Point of View

For over a year there has been a great deal of controversy over a program to establish wind farms on the ridges of Delaware County. Many letters to the editor have been written to area newspapers and the war in Iraq has taken a back seat to the controversy over wind farms. It served to divide some of those that had been united in their opposition to the war. Those that were writing letters to the editorial section of newspaper against the occupation of Iraq began presenting their opposing views on wind farms.

A letter in the Oneonta Star convinced me that not everyone involved in the debate had selfish motives or were limited in their point of view. The perspective presented in the following letter to the editor, by Tom and Diane Beers of Stamford, N.Y. demonstrated a sincere concerned for the common good, which was very refreshening.

“One of us is a Stamford native and the other a transplant from a large city. Our full-time home sits above 2,700 feet, with a magnificent view of the Adirondack, Green, Berkshire and Catskill mountains. Our south wall is glass, and faces Mount Utsayantha and the Moresville Range, the site of the proposed wind farm.

We hope to soon add windmills to our view, and this is what we will see:

Clean, renewable, homegrown energy. No air, water or ground pollution. Minimal impact on the environment compared to drilling or digging for fossil fuels, particularly in sensitive environment and natural treasures. Healthier humans, animals, fish, birds, trees and plants. Community tax benefits. Jobs. Financial incentive for the continuation of family farms. Less dependence on foreign oil, so one fewer reason to go to war. A healthier and safer environment for children, grandchildren, their children and the world at large.

It’s time we do our part!”