The "what" of the article is this: "Last week, Garden State Offshore Energy, a joint venture of PSE&G Renewable Generation and Deepwater Wind, was chosen to build a $1 billion, 345 megawatt wind farm in the ocean about 16 miles southeast of Atlantic City. That plant would be able to power about 125,000 homes."
This is the real news of the story, but there is an underlying issue discussed in the story that I felt more important and fit for another more important story. At the end of the article, a director of one of the companies involved in building these wind turbines reassures tourists and residents that the windmills will not be an eyesore: "He also said swimmers and sunbathers would hardly be able to see the giant turbines from the beach. 'These things will appear to be half the size of your thumbnail and as thin as a toothpick,' he said."
Why is this even an issue?
- First, it's New Jersey, and maybe it's just me, but when I think of New Jersey, I don't think of the state's beautiful costal scenes; I think of garbage dumps.
- Second, why has aesthetics become more important than our future and that of future generations? This is something fit for a great story.
It's clear that this plan is one that will be a case study for the future of wind power, and hopefully it will be a success story.
Find the article here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-wind-power,0,48653.story
3 comments:
I agree with your question about the aesthetics. Unfortunately, it seems that our country is all about talking the talk (about going green) but we are hesitant when it comes to actually walking the walk.
If these wind farms are going to help our planet last longer, who cares what they look like! I mean, if we continue going in the direction we are going, no one will be around to see them anyway.
If people want to complain about what these wind farms look like, maybe they should consider what could happen if we don't start using them.
While reading the article I had the same notion in my mind as you did, the first thing that comes to mind when I think about New Jersey is NOT its amazing coasts. I had never even heard of offshore wind power plants before.
And the aesthetics question you pose is one that is a harsh and sad reality. Like Megan said, it seems that as a country we love the notion of going green, doing whatever we can to help the world, thinking about the future and what we can do to save it, but when it comes down to actually acting, we take a moment to reconsider.
Evan,
What do you make of the reporter using the word "ambitious" in the lead? Does this sound like the reporter's tacit approval of the project? I, too, believe the aesthetics issue warrants another spin off article, or at least a sidebar. I'd also like to see the reporter expound upon the quote referring to off-shore wind farms as the most cost-effective form of renewable energy. That's a lofty claim. The reporter should provide some context. Is this a widely shared belief?
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