Count Basie – "The Wind Machine" (1975)
2010/10/03
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/The+Wind+Machine/u56Fz
G and I went to see the wind turbines in Cohocton, NY yesterday because we think they are awesome. (We also picked up a grape pie in nearby Naples, which is probably the world capital for grape pies. Mmmm!) We were able to walk up close to one of the turbines, and they are big and impressive! From our vantage point we could see 42 of the 50 turbines at once. The towers are about 260 feet tall, and the blade span is about 300 feet in diameter. Very remarkable!
Source: http://vermontersforacleanenvironment.wordpress.com/
Then again we don't have to live with them every day. I think they are beautiful in a way, but I can see why others would consider them a blight. We also don't have to deal with the possible financial pros and cons, political mayhem, or other side affects. There are definitely side effects but still I'd rather we be building more of these across the land than more coal or nuclear power plants. It is hard to find objective opinions about them though. I found this site, and this site worth the read if you want a sense for the debate. I think building them off-shore is an excellent idea too because it solves some of the issues simply by moving them away from people's back yards. Still there is clearly going to be opposition to that in our region, and likely opposition anywhere they might be built. An argument is probably brewing in a local near you!
Here is a video of some of the ones we saw (though I did not make this video):
The noise complaint appears to be a frequent one, but if you've ever lived near a main road or a highway, I would say it is much much quieter than that but more constant. e.g Noise complainers in Michigan (including some neighbors who really don't think it is that bad):
I thought this video comparing the noise to other things like intersections, birds, night time wild life was funny:
I personally would be more concerned about ice flying off, or worse the rare (but possible) brake system failure in a high wind storm:
Ultimately we humans should not rely on non-renewable resources for energy. Wind has been used as a power source for centuries and given our frequently grey skies in Upstate New York, it seems like a more viable option for exploration than solar power cells, or some of the other options. I commend the Town of Cohocton for taking on this experiment and challenge, and I hope at the end of the day it proves to be successful and beneficial for them! I'll be visiting Cohocton again to drag others there to witness how impressive they are when you stand up close to these giants of the sky. So if nothing else you have a +1 on your tourist count!
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Click here for more info on Count Basie – Basie Big Band – "The Wind Machine".
The MP3 may be purchased here… Count Basie - Basie Big Band
