Crawford County's board of adjustment has approved a special exception to allow the construction of up to 120 wind turbine towers in three townships, through a Heartland Wind LLC/PPM Energy project.

MASON CITY, Iowa — Windmills are sprouting on hillsides across the Midwest, but this city is encouraging the use of electricity-producing wind turbines everywhere — even in homeowners' backyards.

MASON CITY — The City Council will act on a second reading Tuesday of an ordinance that would allow zoning for windmills anywhere in Mason City.

Doug Harr of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says they're trying to develop a map showing areas of concern relating to wildlife that could be used when siting proposed wind turbines.

Two electrical workers were treated and released at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center last week after they were rescued following a fire at one of the MidAmerican Energy turbines just south of Schaller.

Last week the old feeder drove through NW Iowa. My route used to offer pleasant scenery most of the way from the feedlot to my destination. I get off of I-29 at Onawa and take the county blacktops to Arnolds Park. For the last 10 years, a growing part of the drive has been through a wind farm. Its like driving through a hellish, whirling machine. Almost everyone agrees that these monstrosities are hideous eyesores. Nobody with any sense of the rural aesthetic wants them anywhere near where they live. ...Now the scenic Iowa roads between Galva and Peterson are studded with the ugly contraptions as far as the eye can see. Perhaps portending worse to come.

Wind energy is part of the solution, too, and we're investing in it. But since the wind doesn't blow 24/7, it can't be counted on by itself to reliably meet demand. ...On the federal level, much fact finding, discussion and a significant commitment to research and development are needed to ensure a balanced solution that addresses concerns about global climate change. Some say we have only one chance to get this right, and if that's true, we need to make informed decisions, not emotional choices.

The Iowa General Assembly is considering a broad range of legislation related to energy issues, including bills concerning renewable energy and energy efficiency. We urge policymakers to be cautious and truly consider the ramifications of proposals that sound good at the Capitol but would have adverse impacts on local communities. The renewable energy standard mandates and energy efficiency standard mandates being considered by Legislators currently have the potential to result in rate increases at a time when wholesale power costs are increasing. Affordability needs to be considered as debate takes place on energy related issues.

It's time for a truce. In reality, nuclear and wind are not competitive, but complementary. And beyond that, large amounts of both are essential, if we hope to continue meeting our power needs while cutting back on the fossil-fuel emissions that are heating up the global environment.

Sometime this century, world oil production likely will reach its peak as developing economies gulp a finite supply at an ever-increasing rate. Some experts think that Iowa could be a leader in producing the world’s next generation of fuels, transforming the state’s abundant natural and agricultural resources into fossil-fuel replacements. In “Fueling Iowa’s Future,” an occasional series of special reports during 2006, the Register’s editorial-page staff will examine the potential for Iowa to lead the renewable-fuels revolution and address the public-policy questions that such an undertaking would pose. REGISTER EDITORIAL BOARD