Windmills and Wildflowers: Debate Over Gorman Hills

Bruce Barnbaum’s column (“A New Endangered Species Blooms in Gorman: Beauty Itself,” Op-Ed Page, March 15) opposing the proposed Gorman wind farm seemed to be a sincere and thoughtful discussion of the problem from one environmentalist’s point of view. However, as a fellow environmentalist representing the wind energy industry, I must take issue with Barnbaum on a few points.

First, his description of a wind farm as “concrete pads with . . . tall towers and noisy propellers” is “loaded” with words aimed at producing a negative reaction. Windmill pads are flat, at ground level, and relatively invisible. And wind turbines generally produce very little noise.

Second, this is not just another development for a large and greedy industry. The wind energy industry is still small and badly in need of support from anyone who believes we need to make more use of clean and renewable energy resources. This year, for example, America’s utilities will burn coal for 57% of our electric power; wind will supply less than one-tenth of 1%. Is that the kind of balance we are looking for? Or should wind and solar be made a larger part of our energy mix?

Third, the Gorman wind farm will help to reduce air pollution and prevent global warming, since it produces no sulfur, nitrogen, or carbon oxides. These are important environmental goals.

And finally, Zond Systems, the would-be developer of the Gorman project, has taken an extremely conciliatory approach toward the environmental community, offering to establish a foundation with part of the wind farm’s income to support the local environment and assisting in the placement of land in permanent conservancy.

THOMAS O. GRAY

Executive Director

American Wind Energy Assn.

Arlington, Va.