New opposition group formed to oppose RI wind farm
3:25 PM Mon, May 05, 2008 | Permalink
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A group of Aquidneck Island residents have assembled the first organized opposition to Governor Carcieri’s plan to develop a large-scale wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island. The group has an unlikely name –– the Rhode Island Alliance for Clean Energy –– which might be more fitting for a group that supports wind farms. And it has an unlikely leader: Anthony G. Spiratos, a young Newport real estate developer who was once a Carcieri supporter and campaign donor. The group has a Web site: www.saveourstateri.org. The problems with the wind farm, as the alliance sees it, are similar to those presented by those who oppose the Cape Wind project, a proposal to build a similar-sized wind farm in Nantucket Sound: that a massive wind farm would hurt tourism by detracting from the natural beauty of Newport and other coastal areas; it would devastate recreational sailing and the fishing industry; that it would pose a threat to national security; that construction would be noisy; and that residents who live nearby may become ill from “wind turbine syndrome” –– an illness the groups says leads to headaches and nausea among those who live within three miles of the turbines. The group's arguments contain many factual errors, said Lefteris Pavlides, a professor of architecture at Roger Williams University, and a supporter of large wind installations. For example, the group says that an offshore wind farm would have more than 300 wind turbines. That has never been proposed, Pavlides said. The proposal made by Gov. Carcieri calls for about 105 wind turbines. The group also points out the problems associated with a wind farm built in the 1970s at Altamont Pass, Calif. The relatively small turbines had fast-turning blades that proved to be deadly to several types of birds. Andrew Dzykewicz, the governor's chief energy adviser, said wind energy technology has improved dramaticalloy since that wind farm was built. "No one would build a wind farm like Altimont Pass today," he said. "A lot of that stuff is irrelevant." Today's wind turbines are much higher and the blades turn much slower, which has virtually eliminated bird kills, he said. 
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Rhode Island uses a lot of energy and we are completely dependent on the kindness of strangers for our supply. It is VITAL that Rhode Island develop its own natural resources of tide and wind to give us the energy we need for the future.
The fact that this opposition group has deliberately chosen a deceptive name is emblematic of their agenda. Their name is phony, and their objections are bogus. Those who have a care for the future prosperity of our state will support the wind farm and all measures to make us energy independent.
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Rhode Island uses a lot of energy and we are completely dependent on the kindness of strangers for our supply. It is VITAL that Rhode Island develop its own natural resources of tide and wind to give us the energy we need for the future.
The fact that this opposition group has deliberately chosen a deceptive name is emblematic of their agenda. Their name is phony, and their objections are bogus. Those who have a care for the future prosperity of our state will support the wind farm and all measures to make us energy independent.
Report Abuse
The last statement is false. The taller wind turbines kill just as many birds and bats. A brand new wind farm off of the coast of Norway is responsible for killing off the entire breeding population of an endangered eagle, and all of their babies, in less than ten months. A new wind farm in NY is responsible for killing 10,000 birds and bats in one year.
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The last statement is false. The taller wind turbines kill just as many birds and bats. A brand new wind farm off of the coast of Norway is responsible for killing off the entire breeding population of an endangered eagle, and all of their babies, in less than ten months. A new wind farm in NY is responsible for killing 10,000 birds and bats in one year.
Report Abuse