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Wind power, rhetoric

First published in print: Wednesday, October 8, 2008

It's hard to imagine any more dismaying and self-defeating words and sentiments than the old standby of opposition to innovation, experimentation or progress summed up by "not in my backyard."
     
Hard, but not impossible. Listen, for instance, to the howls of protest in rural Albany County to the mere possibility of a wind energy project. They add up to a more specific, and more troubling, form of NIMBY. Call it NGEINMBY, for "No green energy in my backyard." An even more pointed slogan for this attitude might be FDOFFIMBY — "further dependence on fossil fuels in my backyard."

Will such sentiments ever subside?

NIOL, we'd have to say. ("Not in our lifetimes," that is.)

"I am absolutely opposed to industrial wind power in the town of Berne," rails the supervisor, Kevin Crosier. "We are the jewel of Albany County."

We might as well pause, then, for all the other supervisors, not to mention mayors, to insist that their village, town or city is the county's real jewel.

And then? How about we have a serious discussion about a regional energy policy?

It could begin with the stated intentions of Shell WindEnergy, a subsidiary of the giant oil conglomerate.

"We are active in the Albany area and elsewhere in the state," says spokesman Tim O'Leary.

Not very specific. Not exactly words of finality. But enough to raise hackles in all those backyards.

The group known as Schoharie Valley Watch, already fighting proposed wind farms in the towns of Richmondville and Fulton, is ready to do battle in Albany County.

Concerns are raised about what windmills would do to the wonderful scenic vistas of the hill towns of Albany County, along with unease about the vibrations and noise from wind turbines.

Points taken. But what about energy policy? What about cheaper and cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels? Or does a slight dip in gasoline prices have us lulled back into complacency?

Suddenly the state's goal of having 25 percent of its electricity come from renewable sources within five years seems more daunting than ever.

As of last year, wind turbines were the source of less than 1 percent of the electricity in New York.

In Rensselaerville, Supervisor Jost Nickelsberg is quick to deflect talk of wind energy by embracing solar energy.

Ah, Mr. Nickelsberg, can't we have both? Don't we need both?

In New Scotland, Supervisor Thomas Dolin says even vague plans for a wind energy project mean it's time for the appropriate regulations regarding height and setback of wind turbines.

Fair enough. As long as Albany County doesn't go NGEINMBY without considering the consequences.

The Issue:

A renewable energy project may emerge in rural Albany County.

The Stakes:

The debate can't end with NIMBY.