Free Wind Power In Your Community?
October 9th, 2008 by Dr. Ryan HartmanThe Costs Of Free Energy
A small town in northern Maine has recently been offered free and clean electricity for the next 20 years. There is, however, one catch to this opportunity – 400 ft windmills are to be placed along a ridge surrounding a nearby lake. There is both support and opposition to this alternative energy technology. Some against installation of the windmills argue that the natural beauty of the area will be corrupted, and the windmills would be too close to their homes. Other possible solutions have been argued such as placing the windmills in remote, unpopulated areas and/or offshore in coastal waters. Both of these options present greater capital investment and even more technological challenges.
Is our society ready to make sacrifices for cleaner and more efficient energy technology? A decline in property value brought about by windmills on the horizon is a steep price to pay for “free” electricity. Perhaps people would adopt this plan if the cost of electricity was more equivalent to a mortgage payment.
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Tags: wind energy, Wind Power
October 13th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Wow, what a great question. I am sitting here looking out my window in my hometown, tying to imagine windmills on the ridge overlooking the open space behind our house. Then, looking out to the brown haze on the horizon past the open space, I am wondering if, by making the horizon blue again, would the windmills be worth the immediate eyesore?
My vote is yes.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I think we would rather pollute our air with fumes from a power plant because after all once the smoke is dissipated you cannot see it and our view is preserved.
We build houses that ruin our view but that is okay but put up something a little different and oh Lord! not in my back yard.
There is new technology where the wind power device is vertical and per house. This might work. I am not a proponent of centralized power.
If we built our houses differently you would not even see them and you could protect your view also. Everyones home would be part of the hillside and the heating and cooling requirements would be less and each house would use less power.