Wind farms generate opposition - "We're destroying so much scenery for so little power."

Houston Chronicle ^ | February 5, 2007 | Thomas Korosec

[G Larry]

One of the big lies about wind and solar power is that when the goevernment "dictates" a certain percentage of a region's power come from these sources, the power companies are required to provide backup from conventional sources.

You know, the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine.

Thus, we have environmenatalism by fiat.
Thou shalt provide 5% of your power from "renewable sources", irrespective of whether it's possible.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"I've seen these things from the freeway in Texas. Even with vast, wide open spaces, these things are visually overpowering. "

I saw them outside of Palm Springs. Didn't do much for me. I think they would look great outside of Nantucket Bay.

[RangerM]

http://www.waymarking.com/wm/details.aspx?f=1&guid=45f2320e-f613-4f00-ae1a-2869d9e72881

To really get the full effect, it helps to see it from I-40

[F.J. Mitchell]

Do you remember that expensive work of "art" that was placed beside one of the main roads leading into Durham, I believe it was? I never saw it but those who did, said it looked just like a microwave tower, and quite a stink was raised over it for a while.

Anyone else remember that object de Art and or know what the fate of it was?

[Realism]

I be.... It does sort of look like a tree.

[familyop]

"Trey Cox, a Dallas attorney representing FPL Energy, said claims of ugliness have little legal support in Texas law. 'Texas is very much a landowner's rights state,' he said. 'We don't want neighbors fussing over what things look like. ... As long as you're not doing anything illegal, if you want to have a broken-down barn or paint your house pink, you get to do it.'"

I grew up in Texas. While driving through any of most of the State (except the extreme west, around Edwards Plateau), the eyes will latch onto any broken-down barn, a pink house or windmill for the purpose of continuing sanity. Compared to most of Texas, any part of Kansas is eye candy.

[thinking]

yes....if we had gone Nuke 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in this mess, but the reactionary Greenies, controlled the politics of the time...

[MarkL]

Get rid of those wind turbines! I think the cooling towers of a nuclear plant would be a lot more attractive there!

Mark

[EEDUDE]

**Jimmy Carter outlawed it here, that's the only reason we aren't doing it now.**

I am not familiar with anything Carter did with respect to nuclear fuel. What did they do to prevent us from "recycling" fuel, and why?

[familyop]

I will agree on one complaint about wind generators, though. Some of the bigger ones can be noisy for any residence close enough to be exposed to the noise. I'll also agree that for large power projects, nuclear reactors are a good way to go.

It would also be great if nuclear power plants could be designed for offroad vehicles. ;)

[ArrogantBustard]

If I'm going to be situated downwind of a powerplant, nuclear is my first choice.

[w1andsodidwe]

Altamount Pass near Livermore California http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Tracy,+CA&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=37.71248,-121.637836&spn=0.023188,0.057721&t=h&om=1

These have been in place for more than 30 years. I am so used to seeing them that the landscape would look strange without them.

[Puddleglum]

They are ugly and I'd prefer nuclear or fossil fueled plants. I have driven past the one outside Twenty Nine Palms, CA and it is a formidible site - like a James Bond villain's lair. There is a wind farm here in Oklahoma too, on 1-40 near Weatherford. All the lights blink in unison. Kind of scary - like the windmills have developed some collective intelligence and are planning their next move.

[familyop]

"If I'm going to be situated downwind of a powerplant, nuclear is my first choice."

...better than being downwind from a coal burner, I suppose.

[Little Ray]

Oooooh. They finally noticed?

Lets build reactors instead!

[woodbutcher1963]

I am in total agreement. We need wind, nuclear, hydro, oil ,coal and whatever else we can use to generate electricity in our country. The same hypocrites that don't want to look at a wind farm in Nantucket Sound are the same fools that don't want us to drill in Anwar or build any new nuke plants. We need a mix of ALL of these. Wind power is just one part of the equation. They make perfect sense for ski areas or any other higher elevation operation that uses alot of electricity and is already hooked up to the power grid. Smart birds will adapt. Dumb birds will be culled from the population.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Bump. Well said.

[gogeo]

I hope this doesn't surprise anyone.

[gogeo]

The color of the paint on the neighbors' house is visually overpowering...

Presumably you understand the difference between a 2-story house and a 400-foot windmill?

[redgolum]

The trouble with wind farms is you still need all the conventional generating capacity they were supposed to replace.

The wind doesn't blow every day, but everyone wants their lights on every day.