Interesting Kiwi story about anti-windfarm sentiment 3

Apparently being in the antipodes doesn't change how people see wind farms:

The "not in my backyard" view rules in a district where many residents don't mind wind farms just not any where near them, writes Bruce Holloway.

...

In that respect, the experts advise that wind farm development in New Zealand is unfolding in a remarkably similar pattern to that of other countries.

There is a relatively slow start to development, followed by a period of intense activity where numerous wind farms are established on supposedly prime sites.

The public response follows a pattern of general acceptance of a wind farm being developed in an area, and even tolerance of a second one nearby.

"But when subsequent wind farms are proposed in the same geographic area, public support is often replaced by strident opposition," Wellington landscape architect Boyden Evans told the Ngaruawahia hearing.

...

Evans said it was "almost impossible" to substantially shift people's perceptions of wind farms, particularly with regard to proposals in their locality.

"In my experience of New Zealand wind farms and familiarity with overseas projects, someone who dislikes turbines or is opposed to wind farms, is highly unlikely to change their opinion in response to the assessment information provided by landscape and other professionals," he said.

Let’s live on the planet as if we intend to stay.

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  1. BILL HANNAHAN Posted 2:24 am
    07 Dec 2007

    A different point of viewEighty-two percent of Americans living in close proximity to nuclear power plants favor nuclear energy, and 71 percent are willing to see a new reactor built near them, according to a new public opinion survey of more than 1,100 adults across the United States.
    Only residents within 10 miles of an operating nuclear power plant - electric company employees excluded - were questioned. The survey also found that 86 percent give the nearest nuclear power plant a "high" safety rating, and that 87 percent are confident that the company operating the power plant can do so safely.
    http://www.nei.org/newsandevents/newsreleases/nuclearpowe ...



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  2. minkwinkdink Posted 5:20 am
    30 Dec 2007

    oppositionI want to point out something that is obvious to me, since a rather larger windfarm development is going in near my abode;

    1) Those most opposed (or affected) by it move away, thus lowering the number of complaints after the development is complete.  IE, they vote with their feet.  

    a. They move away because they simply need to get away

    b. They move away because they are bought out by the developers.  They are bound by gags orders as part of their purchase (buy out agreement)
    2  The convenience by which the surveys come out during the developments are timed in to ensure that the result will eventually be that complaints go down.  

    It is really that simple.  

    I was reading The Weather Changers (Flannery, 2006) and the authro makes a point I have been trying to make, but nobody listens;

    The electric companies want more consumption, so they facilitate more usage.  We need to reduce demand (relatively) and encourage use of efficient appliances, LEDs, CFLs, etc., etc.
    Wind just won't be part of the real solution.  Unfortunately, it makes people think we are doing something...but it is simply lining big energy's pockets.  That was another subject Flannery seemed to broach.
    While not hawking my book, you can read it if you wish.  It is called Wind Power...It Blows! (just search on that in your favorite search engine)

    I hope it brings to light the fact (to at least the few who read it) that wind power is simply "the cold fusion of our day".
    Once we get beyond the "BS", maybe we can actually do something for the gen eration after next....
    Thanks for letting me blog
    Minkwinkdink

    www.lulu.com/content/1431821

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  3. Erik Hoffner's avatar

    Erik Hoffner Posted 7:11 am
    30 Dec 2007

    ownershipMink: if wind power "is simply lining big energy's pockets" then it's just a question of ownership. Sure, most windfarms are owned by corporations, and yes, they make money from the power they produce. But it's not that way everywhere. Take the town of Hull near Boston, Mass. It ran the numbers on erecting a single utility-scale turbine near the beach, found that it'd pay for itself in x number of years and then benefit the town with regular income thereafter. Well it didn't take x years, it took just a few years, and now their municipal budget is awash in cash and they're planning to put up a second turbine.
    Community-owned distributed power, whether it's solar, wind, co-gen, or what have you, is a way to deal the public back in to this scenario.
    I wonder if anyone's polled the citizens of Hull about whether they like the turning blades or not.
    Erik



    The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,100+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

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