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« Providence board to decide on SNM Liquors license | Today | Update: Jury selection begins in trial of ex-CVS execs » May 5, 2008Aquidneck group forms to oppose R.I. wind farmA group of Aquidneck Island residents has 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. And the group has a Web site, called 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 Carcieri calls for about 105 wind turbines. -- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann 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 dramatically 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 more slowly, which has virtually eliminated bird kills, he said. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsRick Gregoire | May 5, 2008 6:22 PM link these yuppies really need to remove the stick from their buttocks. "Wind Farm syndrome" sounds like a load of BULL. Sounds like whatever they say is either out of date or irrelevant, as they can't even come up with an intelligent name to call themselves, which makes this not even newsworthy PRojo. The number of birds that get killed is so low there's no point. Are birds attacted like moths to airplanes? No. Why would wind turbines be any different? Will we ever even hear from these folks again? You think they're really going to make an impact at stopping these wind farms? For the record, all forms of renewable energy to lower our dependence on fossil fuels is a success. People who live in the city I'm sure have to face more distractions, loud noises and "syndromes" than rich white people in their mcmansions on the water. Matt | May 6, 2008 3:42 AM link For video of a Danish wind turbine literally exploding under high winds, one instance of several lately, and sending blades everywhere, see Pavlides and the wind farm developers have a history of making claims about wind farm safety that are untrue, for example the new turbines have been found to be just as devastating to birds, and RI is in a migratory bird pathway. Much better and much safer for everyone to work on conservation and solar energy. trudy | May 6, 2008 11:25 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
If this gets built elsewhere and it reduces the dependency of fossil fuel generated electricity it will be wonderful. It's just one more NIMBY.
Build it by all means but not near me.
At the rate our economy's going we'll be able to clear out enough former urban indutrial sites that aren't making any money and aren't going to any time soon and build the wind farms there.
It won't bother the upper crust elitists then.