Wind farm foes' imagined Twilight Zone

Two Cape Codders on the wind farm hysteria

One has to marvel at the fantastic imaginations possessed by opponents of the wind farm. With strange, inverted logic they raise the alarm that an oil tanker might hit a turbine and cause an oil spill. We all know tankers and barges have an abundant history of spills, some in our own backyard.

This may be what wind farm foes dream about, but "worst-case hypotheticals just don't cut it against real-world actualities."

If anywhere in the world there has been a turbine/tanker disaster it has not been cited. Reducing the need for so many oil-carrying vessels would be a more reasoned approach to spill prevention.

In Copenhagen, barges headed for a coal-burning relic of a power plant on the city's inner harbor used to run aground occasionally because of a shoal restricting the harbor's entrance. The groundings ceased when a line of turbines was built on that shoal, as they made clear visual markers in fair weather and provided radars with warning signals.

Some in Hyannisport and Osterville, on clear days, would see turbines one-fifth the size of toothpicks. On hazy days, nada. Since they would share all the benefits of renewable energy, shouldn't they be a little more adaptable?

There is really no reason for us to be terrified by nightmare scenarios invented by well-financed obstructionists. Worst-case hypotheticals just don't cut it against real-world actualities.

Richard C. Bartlett, Cotuit

Time for wind power has arrived on the Cape

I returned to Cape Cod in 1998. About 40 years before, I became involved with individuals concerned that the Coney Island development of the south shore could spread north. I agreed this was a serious threat and helped out whenever I could. As we know, the efforts of these dedicated people and years of hard work led to the historic district and a coordinated plan to protect the Cape’s north side and eventually most of the Cape. I have always felt pride in the small part I contributed to this effort and consider myself a conservationist.

Their arguments touting the negative impact on the environment have withered away as each came under scrutiny

Like everyone else, I’ve been listening to the arguments for and against the wind farm. I’ve also looked into the wind industry and find that it is one of the great growth areas for business and job creation in more that 30 countries. It seems clear that the time for wind as a major way to produce electric power has arrived.

I also think that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement compiled and published by the US Corps of Engineers has laid out all of the important public welfare and safety issues that should have been be considered. It reinforced my own research that there would be no harm to birds, the fishing industry and cause no navigation problems on the water or in the air. Most important, the project will give us a much safer and dependable supply of electric power generated by an inexhaustible energy source, that will help lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

As for the opponents, their arguments, especially those touting the negative impact on the environment, seem to have withered away as each came under scrutiny. And, in the midst of the shrillness of their opposition, it is probably hard to imagine that if none of the wind turbines would be visible from land, almost all who now oppose it, would be supporting the wind farm. And, I think that takes us to the Twilight Zone of reason.  

The Twilight Zone of reason prompts three predictions

So, in the spirit of the near occult, let me offer three predictions to the part-time residents with waterfront property, to their wealthy supporters from around the country and anyone else who follows their lead. 

1. The wind farm will not be a mechanical horror but instead a thing of grace, beauty and majesty.
2. Most of you will develop a sense of pride knowing that this achievement has sparked a national movement toward developing safe renewable energy, especially if you have the good fortune of seeing it from your deck.
3. Finally, most opponents and especially the politicians who vehemently oppose the wind farm, will do their very best to take credit for it.

Pat Polillo, Yarmouth Port.