ocean and . . . Complete story »
Thoughts on ‘free’ energy
In reference to the Herald front page story March 4 on the presentation by the Orsted spokesperson, Kris Ohleth, who extended the Orsted talking points. Included was a presentation by Joseph Fiordaliso of N.J. Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the taxpayers’ (our) advocate? Some information that did not make their presentation was: In addition to the $1.6 billion contract, what is the suggested contract guaranteed profit although the wind is variable? Are the grid connection costs guaranteed not to exceed? . . . Complete story »
