New Mexico Central

Edgewood Energy Planning Needs More Diverse Approach

by John Weckerle

This week’s local newspapers are abuzz with discussion of controversies surrounding proposals to encourage alternative energy capabilities in Edgewood, New Mexico.  As in the past, the discussion seems focused primarily on wind energy, with proponents seeking to find a way to allow residents to place wind turbines on their properties.  Solar technologies appear to remain an afterthought, as do energy-efficiency upgrades.  With the exception of some comments from Town Councilor Brad Hill quoted in The Independent, there appears to be little thought given to a balanced approach to energy and developing a comprehensive energy management strategy that could produce the desired benefits with a minimum of dispute.  The public discussion has focused almost entirely on wind issues, and review of the minutes of the Town Council, Planning and Zoning Committee, and Energy Committee meetings available online provides no indication that other alternative energy sources have ever been seriously discussed – this in spite of the fact that Town Council and P&Z Committee members have expressed concerns about the apparently nearly-exclusive focus on wind.  We have been critical of this approach in the past (see our February 6, 2009 article), and remain so.

We consider the continued fixation on wind (and, apparently, wind alone) to be shortsighted and unwise.  The fact that key participants are wind-power enthusiasts should not mean that  other approaches and technologies should be given less consideration in developing a comprehensive energy strategy, and this has clearly and demonstrably been the case.  As we discussed in our previous article, there are advantages and disadvantages to any alternative energy strategy – and as often as not, these can be a reflection of location-specific issues.  While there are many advantages to wind power, there are also aspects of the technology that make it inappropriate to some settings and environments.  Some areas may be inappropriate because of bird-related and other environmental issues, and some may be similarly undesirable due to esthetics.  Trivializing these concerns by waving them off or making inappropriate comparisons does not make them any less important, whether to the environment or concerned citzens. Councilor Glenn Felton is quoted in The Independent as stating “I appreciate the esthetic argument, and always want an unobstructed view of South Mountain,” he said. “My neighbor has a shed, but what do you do—it’s permitted.We all have to find ways to adjust. We can’t just dig our heels in and see no alternative energy because it might interfere with my view of the mountains.” Likening the visual impact of a shed to that of a wind turbine is akin to comparing apples to Winston Churchill.  Further, there is no need to infer that not having wind turbines in residential areas would force us to forego alternative energy – these areas might be better suited to solar applications (solar thermal or photovoltaic) and energy-efficiency upgrades than to wind turbines.  Unfortunately, only the latter is apparently being given any attention at present.

We also criticize the Town’s apparent unwillingness to take a serious look at the potential environmental issues that may be associated with wind turbines.  These concerns were expressed by your editor in a letter to the Town Council, and were apparently brushed aside by Edgewood’s Planning and Zoning head Karen Mahalick at the January 21, 2009 Town Council meeting (minutes).  At that meeting, Ms. Mahalick also appeared dismissive of noise concerns. Your editor has been directly involved in issues associated with siting alternative energy facilities, including wind and solar power, and we wish to state that neither is always appropriate at every location.  While we are supportive of renewable energy initiatives, these simply cannot be considered “green” when they are placed regardless of impacts to other resources and to the human environment.  In short, renewable energy does not necessarily trump other environmental concerns, and the Town of Edgewood has apparently made no attempt whatsoever to gain expert analysis of those issues.

Friday, July 10th, 2009, by John Weckerle and is filed under "Edgewood, Renewable Energy ". You can leave a response here. Pinging is currently not allowed.