Wind Energy: torn between the two sides
It seems every day I am asked about the wind energy debate and as a renewable energy dealer I am torn between the two sides. On one side wind turbines produce renewable (clean) energy. On the other hand wind farms require large areas of land to be cleared for sites, roads and transmission lines, a prospect that I am not keen on.
The real fact is, we use electricity and we have a responsibility to either produce it here cleanly or ask to have it produced somewhere else, cleanly.
If it is produced elsewhere we have no right to force on them a nuclear plant, coal fired plant, hydro dams or even wind farms if we ourselves are not acceptable to those various production methods.
It therefore comes back to us. We can and should produce our own energy. Do we want polluting energy or clean energy production? An alternative to many large wind farms may be a few less obtrusive ones in conjunction with many small solar systems. Notice I said small as large solar farms puts us back onto clearing large tracts of land. Almost every building has a potential to support a solar system and each system can have battery back up in case of a power failure.
Solar is more costly per watt but maintenance is minimal and the solar panels themselves can last 25 years or longer. As for decommissioning that would be 25 to 50 years away if not longer. Also, very little upgrades to the utility lines would be needed and smaller wind turbines or micro-hydro turbines (small water turbines) can be added to the grid tie-in system. We need to offer alternatives rather than just refusing these large wind turbines.
Some of the money allocated to increase energy production could be offered to the home and business owners willing to add solar to their buildings. Clean energy produced locally just like locally grown food. Is this a better way?
Doug Wagner
Barry’s Bay,
