By Wes Enman
Articles to sway public opinion on the Antrim Wind Project are way too late at this point. You either supported, opposed or were indifferent to the project. I doubt the SEC will be presented any new compelling information that would alter its decision. After seven long years, every argument has been thoroughly reviewed.
To the supporters, my sincere thanks. To the opposition, the promise to make sure the facility follows through with its promises. And to the indifferent and those who’ll listen, the reasons why some of us enthusiastically supported the project.
We find ourselves at a crossroad. Until this point, our collective past has been to exploit and consume. We did this for thousands of years without thinking about or knowing the consequences of our actions. As technology advanced, so too did our consumption. Wood, water, coal, oil, gas and uranium for fuels. Natural and organic compounds for medicine etc. Synthetics for virtually everything. Life kept getting better and fortunes were made.
It was the 1960s and cracks in our way of life began to appear with the publishing of “Silent Spring.” We started to realize our complete disregard for and the unintended consequence to the earth we live on. Polluted skies, polluted water, loss of wildlife and human health issues were the norm.
Fast forward to today. We’ve made great strides, but still have huge challenges ahead. Most of our native species have rebounded despite massive development. Recently we’ve come to realize it’s what we can’t see, carbon in our atmosphere, that poses the most danger to our environment.
Collectively, we’re starting to “get it.” The younger generations more so. We realize local is good. Food, clothing, products made and bought locally and sustainably benefit everyone. Power should be no different. Every home should have solar panels, including mine. It shouldn’t cost $20,000 to $30,000 to generate and store our own power. We shouldn’t have to be wealthy to do the right thing. Commercial generation should be local and sustainable also.
Suggesting we can conserve our way out of this crisis misses the point. We need to end or massively limit carbon emissions from energy generation as well as other sources. The source does matter. The more carbon free kilowatts generated, the more are available with less detrimental effects. New Hampshire currently has a goal for 25 percent of power generation with renewables by the year 2025 and subsequently 50 percent by 2050. New York state has set a goal of 50 percent by 2030. There is every reason to up our goals. The year-end records for temperature will be released soon. Be aware of the number of local planet record highs in the last 10 years.
I’ll be the first to admit the Monadnock region is a special place. I’ve spent my entire 60-plus years in and on the waters of the region. I’ve scaled every major and most minor peaks in the area. Funny thing about most of our treasured resources. They are manmade. Contoocook Lake, Powder Mill Pond, Gregg Lake, Nubanusit and Spoonwood, Pierce Lake, Highland Lake, Island Pond and even Willard Pond and every one developed for energy production. The Rail Trail and even the road to the top of Pack Monadnock, all manmade, have become economic and recreational resources. Fifty years from now there will be a lovely two-mile trail on 900-plus acres of conserved ridgetop. Most of us old folk will be dead, but I’m sure future generations won’t hate us for trying to leave them a cleaner world.
No one likes dramatic change. Seeing wind turbines on a previously unassuming ridgeline is difficult. What I find more difficult are stories like the one published in this paper on Dec 15 by David Brooks about ice melt in Greenland. Or the reports of thousands of annual earthquakes in Oklahoma of all places. Big energy assures us they have nothing to do with them but they didn’t occur until fracking for natural gas commenced. That gas is pumped across the U.S. through pipelines just like the one that almost was built here. Atomic energy is safe until tsunamis hit Fukashima Japan or human error causes a meltdown at Chernobyl. Or maybe till the “Big One” or two or three hit California and the Pacific Rim. For over 50 years we’ve been using atomic energy and to this day we have never figured out what to do with the radioactive waste. It is currently stored at the reactor sites. This is the true cost of how we currently generate electricity.
As the saying goes, “There is no free lunch.” Roads needs to be built. Blasting does occur. Wind energy is not perfect. But once installed it produces emission free power. It works when there is wind and at around 500 feet that is most of the time. Day and night. Wind facilities generate tax dollars and jobs. Never enough of either, but more than without them. If they didn’t work, they wouldn’t still be building them. Nobody coughs up $65 million on a whim. As I sat through the SEC hearings – yes I was an intervenor supporting the project – all I could think about when the visual objections were raised is what good is a dead earth with views? If we continue on the current path, how long will it take to change the climate so that the things we take for granted become unsustainable? Food production, wildlife, wildfires, potable water, ocean shorelines are all in jeopardy.
We need to make changes now. We don’t have 20, 30, or 50 years. Do some research. Read some books. The information is out there. The reality is frightening. Antrim Wind is the current headline but the story is much, much bigger. We all get caught up in the day to day turmoil of politics (yikes!) and our own issues. Antrim Wind and hopefully other projects like it need our collective support. This is truly “Act Local, Think Global” that we’ve been preaching for years. We have a responsibility to ourselves and our planet.
There is still a long way to go before a wind facility is constructed in Antrim. I stated in my testimony to the SEC that I think it is important to see where our power comes from. Make us think about it on a regular basis. When constructed, I’ll be proud as I look at them and know carbon- free power for 13,000 homes for the next 40 or so years is flowing into the grid.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Are you willing to voice your opinion? Differing opinions should always be respected. My hope is you’ll think about where we are and where we need to get to. What sacrifices are you willing to make?
Let’s take the Antrim Wind headline to the next level.
Wes Enman is a longtime Antrim resident.