Pro/against wind energy?

I think more people would accept wind energy if the energy produced helped people near to wherever the wind turbines were placed. If they saw a direct benefit, nearly everyone nearby would say yes, lets have them. As it is, the people nearby get to endure the noise created by these turbines, damage to the environment (roads are built and massive damage is done in erecting turbines) and even aesthetically, they are often seen as an eyesore. But if the people nearby received electricity directly from these turbines for free or even at a low cost, they would say yes, they are okay. the main problems are twofold: Firstly, that the energy produced is to benefit people who do not live in the areas of the turbines, and secondly that, they do not stop the production of energy by any other means (IE, nuclear). There is a severe lack of thinking in the making of wind turbines, in that they do not account for when the wind is not blowing. This means, whenever the wind does not blow, energy must be produced in ways other than wind. Likewise, when the wind blows too much, much of the energy produced, is dumped as waste. In the UK, about one quarter of wind turbines are not operating at any one time. However, if wind turbines were combined with solar, built into the turbine towers, they would produce energy at times when the wind was weak. then there is the dumping of energy. if that excess energy was used to pump water uphill, it could be used as hydro energy later, using an upland lake as a form of battery. Apart from these things I have mentioned, there is the view that these wind turbines do not blend in to the environment. They all look the same. Couldn't they be made to look differently and pleasing to the eye? Do they really need so much concrete to act as a base? There is also the problem that local councils do not listen to the people in areas that they want to erect turbines. these people, who have lived in an area all their lives, have their countryside devastated. I just moved out of a log cabin in Wales not long ago, because the tallest turbines in the UK are about to be erected there. Spread about the whole hillside, they would, when built, give a flicker effect over the land that I lived on for half the day. Sunshine, broken by the movement of the blades. Imagine someone with epilepsy... that power which is planned to be produced, was to be directed to Liverpool, England, not Wales. Turbines put in Wales, do not even benefit the people in Wales. To try to convince people in an area that they are a good thing, the companies which make the turbines, tell them that it will create jobs in the area, through maintenance and such. This never happens. The jobs go to outside companies, and outside people. Then there is the land owner, of where the turbines are to be built. They often receive more money per year, per turbine, than these very same turbines can produce at full capacity over the term of a year.

Again, in North Wales, UK, a forest called Clocaenog Forest, has been given the primary go ahead of wind turbine construction. This forest, is one of only a very small handful of areas in which the native red squirrel still lives, yet if the construction of the turbines goes ahead as planned, the entire forest is set to be cut down. the cutting down of the forest is already in progress, even though the final agreement of the turbines has not been formalized. This does mean, that another rare species is closer to being lost. It also means, that an entire forest is lost. The reason they need to be chopped down, is because the lack of trees will mean that the wind will hit the turbines easier, with less turbulence which might be cause by the movement of the trees branches. It is a managed forest, used for paper and wood pulp, so jobs are set to be lost too. But I would like to know, how the heck can the total annihilation of a forest be good for the environment?

That is just the large scale turbines. In the UK, it is easier to install a six foot wide satellite dish than it is to install a two foot wide wind turbine. a friend of mine recently was taken to court, and told to dismantle a small wind turbine, even though he had been using it to power the lights in his house for over 12 years.

I am not against wind turbines. They could be useful. But at the moment, a heck of a lot of taxpayers money is wasted in building a system which is not efficient. People in the areas of wind turbines are lied to by business, councils and government.

By the way, the people against turbines are often refered to as "NIMBY's", Not In My Back Yard.

Hope this insight is useful to you...

The environmentalists tend to be against wind energy unless it is not in a migratory path, it is far enough away from any populated area so that people don't see them, and it is not near any public land.

The people tend to be for wind energy are the ones who agree this will help add to our energy supply even though it is not a constant source of energy.

for wind energy - ppl who are into green energy, ppl who live in windy areas but dont have access to the power grid,

against wind energy - wildlife activists (wind farms kill more than 1000 birds every year)

this is because not all alternative sources of energy are green/clean. some wind farms emit a lot of CO2 during the construction phase

Wind energy is ike most alternatives has limitations. It works well, but is limited because must located in area with a lot of wind, where there is a lot of room, and still is not reliable 24/7. Because of this, we still have to maintain Nuclear, Coal, Gas, etc. to back it up.

Know more about wind farms

http://www.power-technology.com/videos/63512524800...

I'm definitely pro-wind energy. It is actually one of the most cost efficient renewable energy and works great is certain areas. Unfortunately its usefulness varies from region to region.

I am against wind mills too many birds have died and they take up too much space wind power is only good as a supplement to a more dependable source

wind energy are the ones who agree this will help add to our energy supply even though it is not a constant source of energy.

nobody wants the windmills in thier area. no lines set up to transfer energy. wind doesnt always blow. natural gas is the answer

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