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Posts Tagged ‘Energy Project’
Environmental Protection is not so Clear Cut
May 5th, 2009 | 
What are we to do when environmentalists are the ones fighting green energy programs? The question is of course, what is green energy?
As I’ve pointed out in previous posts, is it okay to destroy acres of sensitive habitat to generate electricity from the sun or the wind? Sacrificing one part of the environment in order to save another may not be as environmentally friendly as we would like.
President Obama is discovering this. There is opposition from environmental groups with regards to green energy projects - projects that are in direct support of President Obama’s mandate to generate 25% of electricity from green sources by 2025.
The problem may be environmental damage and it may be people not wanting wind turbines in their back yard. The question is, what will be the least amount of damage.
Jolly says 400-foot wind turbines are a bird-killing eyesore. The developer argues the danger to birds is exaggerated but admits every big energy project has its downside.
I would have to disagree. It seems to me that generating power with wind turbines is not “taking everything” from them. In addition, he needs to research bird deaths. Although wind turbines do kill birds, so do coal fired plants. In fact, the air pollution from coal fired plants kill more birds than wind turbines per generated megawatt hour.
Still there are environmental problems with the big energy projects. Although birds seem to benefit from wind turbines of coal plants, bats do not. Their respiratory systems are unable to cope with the sudden changes of air pressure near the turbines.
There is also the issue of the damage to the ecosystems that is taking place.
You can read about the struggles that President Obama’s initiatives are facing at Parts of Obama’s Green Energy Plan Fuel Discontent Among Environmentalists
Posted in Environmental Issues, Environmental Protection | 
Tags: Air Pollution, Air Pressure, Bird Deaths, Coal Plants, Energy Plan, Energy Programs, Energy Project, Energy Projects, Environmental Damage, Environmental Problems, Generating Power, Green Energy, Megawatt Hour, President Obama, Respiratory Systems, Sensitive Habitat, Sudden Changes, Wind Turbines | 
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Stimulus Spending that for Conservation
Finally… I finally hear about someone who wants to use some of the federal stimulus money to help conserve energy. Not to spend it on some expensive alternative energy project - but to simply encourage building “green homes” and retrofit existing homes. What a practical approach
Here’s one comment made about Jacksonville’s plans with regards to 8 million dollars of stimulus money.
“So there’s a framework for a strategic plan,” Stewart says. “But to say we have one would not be true.”
She even went on to talk about sustaining the projects and staff in the future. Here’s someone who is thinking not just about the environment, not just about the economy, but both the environment and the economy and how they can work together.
You can read the rest of the article at WOKV.Com.