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GUEST EDITORIAL - By
Richard Evans Wind project opposition rebuttal I have observed the opposition to the proposed wind turbine project that has been proposed for Cherokee County with great interest. A petition and pamphlet with arguments against the wind farm have been circulated in this area. I would like to address some of the points in the pamphlet and offer counter points. Dead birds and bats: When the Alaska oil pipeline was proposed the environmental lobby predicted that the migration of deer, caribou and other animals would be irreparably disrupted by the pipeline. Engineers developed pass-thru areas for the animals and they now move through as if the pipeline is invisible. Birds and bats will adapt to the presence of the turbines. Displaced ground animals: Our area is constantly being logged, developed and cleared for farming or construction. The area around the turbines will be cleared and most of it (except access roads) will be covered with grass. Deer and other wildlife will graze and feed in these areas. Noise and
vibration: I have visited one of the large wind farms in Nebraska.
The people I spoke to near the farm told me that they were more likely to
notice them if they quit turning. Storm runoff and altered hydrology: All construction projects affect the surrounding area. Engineers and environmental consultants will make sure the project complies with local, state and federal regulations that any other construction project has to abide by. Roads and transmission lines: New roads will be constructed and existing roads may be widened to allow access for equipment. The wind farm I visited had no visible transmission lines, they were all underground up to the point where they tied into the existing power grid. Fragmented wildlife habitat: Wildlife habitat is already fragmented by roads, fields, farms, houses, etc. The animals will adapt. Shadow flicker: A study in England found no significant problems associated with this issue. http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_025/pn11_025.aspx. Strobe lights day and night: All structures and towers over a certain height must have visible electronic warnings. There is a cell phone tower adjacent to Cherokee Rock Village which strobes at night. I can see it from my front porch and it has never bothered me in the least. Visual intrusion and distractions: I find the wind turbines to be more visually appealing than the tall smokestacks at coal fired power plants that are designed to send emissions higher in the sky. I think the turbines are majestic as they slowly turn in the breeze. Degradation of social and natural environments: The project will not keep anyone from visiting Cherokee Rock Village and doing whatever they enjoy doing there. If you think wind turbines are degrading to the natural environment, I suggest you visit a strip mine. Misplaced public funds: There are subsidies for all types of Alternative Energy. Ethanol, bio-diesel, solar, hydro-electric and other emerging technologies all get a share of public funds. The oil, coal and gas companies are still getting federal money and/or tax breaks. The playing field is almost level now and at some point in time subsidies will end and technologies will have to stand on their own or fail. Unreliable contracts: I did extensive research and could find no reputable source that showed me where anyone had been cheated or deceived by a wind energy company. No one alternative energy source will be able to replace current energy sources. It will take a combination of several energy technologies and new energy efficient ways of doing things to keep our economy running. There will come a day when our supply of fossil fuel is either exhausted or too difficult to extract economically. We ignore this fact at our own peril and the future of this planet.
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