Cleveland farms near Edmonton.
The three authors – a behavioural scientist and two ecologists – of “Wind turbines offend our space” (Opinion, Aug. 21) provided an unflattering view of modern windmills. They refer to them as “large chopping machines” and “monsters … a threatening monster.”
Brian Horejsi, Barrie Gilbert and George Wuerthner are averse to the use of turbines because they negatively affect the “human gestalt,” inflicting deep “suffering and mental distress” upon the human species.
Not only are these turbines supposedly blemishes upon the Earth’s canvas, but another industrial encroachment upon picturesque rural and recreational North America.
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The authors allege that the public has been hoodwinked into viewing wind turbines as the Holy Grail by scheming politicians and conniving salesmen.
While this might be true for some supporters of harnessing the wind’s energy, at least these individuals are attempting to establish alternative fuel sources as standard energies.
For example, with the $700 billion U.S. congressional bailout of Wall Street on Oct. 3, pork-barrel spending to the tune of $150 billion was also included. In part, those funds, according to the New York Times, are earmarked for “the production of solar, wind and other renewable” energies.
Furthermore, this past August, the Danish parliament approved a 450 megawatt offshore windmill park in the North Sea that will provide enough power for 400,000 homes. To date, wind turbine-created energy accounts for almost 20 percent of Denmark’s national electricity consumption. Green is possible.
To suggest that “turbine energy is a non-factor in the never-ending growth agenda of the fossil fuel industry” is correct at this moment in North America.
But if we attempt to institute a national, dare I say global, initiative to make wind farms part of the solution (not the only solution), the above argument begins to weaken considerably.
As conscientious stewards of this earth, we all desperately want a cleaner and healthier ecosystem to pass on to future generations. With continuing ingenuity and growth in the green technology sector, dictated in part by consumer demands in the free market, as well as some patience and understanding, large-scale wind farms become both feasible and an efficient means of producing renewable energy.
As for the threat that turbines pose to migratory birds, the argument has been overstated. A global team of academics, students, scientists and activists continue to find areas best situated for turbine construction so as to minimize the disturbance to avian populations.
At any rate, let us put this into perspective: our dependence upon fossil fuels called for the construction of an oil pipeline in Alaska, which indefinitely interrupted the migratory patterns of local caribou herds; and an unfortunate accident at Syncrude Canada saw the death of 500 ducks in a tailings pond.
Our energy needs, no matter the medium, will create collateral damage in the animal kingdom. Thus, there is little sense in pointing fingers: the real problem is human activity; the problem is you and me.
While change is possible, a marginal group of North Americans remain opposed to wind turbines. The latter remain a “not in my backyard” issue. This is to be expected, but not accepted. Our consumerist-centric, even decadent, lifestyles have placed us in this position.
Utopian views of overcoming these environmental evils, brought on by our practices for the past 200 years, hoping upon hope that Mother Nature will correct our multitudinous degradations, has passed.
Modifications to our lifestyles are not without growing pains, especially acute for that selfish minority valuing individual paradise over the collective good.
However, it is high time that we take a hard look at the carbon footprint we have created and continue to generate. We must acknowledge, even if begrudgingly, the need for non-carbon emitting wind turbines to meet at least a portion of our energy requirements.
And it is incumbent upon us to embrace these inanimate objects as a thing of beauty. Indeed, change looms on the horizon.
