Blades of Controversy - A Debate on Commercial Wind Development

During the past few years,  industrial wind  power has expanded rapidly, driven  by escalating concerns over global warming, increasing awareness of  exhaustible supplies of fossil fuels, and government tax structures  designed to encourage development.  Commercial wind is often touted as a benign  source of free electricity that can significantly contribute to  the country’s growing energy demands and also displace pollution from  traditional sources.

Proposals for projects have recently been made  in hundreds of rural towns across the US.  Due to the  enormous size of industrial wind turbines, there's been much resistance  from local communities in these targeted regions.  The residents’ struggle to preserve and  safeguard their own local surroundings  has been made all the more difficult  given the apparent environmental ironies.  They are often simply  accused of NIMBYism (not in my back yard).  The controversy is huge  and swelling.

A close look reveals however, that it's not  so simple and that there's much more to the  issue.  There are many environmental, economic, and  social issues  to consider.  Mr. Tom Tanton, an energy analyst from California, Mr. Paul  Kenyon, a wind  expert from Vermont, and Mr. Daniel Mackay of the NY Preservation League will address some of these issues.   Professor Tom Drennen and Tom Hagner from Ecogen LLC. (a wind development agency)  will speak about the possible  benefits of commercial wind power.  The debate will focus  on questions from the audience.

For more information or directions to Campus,  please contact Maggi Sliwinski
at _maggi.sliwinski@hws.edu_ (mailto:maggi.sliwinski@hws.edu) .