January 25, 2005
From the Right: Hot Air
Editor Jim Motavalli writes in E (The Environmental Magazine), "Trust the chairman of the House Resources Committee, Richard Pombo, to seize upon consumer anxiety and twist it to his own anti-environmental ends." Motavalli's subject is the high demand for natural gas, which he takes as another reason we need large-scale wind power facilities. The funny thing is, Richard Pombo, seizing upon consumer anxiety and twisting it his own anti-environmental ends, also is an enthusiastic supporter of wind power. The American Wind Energy Association even donated to his election campaign last year. Who's "right"?
Okay, but why wind power, which doesn't work?
To the Editor, Burlington Free Press:
Mary Sullivan, spokesperson for Burlington Electric, scoffs that "some people" worry about the effect of giant wind-turbine facilities on our ridge lines while global warming and acid rain pose a much greater threat ("Let's not wait to reduce greenhouse emissions," opinion, Jan. 24). Her implication, one must assume, is that the giant wind turbines, occasionally spinning enough to generate more electricity than they use, are essential to reducing global warming and acid rain.
Despite warning us about ethically challenged pseudoscience, however, Sullivan does not explain her reasoning. How, in a state that gets no electricity from coal, would wind turbines reduce coal use? How, in a state where electricity accounts for only 1% of the greenhouse gas emissions, would wind turbines reduce global warming?
In fact, even if 100% of our electricity came from coal, wind power would not reduce its use. When researching the issue it does not take long to realize that there is no evidence anywhere that wind power on the grid reduces electricity generation other sources.
I support the challenge to reduce our energy use and make it cleaner. Nobody wants to see our mountains destroyed by pollution. "Some people" don't want to see them destroyed by useless wind facilities, either.
[Published Jan. 29, 2005, as "Turbines on ridgelines"]
Mary Sullivan, spokesperson for Burlington Electric, scoffs that "some people" worry about the effect of giant wind-turbine facilities on our ridge lines while global warming and acid rain pose a much greater threat ("Let's not wait to reduce greenhouse emissions," opinion, Jan. 24). Her implication, one must assume, is that the giant wind turbines, occasionally spinning enough to generate more electricity than they use, are essential to reducing global warming and acid rain.
Despite warning us about ethically challenged pseudoscience, however, Sullivan does not explain her reasoning. How, in a state that gets no electricity from coal, would wind turbines reduce coal use? How, in a state where electricity accounts for only 1% of the greenhouse gas emissions, would wind turbines reduce global warming?
In fact, even if 100% of our electricity came from coal, wind power would not reduce its use. When researching the issue it does not take long to realize that there is no evidence anywhere that wind power on the grid reduces electricity generation other sources.
I support the challenge to reduce our energy use and make it cleaner. Nobody wants to see our mountains destroyed by pollution. "Some people" don't want to see them destroyed by useless wind facilities, either.
[Published Jan. 29, 2005, as "Turbines on ridgelines"]
State Recommends Seasonal Shut Down of Altamont Pass Turbines to Save Birds
KCBS radio, San Francisco, reports that California is recommending that the wind turbines in Altamont Pass be shut down through the fall and winter to save the lives of perhaps up to 800 raptors (of the acknowledged 1,300 that are killed there each year). This is apparently a period of lower winds, so the 4,550 remaining turbines (the state also recommends that 650 of the current machines be taken down) would produce only a third less each year. I hope California can cope with losing that source of 0.1% of their electricity!
January 24, 2005
January 22, 2005
The nation at war
Six thousand police and secret service, 7,000 soldiers, rooftop sharpshooters, anti-aircraft batteries, river patrols, sky patrols by helicopter gunships and fighter jets, spy cameras, chemical sensors, all to protect that little man speaking from behind the bulletproof glass -- yes, Bush must be doing something right! We are at indeed at war: Bush's Washington against the people.
January 21, 2005
On the west side of the capitol
... and as I walked down the hill by the Capitol it suddenly struck me that this isn't about me and you; it's about them. We are being governed by some intensely frightened people. From George Bush on down. Much of the homeland security business, in Washington at least, is to provide personal protection to important people from the consequence of the extremely bad things they are doing. We are the victims of both Al Qaeda and Il Dubya, told to give up our rights and freedoms so that the worst leaders of our entire history can go about their business without having to suffer for it. The whole city of Washington has become the armored vest of the Bush administration and Congress.
-- Sam Smith
January 20, 2005
With Fergus now
[Sing with harp accompaniment.]
Who will go ride with Fergus now
And pierce the deep wood's woven shade
And dance upon the level shore?
Young man lift up your russet brow
And lift your tender eyelid maid
And brood on hopes and fear no more.
And no more turn aside and brood
Upon love's bitter mystery
For Fergus rules the brazen cars
And rules the shadow of the wood
And the white breast of the dim sea
And all dishevelled wandering stars.
-- William Butler Yeats
Who will go ride with Fergus now
And pierce the deep wood's woven shade
And dance upon the level shore?
Young man lift up your russet brow
And lift your tender eyelid maid
And brood on hopes and fear no more.
And no more turn aside and brood
Upon love's bitter mystery
For Fergus rules the brazen cars
And rules the shadow of the wood
And the white breast of the dim sea
And all dishevelled wandering stars.
-- William Butler Yeats
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