man & nature # 32 ~ sustainability - there is no free lunch
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North country wind farm • click
to embiggenOn the way to yesterday's golf outing, I stopped to picture one of the many wind farms that are springing up just outside of the northern boundary of the Adirondack Park. This area, the St. Lawrence River / Seaway basin/plains, is a natural wind tunnel of sorts. There is also an abundance of open land. From the number of wind farms under construction and projected in the area, it seems that the companies who build these things think that it is a prime location for wind generated power.
I will admit that I have not studied every facet, pro and con, regarding wind farms but I will also admit to having a gut level like for the things. I tend to think that would be the case even if one were to spring up in "backyard".
Obviously, many see these farms as eyesores. I personally consider them to be a lovely vision - to mix a metaphor, they are music to my eyes - because of what they portend - clean, renewable energy. You have to understand that I come from this viewpoint for the simple reason that coal-burning energy plants (although not relevant to wind farms, don't forget auto emissions) in the Midwest are literally destroying the ecosystem here in the Adirondacks. Acid rain and mercury pollution are just a few of the delights that land on Adirondack flora and fauna everyday.
And, even though I take a relatively strong anti-cell tower position for the Adirondacks (they are few and far between and even those are not towers), I wouldn't mind at all if some wind farms dotted the landscape in the Park.
Why is that? Even if you consider wind farms to be visual pollution, I will take that form of pollution any day of the week rather than the invisible, insidious and environmentally destructive air-borne pollution that rains down on the Park everyday. It's that simple.