Wise WordsWhat are we doing?
- raising an umbrella of facts amidst a torrent of "green" whitewashing.
- exposing how windergy fails to reduce consumption of coal and oil, and, in turn, does not offset the negative consequences of traditional energy reliance.
- critiquing windergy's claimed benefits, openly admonishing half truths born of commercial greed.
- asking why elected officials lavish the windustry with subsidies and entitlements in blatant disproportion to the benefits society receives in return.
- quantifying windustry's appetite for your tax dollars to sustain its own existence.
- actively engaging elected leaders in Columbus and Washington D.C., imploring recognition of the truth and calling for appropriate policy reform.
How are we doing?
In some areas we are making significant progress. But after hundreds of man hours face to face with elected officials in Columbus, our efforts to codify appropriate minimum siting standards have been significantly neutralized by the wind industry's empty promises of a more prosperous and cleaner Ohio.
We are thoroughly disappointed in, if not surprised by, Ted Strickland's administration for their failure to uphold the safety of Ohio's rural citizens in favor of two thin promises: those of a significant economic boost to the state as a whole and to facilitate a cleaner environment with reduced dependence on coal and oil. Until recently, support for wind power was defended on the grounds that it reduces pollution and coal mining/burning. Now job creation is touted as an end in itself, ignoring the likelihood that other initiatives might be much more effective on all fronts, or that job creation as an end in itself begs for wasted effort and thoughtless spending.
What is our case for what we are doing?
1. Wind power offers limited or no reduction in CO2 emissions nor real pollution according to the National Academy of Science, because wind power does not and cannot significantly reduce the use of coal or oil.
Click here to read "Why Wind Won't Work" by Jon Boone.
2. Wind turbines do not belong near houses, sensitive environmental or cultural resources, outdoor recreational uses or in areas with scenic value to the public or where neighboring private property values will be adversely affected.
3. Subsidies are responsible for the wind industry's very existence - both now, and in the future. The subsidies are inappropriately high, given the truth of premise #1, above. Yet these subsidies are so strong as to induce wind development in Ohio - a state with a very low wind resource and very high impact on existing land and property uses compared to the embarrassingly low returns in cleaner air and reduced dependence on coal and oil.
4. Greed and Dishonesty in the air. Despite all of the above, infant would-be developers like Everpower Renewables relentlessly push for inappropriately liberal siting regulations despite their preferred suppliers' safety documentation! (See below)
©Nordex 2005, Click for Larger View
"In Logan County, Ohio wind turbines can be as close as 1.1 times the height of the turbine to a home, (roughly 450 ft) whereas wind turbine manufacturer, Nordex recommends a 500 meter (1640 ft) setback from a residence. Click here to see the page from the Nordex manual."
- Chris Lamb, Administrator
5. SETBACKS must be measured from non-participating property lines - not from houses.
We advocate property rights and uses of all the land a person owns - to the extent that it does not infringe on the rights of neighboring property and its owners. We know of several examples of properties with one home placed at one end, the owner planning for a grown child or aging parent to build a home at the far end later. And some recreational uses such as hunting, camping, riding or golfing could be devalued if setbacks only refer to home locations and not to property lines.
OUR MISSION
We urge the public and our Legislature to balance the wind energy deployment momentum and the public funds that make it feasible with the limited benefits of the technology today. Then to craft fair rules that protect Ohio's rural citizens' health, safety and welfare in proprtion to that risk/reward ratio. We urge our leaders to work carefully, ensuring the end justifies the means with respect to their energy policy decisions.
How can I help? Donation of time and money.
How much FOSSIL FUEL SAVINGS TO WE GET compared to what we give up?
Review a basic formula to measure it:
click here to view the Intrusion:Production Ratio