On a perfect day in early April I visited a wind farm in Eastern Oregon. Perfect days on wind farms have wind rates between 27 and 44 miles per hour. On the day I showed up the wind speed had been slow enough for the turbines to operate for the first time in weeks. It's easy to see why having too much wind is a problem. Even when the winds are under 44 mph the blade tip speed is more than 130 mph.Each turbine provides 1500 Portland homes with electricity. This is a truly clean energy source that makes everyone happy. Wind turbines covered the landscape as far as I could see - 40 miles away into the next county. Acres and acres of wheat grow beneath the 262 foot high towers because power companies lease land from farmers who farm the same rolling hills.
As I felt the sun on my face and heard the wind whistle past my ears I glimpsed a better future with energy solutions where everyone wins.
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The wind turbines are truly extraordinary for their potential to create clean energy. Unfortunately, there is a lot of protest against the appearance of the turbines, that the destroy the visual landscape. I wonder what will it take for people to appreciate their giant presence, and why they prefer the invisible pollution of other types of generation? I like seeing the wind turbines...they make me feel hopeful for the big changes that come on the wind.
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