Wind energy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

There are a couple of points on the wind farm debate that the general public just isn't hearing enough of.

To the editor:

There are a couple of points on the wind farm debate that the general public just isn't hearing enough of.

First, we need electricity 24/7, but the wind does not blow 24/7 at a rate that will produce electricity. Currently, some electricity providers offer discounts to their customers if they will elect to get 100 percent of their electricity from wind. This is an impossibility. Because the power produced at the existing wind farms goes directly into the grid, unless you're directly connected to the producing turbine you can't be sure of the source of that power.

Also, because of the unreliability of wind, our existing sources of electrical power generation must continue to exist. There is nothing efficient about an unreliable power source forcing the reliable power sources to fluctuate their production rates.

The second point: While the proponents of wind energy like to call this a "green energy" source, in New Hampshire it is anything but.

The numbers the industry and wind proponents tout as the amount of CO2 offset by these turbines is highly inaccurate. Aside from the fluctuating production at existing power plants, which makes them bigger carbon producers because of the wind farms, folks don't seem to take into account the environmental impact of the building of the turbines themselves.

Clear-cutting and then blasting large sections of our mountain ridges raises the carbon level. I have nothing against clear-cutting, as the trees do eventually grow back, but once the granite is blasted in order to have flat surfaces on which to pour tons and tons of concrete for the pads and the staging area needed, the trees and other natural vegetation aren't coming back.

Someone here in Grafton estimated about 1,500 vehicles would be needed for construction of the proposed 37 turbine Wild Meadows Wind Farm. This doesn't include the vehicles driven by the individuals working on the construction, not to mention the asphalt needed to build industrial-strength roads much wider than the existing roads currently in the areas they propose for these wind farms.

While a wind farm in the desert in New Mexico might make some sense to proponents of wind energy, defacing and scarring our majestic mountain ridge lines should be a crime.

Our elected officials need to know that the voters, taxpayers and even tourists that enjoy all of the mountains, lakes and other natural wonders our state has to offer want them to see the truth on wind energy in New Hampshire.

Cindy Kudlik

Grafton