Mon Sep 29, 2008 at 09:57:58 PM EDT
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Did you know that windmills are a part of the problem, not the solution? Neither did I, but that's what former Mayor turned Assemblyman Scott Rumana apparently had to say:Or think about the car-wash owner on Hamburg Pike in Wayne who was told by then-Mayor Scott Rumana a windmill there -- against a backdrop of strip malls and by-the-highway retailers -- might skew local aesthetics or be noisily unsafe. Yes, you read that right boys and girls. The problem is not the traffic, noise and energy used by the strip malls and highway retailers, it would be the noise and look of a horrible windmill. God forbid. I have no problem with the strip malls as this is New Jersey, but I don't see how a windmill skews the aesthetics. Wayne isn't alone shunning alternative energy sources:Take sea-swept Long Beach Township on Long Beach Island. Renewable energy stock, such as windmills, are banned there. Think about that for a second, renewable energy stock, such as windmills are banned. What sense does that make. We have elected officials and candidates for office at every level of government screaming about becoming energy independent while at the same time NJ towns not only pass on the chance, but ban the possibility of making that happen.For his part, the EnviroPolitics blog reports that Governor Corzine is set to have NJ "dip its toe" in the windmill waters: Later this week, Governor Jon Corzine is expected to announce New Jersey's choice to receive a $19 million grant to develop a 350 megawatt, ocean-wind pilot project. If the project demonstrates that wind energy can succeed without significant environment damage, the state likely will ramp up its demand for ocean-wind power to as much as 3,000 megawatts. This is a big step forward, but apparently there are going to be many more hurdles along the way including local control. Let's hope they can be overcome so that the energy rhetoric is not stifled by outdated local regulations. |
| Jason Springer :: Despite continued local resistance, NJ set to move forward on Windmills |
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