Let the wind blow away ‘green’ worries

As fossil fuels begin to literally burn out, people around the globe are faced with a daunting task—utilizing new energy resources.

According to the American Wind Energy Association, the current amount of wind power in the U.S., approximately 20,000 megawatts, can produce as much energy as 90 million barrels of oil. The AWEA also claims that wind energy displaces nearly 34 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, or the equivalent of taking 5.8 million vehicles off of the road.

Wind power currently provides 1.5 percent of total U.S. electricity and the U.S. Department of Energy believes that wind may be able to provide approximately 20 percent of our electricity in the next 22 years.

According to AWEA, Kansas ranks third in the country for potential wind energy production.

But some Kansans are opposed to wind energy from wind farms because the turbines supposedly ruin Kansas’ scenic landscape. I urge those people to weigh which is more important: a scenic landscape or renewable energy to help prolong the life of our planet.

If people find the landscape so important, they should realize that alternative energy is going to help the overall landscape of the world last longer. Besides, aren’t wind turbines just a 21st-century version of the iconic Kansas windmill? I’ve never heard of anyone saying that a windmill ruins the landscape.

While driving by the wind farms near El Dorado, I find myself quite enchanted by the silhouettes of these silent, power-producing giants. It’s hard for me to imagine how anyone could think that they are ugly.

On Sept. 3, the AWEA announced that the U.S. has surpassed all other countries in the world in wind electricity generation. Germany has the greatest amount of generating capacity installed, but the U.S. has stronger winds and is therefore producing more energy. I worry that Kansans are not going to take advantage of the pocket-book friendly idea of more wind farms in Kansas. We could easily sell the excess energy from wind turbines to neighboring states as a way to help boost our economy while keeping our consciences clean about being more ‘green.’

I have heard of some speculation that within the next few years, as the overall temperature of our climate rises, sunflowers will no longer be able to grow in Kansas. Sunflowers are a symbol of our state and if we don’t do more to change our current energy consumption habits, these bright, cheery flowers are going to die.

I have a proposition for all people who don’t wish to ruin Kansas’ landscape by erecting wind turbines: paint the turbines like giant sunflowers.