In this exclusive Q & A for RenewableEnergyAccess.com, Mr. Pratt offers some of his insight gained toward advancing renewable energy at both the state and national level. He articulates some current hurdles and possible solutions for renewable energy, gauges the industry's pulse, and charts the course ahead. "The increasing emphasis on biofuels may be one area of agreement which could help to build coalitions in red and blue states, including farmers and the agricultural sector, the automotive industry, environmentalists and renewable energy advocates."

Considering the wind farm(s) projected for Goodhue County, many are concerned for surrounding areas, the affects of sound, flickering reflections, killing of birds, human and wild life habitat, erosion of soil, etc. After attending meetings of the county commissioners where some issues were addressed I checked with some in the foot print of existing farms.

WEC is avoiding some simple truths. By passing green credits on to fossil fuel-burning companies we are in effect, allowing these companies to boost production. Boosting output of greenhouse gasses, anywhere in our region, directly effects our environment. Plain and simple.

The Freedom Planning Board should revisit its decision to close the hearing and ask CES to address lingering questions about project. A few weeks’ delay is less important than ensuring the board meets its responsibility to abutting landowners and other residents of Freedom.

I wish you well in these efforts, and I hope that humanity will make the right choices based upon all of the information we have on the subject of global warming. I agree with you that global warming is indeed a "moral issue," and if we are to avoid doing more harm than good with misguided governmental policies, we will need more politicians to be educated on the issue.

A company called Evergreen Wind Power Partners LLC expects to negotiate a lease of 5,400 acres in the hills of east central Clark County from the Washington Department of Natural Resources. As reported in The Columbian Thursday by Erik Robinson, Evergreen would build as many as 39 wind towers in the Yacolt Burn State Forest east of Hockinson and just west of the Larch Corrections Center. At full output, they could supply about 10 percent of the county's electricity needs. The company, which is a subsidiary of enXco energy company of Escondido, Calif., is hard to track down. Robinson had no luck Wednesday reaching anyone from Evergreen or enXco who would talk about the proposed project. ...we won't get too excited until more is known about the company and its record, the environmental and visual impact of this envisioned wind farm, and plans for getting the power out of the hills.

Stearns County residents should attend an important public hearing Tuesday to express their questions and concerns about large-scale wind turbine projects, the tax dollars that subsidize them, and their possible detrimental impacts on people, animals and the environment.

What happened to the Town of Fairhaven's announced plans to put two commercial-sized wind turbines near their waste water treatment plant? Is the wind turbine project going forward after the length of time the commercial venture was stalled by the growing number of opponents in Fairhaven?

Allowing wind companies free range because of the “We-have-to-do-something!'’ attitude, is like throwing spaghetti against the refrigerator, hoping it sticks and worrying about the mess later. Ignoring and minimizing genuine concerns of the affected residents and neighbors is dangerous, too. The scars of a divided community will last far longer than any turbine and the lease payments. Only those who’ve experienced small town/rural living can fully appreciate the value of a united, harmonious community. Blindly sacrificing that is not a price any of us should be willing to accept.