Renewable Energy -- Not in My Backyard!
Admittedly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to wind turbines. For decades, they have decorated – or defaced? – the desert alongside Interstate 10 near Palm Springs. A curiosity, to be sure, but not too many folks complained because nobody lives in their immediate area except a few roadrunners and rattlesnakes.
Wind turbine sight pollution was also an issue recently off Cape Cod, where the likes of the Kennedy family – known greenies with serious environmental credentials – fought (unsuccessfully, I might add) against a new wind energy farm.
Renewable energy comes in many forms, and let’s face it, most of ‘em ain’t beautiful. No matter how you design them, solar panels are tolerable at best but not a thing of beauty. Same for the wind turbines. As the two most common and growing applications for renewable energy, we are going to see a lot more of them around. Which raises the issue of sight pollution.
Believe it or not, a number of “environmentalists” have been complaining about proposals to add exponential numbers of solar panels and wind turbine machines to several areas of the desert throughout the Southwest. It seems the critics are saying these devices will ruin the pristine sight lines and unmolested views of nature as it has looked for hundreds of years. Are they right? Of course. Is that reason enough to stop these critical experiments to mass produce solar and wind energy? Not even!
So we have the quandary of every tree hugger when examining man-made structures on a collision course with nature – to deface or not to deface, that is the question. You’d think we’d all be rejoicing since this administration is embracing alternative energy and sincerely trying to build a new green industry, with America as a global leader. You’d think environmentalists would be willing to see a few turbines and solar panels on their desert hikes or drives. But no. We support wind and solar energy so long as it’s not in my backyard, and not in my hiking grounds either. Come on, people, get with the program! If this is the biggest concession we must make to nurture and grow mass solar and wind energy installations, count me in. I am willing to look at some solar panels and wind turbines, even while hiking in remote areas. If you allow yourself, you can even find something sublime about the installations. As I biked through the Netherlands across perfectly manicured fields of wind turbines, I was in awe of the grandeur of the structures and what they represented – clean energy for all.
The bigger problem than compromising aesthetics is transmission. As in, how do we get the power created by solar panels and wind turbines to the city from out in the desert when we are locating them? This is a technology issue that will be solved as we pursue improved renewable energy designs. In the meantime, we may have to deal with these structures on rooftops, in empty lots and possibly even in public areas of major cities. I, for one, am willing to accept this with a smile. These are good problems. As good green citizens, let’s support these renewable energy proposals even if they aren’t eye candy. It’s now or never to step up and gain energy independence.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Please comment below, thanks, until next week...
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has anyone ever tried solar shingles on their roof? or has them?
Many people do not like the look of solar panels or wind turbines. But sometimes people just cannot control their surroundings because the government can commission of a turbine farm to go up next to your home.
There are many incredible houses that have beautiful solar panels. They don't have to look unattractive! For the sake of trying not to advertise other sites, research houses w/ solar panels if your concern is how they would look on your house.
If people complain and dislike wind turbines because of the way they look, they shouldn't call themselves environmentalists. That's like saying you're a recycler but because the recycle bins are too far away, you don't actually recycle.
solar panels dont have to look attractive but there is a huge variety of manufacturer that could tailor the decide to your structure or home.
Solar panels are also a great way to cool your homes in the summer. My mother-in-law hates the way they look on our house, but we save hundreds of dollars more per summer than she does. And I also talked my neighbor into installing solar panels last summer. I'm saving the planet one spirit at a time man!
Bridge, I'm not sure if you're making fun of Lance or if you actually know him, but I hope it's the latter man. Wind turbines are great for the environment and there's nothing feminine or masculine in being green. Good job Lance, I agree with you completely!
You said it Lance! You seem very masculine and macho, yet your security towards wind turbines shows sensitivity in you desire to save the planet! Kudos.
I would rather look at a wind turbine than a factory spitting out soot and dirty air.
or even better the places that drip green slime into rivers and washes... yummy!
** and by green, i dont mean eco-friendly** mean nauseatingly green and nasty
Completely agree...wind turbines are better than energy-sucking giant factories.
i think that wind turbines suck. they're ugly and i really dont understand why residential areas allow them to be installed.
I installed a wind turbine on my property almost 15 years ago, and though such products have been upgraded since, I don't plan to change it. I'm not sure what it's saving me for money because I haven't used much gas or electricity because of it(and also my solar panels that are just as old). But hearing other people complain about their power bills, I can thank my solar energy for the savings even if they're not the prettiest things to look at.
How big is your wind turbine? Your house must be huge!
just one wind turbine? unless you have a good wind quality... that wont do squat! they shut down at 20 mph and only start at 8 mph... small window to work with
I wouldn't be surprised if the production of wind turbines themselves was toxic. Either way, 2 years to offset that doesn't seem like a such a big deal when they do so much.
100 times less toxic than fossil fuel electricity. see links below.
Wow. Who knew?
may be less-toxic but its not a clean energy source. its toxic to build, to ship, to maintain, their ugly too. i think that solar energy is definitely the best way to go.... besides turbines kill sooooo many birds and bats
You're right, 2 years is nothing. After that it's smooth sailing and clean energy unlike the dirty energy that continues to pollute forever.
This may sound harsh, but seriously, why not knock down a couple coal factories or out-of-business manufacturing plants that are littering our cities and surrounding areas, and put up wind turbines instead. I know this may not be feasible in all locations, but make use of the sore-spots where the land is being wasted already and make use of it in a much better way.
I heard that to make wind turbines is extremely toxic, and it takes 2 years to offset their damages to the environment. Does anyone know?
6 months energy payback
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/wind_turbine_lca.php
"How does wind stack up on greenhouse gas emissions when the "total fuel cycle"
(including manufacture of equipment, plant construction, etc.) is considered?
The claim is sometimes made that manufacturing wind turbines and building wind plants
creates large emissions of carbon dioxide. This is false. Several studies have found that even
when these operations are included, wind energy's CO2 emissions are quite small—on the order
of 1% of coal or 2% of natural gas per unit of electricity generated."
http://www.awea.org/pubs/documents/faq2002%20-%20web.pdf
Nice! I knew that even after considering the manufacturing wind turbines are cleaner than other sources of electricity, but 6 months is great.
The aesthetics of wind turbines is definitely an issue I didn't think was relevant regarding clean energy. To be honest, I think they're beautiful - especially in comparison with coal plants - and if people care about renewable energy, you would think a few rows of wind turbines wouldn't be a big deal.
If someone is really an environmentalist, I don't understand why they would care about the aesthetics of wind turbines. Compared to the "dirty" energy alternatives out there, wind turbines are amazing-looking.
Jennifer, your posts are insightful, fun to read, and most importantly, make me think about new green issues. Can't wait for next week's blog post.
I agree. I read her posts every week. She's the director of a company called Sierra Club Green Home that also very excellent. Check it out for more of her articles. www.sierraclubgreenhome.com
Rooftop Solar PV has none of these problems. Rooftop solar decrease grid load, is super cheap 3 cents per KWH, and there is enough rooftop area to proved most and eventually all the electricity needed including industry.
Waste BioChar also has none of these problems. It turns otherwise toxic sewage and organic waste into carbon negative, Fuel, fertilizer and energy. See my profile for links and details.
Rural and offshore wind does make some sense in many cases, but all big structure, including large land based solar collectors shoud be subject to the standard rigorous environmental requirements as any other structure.
where do you get PV for 3 cents per kWh? Just curious.
see my profile. 2$ per peak watt installed grid connected large installations, for 30 years. 6 hours equivalent per day average sun. That's how. 1.55 per peak watt panels! retail!
http://www.atensolar.com/EPV.
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm
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