Opinion Talk

By David Kyler

July 9, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Based on credible information about wind mapping and existing wind energy technology, there is no doubt that a wind farm off of Georgia’s coast would be both financially feasible and profitable. Moreover, due to the low-sloping ocean bottom in this area, wind generators could be located far enough offshore that they would have negligible if any visual impact on he view from Georgia’s beaches. Bird strikes have been virtually eliminated with the use of much larger and slower-rotating blades on the latest generators.

It is imperative that we aggressively support harvesting Georgia’s offshore wind resources as a clean, self-sustaining and reliable alternative to polluting and risky oil and gas development. Full implementation of state-of-the-art energy conservation and efficiency is also urgently needed in Georgia.

By Spellcheck

July 9, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

They say that the flapping of a single butterfly’s wings can change the universe. Imagine what those confounded windmill farms will do.

By Freda Rutherford

July 9, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

But Southern Company has opposed tax credits for wind and say this “study” will take 5-7 years. Doesn’t sound like they’re serious to me. Just more PR.

By Dennis

July 9, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Which spoils the view more: A wind farm with 50 wind turbines each with a 120’ to 160’ long blade turning, or An oil rig?

By Julie

July 9, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

When I was a child my grandfather took me fishing. He telephoned the fish. That is he electrocuted the fish using a small generator.

With these offshore wind turbine farms, the power is tranferred to land through under water cables. What is the risk of something cutting into the transmission wire and electrocuting every thing within range?

By theprogressivebigot

July 9, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

Nooooo… It will ruin the view from my beach house thus dramatically reducing it’s multimillion dollar value! Not to mention the new water hazard it will create for my yacht!!

And for what!? A few mega watts of clean energy on a windy day!!??

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 9, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

Recently traveling the verrrry long length of Kansas….I came across a couple of wind farms.

They are actually rather stately looking….

I think we should do it.

By Nickie

July 10, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

People need to get over worrying about their “view”. This country needs to be less reliant on foreign energy sources - wind is a good place to start. We recently drove through Altima Pass in California. There are hundreds of wind turbines in that area. They look a bid odd when you are not used to them but the thought of all the energy they produce if very nice. I understand those in GA will be well out to sea and just barely visible from the shore. We also need to drill more offshore - yes, I know all the arguments about pollution, etc. I lived for years near New Orleans. There are hundreds of oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico off LA and TX. Even during Katrina was was no pollution form the rigs. For those who love to go fishing the rigs become an artificial reef attracting fish species not normally seen in the area as well as habitat for local varieties and fabulous fishing opportunities for those who enjoy it. My view is we need to use all the different types of energy available and appropriate to an area. Conservation can only go so far -

By Fred

July 10, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

They say that the flapping of a single butterfly’s wings can change the universe. Imagine what those confounded windmill farms will do.

Well then, we better not do anything, for any reason at all. How does energy come any cleaner than wind? But still, environmentalists will find a reason to oppose it, while we sink deeper and deeper into oil dependency.

By Tybee Kennedy

July 10, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

I’d love to have wind power but like my cousin Ted, not in my view :)

By Redneck Soup

July 10, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

They say that one suma wrestler, breaking wind for one year could cause global warming. Imagine what a whole country of fat breakfast burrito eaters could do in a lifetime?

We’ll never stop global warming. Why cant anyone see that? We’re doomed. Why dont we just sit around the campfire and get stoned and roast marshmellows till they drop the big one on us?

WHY?

By Benevolus

July 10, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

The environmentalists have used scare tactics to create an irrational fear of nuclear power. We owe it to ourselves to invest some time studying the facts, so we can make rational decisions about our current energy crisis and future energy needs. Nuclear power is safe, cost effective, and emits zero carbon emissions.

I would prefer to see us build more nuclear power plants and abandon any plans for wind mills.

By Redneck Soup

July 10, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Obama 08: Vision Accomplished.

By Copyleft

July 10, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Actually, the environmentalists have quite correctly pointed out the problems and drawbacks of nuclear power. Three-Mile Island really DID happen, you know, and so did Chernobyl.

We still have no safe, reliable method for storing nuclear waste material. That’s an actual problem, not some imaginary boogeyman cooked up by civilization-hating “eco-terrorists,” or whatever term you’re using these days to describe people with sense.

Could it be resolved? Perhaps. But pretending it doesn’t exist won’t help.

By Gerald

July 10, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

With the tropical storms that deveope in the Atlantic, these wind generators should be very productive. Even if they are on shore, people will get used to the view, just like they got used to seeing lighthouses.

By Steve

July 10, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

. Yes, Yes, Yes & Yes …

.

By cd

July 10, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Windmills and solar power are good for individual use, but will never be reliable enough or powerful enough for a power plant. You need about 1,000 tacky windwheels on a tiny beautiful island like Jekyll. Why do they have to screw up Jekyll? What about some other island off the Georgia coast that no one cares about?

By Benevolus

July 10, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Copyleft, Yes, “Three-Mile Island DID happen.” The question is what DID happen -do you know? How many people died - none. Was it a preventable accident - yes? Did we learn how to prevent - yes. Yes, Chernobyl happened too, how many people died? 56, but the Soviet technology and reactors were far inferior to American technology and reactors of today. So, in the history of nuclear power generation, 56 people have died - compare that to coal, where thousands have lost their lives in coal mines. And yes, we do have a safe and reliable method of storing waste, which there is very little of with today’s reactors - about 1 trailer of waste per year.

By Hoyt LeCroy

July 14, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

In the case of Jekyll Island and other jewels of the Georgia Coast, we have a very unique part of the planet to use and preserve. Somehow, it just seems that there must be a better way to utilize alternative energy sources than building windmills.
If you had a beautiful mountain view, would you obscure it with a windmill farm? Once the windmill farm was built, would the beauty of the view ever again exist? Somehow, the idea of a sunrise seen through the blades of a windmill farm just doesn’t seem right as the way to go in producing energy.
There are other ways to do it, and they will come to the forefront. When they do, how will we explain to our grandchildren that we ruined the Georgia coast and mortgaged their futures in order to build and then tear down what never should’ve been built in the first place? I don’t live on the Georgia coast and I would see the windmills infrequently. But I can see the Georgia coast in my mind, and I like what I see. I just can’t get windmills to fit into that vision.

By Mae

July 15, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Hoyt makes an interesting point. Techniclly speaking, windmill power may or may not be a good idea for coastal Georgia, but windmills visisble along this spectacular stretch of our state would definetly be an eye sore. An earlier posting (by David) suggested that the windmills could be built far off shore b/c of the shallows. If so, then the project might avhe more appeal, but, for now, that’s a pretty big “if” in my mind.

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August 13, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

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