June 28, 2012

Dear Bernie

Dear Bernie [Senator Bernie Sanders, Vt.]:

Your defense of industrial-scale wind energy is logically fallacious.

It does not follow that because wind turbines don't produce carbon emissions, they reduce such emissions from other sources.

It does not follow that because wind turbines don't produce toxic air pollution, they reduce the pollution from coal-burning plants.

It does not follow that because wind turbines don't have the impacts of fracking or nuclear waste, they reduce those impacts.

The fact is, after decades of experience, it is impossible to detect any meaningful reduction of carbon emissions, air pollution, or other poisonings of the environment from other sources of electricity due to industrial wind energy on the grid.

That being the case, there is no excuse for continuing support of this industry that has no beneficial effect and leaves only a legacy of divided communities, degraded landscapes, and destroyed natural habitats.

wind power, wind energy, environment, environmentalism, Vermont