Wind Energy-Windfall or Hot Air?

Let me start this with a note of personal opinion, just to get it out of the way of what I have found in the way of what I believed to be documented fact. To me, wind turbines are a thing of great beauty! I find their design to be appealing and yes, even graceful. I believe they possess a very Zen tranquility that is often lacking from our hyper extended, rush-rush society.

If you have not witnessed them first hand, then I would suggest you should take a drive up US Highway 65 just north of Indianapolis to the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm. Fowler Ridge is one of the largest wind farms currently operating in the United States. Its nearly 400 turbines lining the horizon like gracefully sculptures doting the open rural landscape much like the work of such artists of note as Beauchamp, DaVince or Rodin.

Over the course of history, man has created great monuments which have stood as testament to his intellectual thought and aesthetic eye. The Eiffel Tower, The Great Wall of China and The Sphinx of Giza all spring to mind, all divine Works of a thinking human being. It is this same creative, free-thinking mind which propels us forward as a civilization and as a race. The future of our existence relies on our cognitive ability to think and do!

Technology- necessary evil it may be, marches on as man races ever forward. Political ideas aside- we are faced with many issues in our current state which require a fine eye and an efficient decision in order to advance all fronts as a country. Unemployment is high, our environmental well be can be viewed under some lights as questionable and we are growing! Much like a farm family of the early 20th century, are we over growing our home? That debate may be the least of our concerns.

Alternative energy may offer many answers to a laundry list of our current struggles as a nation. Wind energy just may provide a saving grace in a number of areas in which we are currently and potentially could be lacking in the near future. Viable jobs creation can be found in wind energy. Economical growth lies ahead too. Health and environmental issues curb and improved?

All could be a plausible possibility. Ours has never been a nation of “Can Not’s” but rather a nation of “Can Do’s”. It all links back to our fore fathers who set forth on this nation to create a new land and a new way of life. One free of thinking which stands to stifles the forward progress of the human race.

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) Director for Energy Services, Dale Arnold presented valuable information and insight into the wind energy issue on September 14th, 2010 at Shawnee Prairie Nature Preserve. Having personally attended, I have to commend Darke County commissioner Diane L. Delaplane for having been present at the early meetings. My guess is Dianee would be an outstanding source of information if you are harboring concerns regarding any effects of these proposed projects, positive or negative.

What of Structural concerns? The Seimen’s SWT 2.3 101 (which are turbines the majority of the perspective companies vying for Darke County development) have a height specification of 80 meters or roughly 262 feet in height. The average cell phone tower (of which no less than 33 exist within a 20 mile radius of Greenville) is 150’ to 300’. Many of us would agree that life as we know it has been greatly altered in a positive way in regards to cell technology. How many lives have been saved as a result of an expedient phone call to 911?

What of Noise concerns? Research data indicates the average wind turbine will generate roughly 80 dB of low frequency noise output at its standing position. Additional research dictates and is governmentally regulated to state that the turbines sound footprint will dissipate to about 30 dB at 1500 meters. The sound pressure volume of an average human conversation is 60 dB. The sound pressure generated by a household vacuum cleaner 70 dB and a passing car or household garbage disposal 80 dB. The noise footprint generated by the Seimens wind turbine which is purposed in the majority of projects in the workings in Darke County is of a low frequency level. Scientific fact dictates that although low frequency, by nature travels a greater distance, the large nature of its sound wave will theoretically dissipate at a significantly faster rate as it travels.

More subsidizing? What did we gain during depression era subsidizing projects in the form of public works programs? We can debate FDR and his New Deal all day, but in the end, think where we MIGHT be had we not at least explored them and implemented the majority of them. Subsidy in and of itself is not a bad thing when it is backed by sound research and a solid plan to enact a fiscally sound budget plan.

What of Loses in Property Value? Basic economical trends are indicating a down turn in the market value of housing as a result of a variety of economical factors. Governmental regulations are in place concerning how close wind turbine construction is allowed within proximity to developed areas of housing. Are these genuine cases of property devaluation due to the implementation of wind energy or are they just the effect of a market which has seen a general plunge as a result of a substantial list of other causes?

Much can be added to our population at a county, state and national level by investing in green energy in general. First and fore most to consider is the creation of sorely needed jobs in a rough economy. In a state which stands amongst the highest in unemployment rankings, is it not beneficial even if we add a few hundred jobs, if not a few thousand potentially?

The initial construction of the turbines, although capable of generating a spike in jobs, will in fact, level off to a few long term jobs for the area. Regardless of that fact, looking at the long term life of this technology based on a 20 to 50 year cycle, will generate a significant number of badly needed jobs through out Ohio in the manufacturing sector (one in which our state is well equipped for) as well as the maintenance and retrofitting of upgraded systems.

The contractual signing portions of these deals are not a flash in the pan, over night affair. As per state regulation regarding the construction of said wind turbines, numerable studies of great length fore shadow the creation of even one wind turbine of this variety. Legal concerns are negotiated at great length as well in regards to financial fairness and many other regards of the purposed sites. The effort to educate the public has already been initiated and made open to the public. The very first meeting in regard to the matter was well publicized (even right here on DJ.) yet, in my opinion, not very well attended. Where are all the “concerned citizens” in the initial planning stages of this?

How could this possible effect utility rates? Electric utilities pricing in areas where wind turbines are utilized will DECREASE as a result of the additional power supplies generated by the wind turbines which are feed back into the electrical grid. The turbines owners are effectively shown to financially benefit from the resale of surplus kill-a-wattage which is sold to the local utilities providers and to other providers on the grid as a whole. Ohio and Darke County as a whole stands positioned amongst one of the largest electrical grid connectors in the Midwest, linking to supply lines which radiate outwards as far as Kansas and Colorado. With a large majority of that electric currently being supplied by nasty coal, one can safely deduce the health effects of our current system??

In regards to changing our landscape, I simply pose you these thoughts to ponder:  How much did our landscape change as we added such improvements of modernization as roadways, rail, telephone lines, cell phone towers, et al.? Time marches on and technological advances always have come with a note of reserve as we ponder their long term consequences.

Lastly, I offer this … Stop reading web sites which contain the word “worry” in their naming, their goal is to induce panic … Worry is defined as thoughts and images of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. As an emotion it is experienced as anxiety or concern about a real or IMAGINED issue, usually personal issues such as health or finances or broader ones such as environmental pollution and social or technological change. Most people experience short-lived periods of worry in their lives without incident; indeed, a moderate amount of worrying may even have positive effects, if it prompts people to take precautions (e.g., fastening their seat belt or buying fire insurance) or avoid risky behaviors (e.g., angering dangerous animals, or binge drinking).

Excessive worry is the main component of Generalized anxiety disorder. (Wikipedia)

Technological growth never comes without concerns. As a society, we must weigh those concerns and discern whether or not the pluses out weigh the minuses. I ask you, do we stand to gain more than we will lose in passing on wind energy? What benefits may we reap from its implementation in Darke County?

Submitted by Jeff Besecker