Wind Power News: Opinions
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Ottawa’s clean energy plan will be ineffective and costly
Despite billions in spending on renewable energy over the last three decades, the share of total energy produced in Canada by alternative energy sources has not increased. Complete story »
Want clean energy? We’ll need more fossil fuels
Calls for the immediate scaling back and even discontinuation of fossil fuel use have grown strident again recently, on the heels of this month’s release of the final installment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report. It spawned urgent rhetoric like that from United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who said, “…it is possible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees [Celsius] with rapid and deep emissions reductions across all sectors of the global economy.” His comments were accompanied by yet . . . Complete story »
People living near wind farms are sacrificial lambs to greed
Lambs are frolicking as Easter approaches, though there are sacrificial lambs across this land in the form of those desperately unlucky folk who live close to wind farms and have to bear the brunt of the devastating downsides for the sake of their supposed benefits for the rest of us. They describe “nose bleeds” and other health issues that accompany the shadow flicker and noise of industrial scale turbines as a never-ending nightmare. For there is no escape, what with . . . Complete story »
Even Democrats adopt opposition to Idaho wind farms
This week the Idaho House of Representatives voted unanimously in voicing opposition to southern Idaho’s proposed wind farms. Consider that means all the Democrats and all the Republicans voted on the same page! How often does that happen? I can’t remember anything in recent memory. This morning I was floored when the leader of the House Democrats gave me some credit. Last week I was talking with House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel about wind power. She explained her correspondence was . . . Complete story »
Motvind Sjonfjellet: Å etablere et vindkraftverk på Sjonfjellet er det absolutt motsatte av bærekraftig!
[Establishing a wind power plant on Sjonfjellet is the absolute opposite of sustainable!] Gir ikke billigere strøm – overskudd selges ut I Rana Blad 10 februar kunne vi lese at Njordr ønsker å etablere vindindustri på Sjonfjellet. Daglig leder poengterer at alternativet til rask utbygging er høyere strømpriser. Det står nå 1392 vindturbiner og surrer og går langs hele kysten vår; noe som definitivt ikke har ført til reduksjon av strømregninga! Tvert imot, ny kraftproduksjon i Norge vil ikke ha . . . Complete story »
No measurable influence on climate change
Officially, offshore wind developers anticipate their projects will “have no measurable influence on climate change.” Knowing this, they offer a different rationale. In the “purpose and need” section of the draft environmental impact statement for Revolution Wind, Ørsted justifies the offshore wind project based on its ability to fulfill Rhode Island’s mandate for “renewable” energy. Meeting a political mandate differs rather significantly from combating climate change. Ørsted seems to understand this difference, but the public may not. First, although offshore . . . Complete story »
A portrait of offshore wind companies
First, we would like to reiterate that we recognize the threat of climate change and understand the urgency to drastically reduce carbon emissions. We cannot wait for the perfect solution; yet, nor should we hastily embrace a counterproductive one. Accusing those who question the wisdom of offshore wind farms with NIMBYism or allegiance to the fossil fuel industry silences valid concerns. Caring about our ocean aligns with a desire to address climate change. The ocean produces more oxygen than all . . . Complete story »
NYSERDA is right to decide against wind turbines
After almost two years of anticipation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently released its Great Lakes Wind Feasibility Study, which concluded “that now is not the right time to prioritize Great Lakes Wind projects in Lake Erie or Lake Ontario.” Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie (CAWTILE), a grassroots organization of concerned citizens, has advocated tirelessly against installing industrial wind turbines in Lake Erie since it was announced over two years ago as a . . . Complete story »
Wind farm issue will soon be resolved, but …
After reading Don Smucker’s analysis of Montcalm County’s green energy conflict in the Jan. 21 Daily News, I am also very concerned – but for a different reason. The wind ordinance issue will be resolved, but I am concerned some people in our society hold democracy in such contempt. Smucker boils down the problem quite nicely: “(Some people) simply do not want to look at any wind turbine … because they do not like how they look.” A simple summation based . . . Complete story »
Whales are dying — Is there a link to offshore wind?
Today, as with many other issues, our country has politicized whale deaths. With each new whale stranding, politics intervenes to either whitewash, weaponize, or silence the facts. The facts, however, stand. With yet another dead humpback whale spotted off the coast of southern New Jersey, we are witnessing an alarming number of recent whale deaths. At least nine humpback whales have died along the coast of New York and New Jersey since December. During this same period, offshore wind companies . . . Complete story »
