Health & Fitness
The Cold Cost of Cash Cropping the Wind
The Selectmen's decision to sue the ZBA sends a stark message to citizens. Are we witnessing a fundamental shift of policy where fiscal protection holds priority over resident rights?
While splitting fire-wood, readying my home for the next Arctic express, I thought to myself – what would happen if everyone decided (or were forced) to heat with firewood? As a result, air pollution would likely increase, global warming accelerate and forests in the country would likely be wiped out. The idea is pretty ridiculous since the fuelwood process requires levels of physical fitness, inconvenience and storage space.
Clearly, wood heating is right for some places and not so much in others. Why then should we presume (or be forced) to believe that commercial wind turbine energy is a viable energy source for highly populated areas?
Falmouth’s two turbines pollute the air with noise (says the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Town’s Zoning Board, a Barnstable Superior Court judge, and of course - some turbine neighbors). The extent to which, and health effect of which remain unknown to the science and medical fields. Yet, Falmouth’s turbines have required a forest of money, and the town manager contends that the project could eventually bankrupt the town.
Like the farmer of the forest that maximizes short term profit by clear cutting woodlots, converting the land’s trees into a cash crop, is Falmouth’s practice of stripping turbine neighbors of health and property rights for a cash crop of wind any different? Town leaders might think they're meeting their mission on the matter, but have they met their obligation to maintain ties to public confidence and trust in what has become a pivotal predicament of basic community values?
Fuelwood is obviously not a good universal solution to stem the problem of high home heating costs in all areas. Similarly, commercial wind energy is not a suitable energy source in all locations, such as densely-populated areas like Cape Cod. The price of a winter’s supply of firewood is too high to achieve any practical savings for most of us on Cape Cod. Yet, the smell of a wood-fire burning on a frigid night fetches fond memories connecting us to simpler times. Good times of home fires burning, family gatherings and the blessings of community.
Gazing at my firewood all neatly stacked, I ponder the price of my town’s supply of wind energy and the many levels of “clear cutting” it continues to require. It’s so so sad for those that can’t see the forest for the trees.
