Second thoughts about wind power?
I’ve always thought those looming “green” wind turbines were a magnificient contrast to the blue country sky I often travel through to get to my parents’ house, until reading this article in the Chicago Tribune recently. Watch the video. Now, I have to admit to having second thoughts about whether or not they are such a good idea. I think the inability to escape those shadow flickers would drive me insane. I understand the people whose land is being leased for the turbines are going to be compensated fairly, but their neighbors, who are perhaps more affected, are not. For those land owners who are affected by “shadow flickers”: does money make-up for a loss in quality of life? Can one be “paid-off” to enjoy a formerly unobstructed view of the countryside? If the government pays you a fortune for your land, but the new outcome is a loss of community, loss of relation with one’s neighbor, is this in the best interest of the common good? Is it true that this is what it really takes to become less dependent on foreign oil? Or is there is way to work out these issues?
What do you think?
March 29th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
I did not watch the video. I live in a community that is divided over the presence of wind turbines but is becoming more accepting of them in time since about 8 years ago when they started to come in. I sympathize with those whose life has been negatively affected but generally the community as a whole has thrived as a result with the creation of jobs and the business that comes into town in general because of the presence of the companies involved in the turbines. Some in the community recognize that seeing them amidst the natural landscape has taken some getting used to but others just have accepted it. It’s similar in my mind as where to put the powerlines. No one wants them but they bring the electricity to the people which is a good thing…but everyone wants it in someone else yard. With all that said, I think companies would do better not to have wind farms in highly populated areas and far enough from where people live so as not to be so affected. I have been by the wind turbines and have not heard noises coming from them but maybe I’m forgetting…
July 11th, 2010 at 7:33 am
actually it is not that hard to setup wind farms, the only problem is that it requires lots of capital investment.~;*
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:27 am
wind farms are great but they also take up a large land area;`*
September 29th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
wind farms are eco friendly and can generate massive amounts of electricity.’-
October 20th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
wind power is just as good if not better than solar power. wind power also generates more power per unit area compared to solar*:’
October 25th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
our hometown already have wind farms and it is great to know that we have a reneawable electricity source,-~
January 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 pm
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