A wind power company is exploring building a set of large windmills in Alexandria, Grafton and Danbury, whose 140-foot blades would power 60,000 homes. Atlantic Wind has already built a wind farm in Lempster. The one near Cardigan would comprise two dozen towers as tall as 250 feet apiece. Most of us in Orange wouldn't see it, but it would be clearly visible from the summit of Cardigan. The company has already built data-collection towers on Melvin Mountain, Forbes Mountain, and Tinkham Hill, according to the Valley News. (You can read the newspaper's story here.)
The wind farm itself would take years to build at a cost of about $120 million, and current energy economics don't make it a sure thing. But wind power seems inevitable in our neck of the woods. What do you think about it?
The Orange Conservation Commission discussed it, and Dorothy Heinrichs looked about for information. You'll find the best summary here. Other useful links:
National Geographic: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/wind-power-profile/
American Wind Energy Association: http://www.awea.org/learnabout/publications/upload/4Q-11-New-Hampshire.pdf
Pros and Cons: http://energyinformative.org/wind-energy-pros-and-cons/
June 7, 2012 article on anti-wind movement in Vermont: http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/07/path-for-turbine-wind-projects-not-getting-any-easier-in-vermont/
If you have an opinion of your own on the issue, feel free to comment below. Or start a new discussion in the Discussion Board. Just don't be too windy!