Something To Think About!

     In the May 11th. issue of Parade the following article appeared concerning renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and wave motion. It raises questions I have not heard before. Shouldn't these questions also be considered in any discussion of conventional vs. renewable sources? It seems no source is without its own set of problems.



Ask Marilyn, By marilyn vos Savant

Do wind farms affect weather, at least locally:?

-Edward B., Vancouver, Washington

     Yes, and the more widespread they become, the more these changes will go beyond the
immediate area. Some effects, such as ground warming and drying for miles around, are
already known, but cumulative effects on the weather - especially if wind farming grows
significantly -- are unpredictable.

    One point to note is that while wind farms are a source of renewable energy, this doesn’t
mean they - and other forms of renewable energy, for that matter - don’t cause change. Even improved engineering of the turbines ( to reduce turbulence, etc.) cannot eliminate the fact that
the machines remove energy from the wind, and this will have an impact on the weather and ultimately the climate.


     Marilyn Vos Savant (born August 11, 1946) is an American magazine columnist, author, lecturer, and playwright who rose to fame through her former listing in the Guinness Book of World Records under "Highest IQ." Since 1986 she has written "Ask Marilyn," a Parade magazine Sunday column where she solves puzzles and answers questions on various subjects.



Cathy Gangwer  5 / 15/ 2014