May 2008

Discriminating politics

It is surprising that Shari Jackson Small would allow skin color to so greatly influence her choice for president when she herself was discriminated against on the same basis as a child (Voice Mail, “From Alabama to Obama,” April, 2008). Hopefully, there are better reasons to vote for Mr. Obama. To write that “citizens of good conscience prefer Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton” is an insult to thoughtful people.

—Sam Pancake
Takoma Park, Md.

Blowin’ in the wind?

Kate Elizabeth Queram’s report in the March issue of the Voice (“Wind power meets resistance in Maryland”) on a proposal by a private company to build a wind energy project on public lands in Garrett County, MD, neglected to mention one very salient point—that the “public lands” involved in the prospective deal are two State Parks!

Without this minor detail, the article leaves the impression that the nearly 700 residents who traversed the state to participate in the Department of Natural Resource (DNR) hearings in Garrett County and Annapolis on back-to-back nights were more concerned about protecting their views, their property values, and tourism than addressing the state’s energy needs.

I attended the hearing in Annapolis, and all of those issues were indeed mentioned, but I also heard the people put forward other more nuanced and diverse reasons for their opposition, including the following:

1. The proposed 100-turbine wind project is fundamentally inconsistent with the purpose of State parks, which are land parcels specifically set aside for conservation.

2. The construction of the wind energy project would involve the permanent clearing of trees, unlike wind projects in the Midwest that are built on prairies.

3. The amount of energy provided by the wind project would make only a minor contribution to the State’s energy needs.

4. The impetus to build wind energy projects is propelled by federal tax incentives that benefit only wind developers and the big power companies that buy their projects.

5. Industrial wind plants on the mountain tops pose a risk to wildlife but wind developers do not have to conduct real studies before going forward with their projects

6. The incentives to industrial wind projects would be better distributed to homeowners to invest in energy efficiency or to build their own stand alone wind turbines.

Some of the testifiers expressed a sense of betrayal by the State legislature, which in 2007 eliminated a requirement for public input and environmental review of the siting of wind power projects in the state (except those built in water). The bill was pushed by a well-connected wind developer who was the co-chair of Governor O’Malley’s energy transition team and whose own wind project in western Maryland was previously blocked by an unfavorable DNR review of the site. Now, DNR has no oversight.

The scenic views of Garrett County were mentioned frequently, but I do think residents there have a connection to the natural landscape that is an integral part of their social fabric. Some were nearly in tears as they pleaded with the DNR not to pursue the project.

Of course, we in the suburbs also highly value our natural areas. If an industrial wind project was proposed for Sligo Creek Park, involving cutting of trees and 400 foot towers, would we be characterized as NIMBYs standing in the way of renewable energy if we objected?

Our need to address global change is bound to result in some difficult choices in the future, but I think we need realize that people may argue against some actions for well though out reasons that ought to at least be considered seriously instead of mischaracterized as standing in the way of “progress.”

—Roberta Schoen
Washington, DC

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