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Wind turbines: A part of our scenic coastline?

December 24, 2019

Thank you David T. Stevenson of Center for Energy & Environment, Caesar Rodney Institute, for providing a thorough report on the development of wind turbines off Delaware’s seashore.  

You have alerted me and others to a horrible affront by Delaware’s politicians and DNREC to all, people and wildlife alike, who enjoy and benefit from our beautiful, pristine coastal region.  Our beautiful coastline is the source of pride for all us Delawareans. We have spent many decades protecting it.  Yet, in the span of a few years we may forever eliminate everyone’s chance to view our natural coastline for the sake of park improvements in Fenwick Island and opportunities to sell excess energy to Ocean City.  

If we want to preserve our coastline for all to enjoy, we must voice our opposition to this project. 

We as Delawareans already know our coastal region is great; we do not need any validation of that fact from out-of-state tourists.  But, as an aside, our tourist population has continually packed our coastal resort regions yearly, so they obviously know our coastline is great too. No worries in that department. 

Tourists come and go, but it is up to us as Delawareans to stand together and protect our treasured coastline by opposing this blemish off our shores.

As a citizen strongly in favor of the development of renewable forms of energy, especially benign and much cheaper solar energy, I am strongly opposed to the placement of wind turbines off our coast.  This is our coastline here in Delaware.  Here is what rubs me the wrong way:

• Wind turbines forever destroy everyone’s view for the benefit of a few.
• Wind turbines are grossly more expensive, and much less efficient than alternatives such as solar power.
• Wind turbines would destroy habitat of our adopted state marine mammal, the marine mammal we have pledged to protect, the 445 million years old horseshoe crab.
• Wind turbine installation requires tons and tons of cement and deformation of seafloor.
• Wind turbines’ fast-rotating blades pose a dire threat to bird migration within the coastal flyway zone.

To counter the push for wind turbines in general, I question why government officials have not required new housing to have solar panels?  That sounds like a no-brainer to me especially since the impact of solar panels on the environment is next to nil.  Installation of solar panels has no impact on water quality or on surrounding life, human or animal.  And, solar panels can meet 94% of our household’s energy needs (https://news.energysage.com). 

Technology is ever quickly becoming more and more efficient.  Rather than building costly, inefficient, ugly wind turbines offshore, I hope we give more serious consideration to solar power or other renewable energy alternatives.

Nancy Fulton
Rehoboth Beach

 

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