Published: 01/31/2008
Newburyport embraces wind power
It is good to see Newburyport officials welcome wind power.
Of course there must be rules governing the construction of wind turbines - with the price of conventional energy continuing to spike, the interest in turbines is spiking along with it. And any structure standing high enough to catch the wind needs reasonable regulation.
But the attitude of local officials - at least so far - is to embrace and guide the development of wind power in Newburyport, not block it, as is unfortunately the case in Amesbury, where a proposed ordinance governing the construction of turbines was so restrictive that it essentially blocks all but a very few of them.
The city's Planning Board has created a three-member subcommittee to draft an ordinance that would govern wind turbines. The initial draft will just cover commercial ventures. Planning Director Nancy Colbert said the board will turn to rules for residential areas next.
The subcommittee will no doubt make sure its rules are reasonable and won't suppress what ought to be a citywide initiative. This is as it should be.
The promotion of wind power in the city is good for a number of reasons:
As Colbert notes, Newburyport is blessed, as a coastal community, with a relatively steady supply of wind. It blows for free - nobody charges anything for it. Wind farms have been proven to be a reliable source of energy, and the technology to harness wind has steadily advanced.
Second, it is hypocritical to complain about high energy prices, or to advocate for less energy use and a cleaner environment, and then oppose the use of alternative sources, even if they are not the most aesthetic structures in the city. Newburyport is marketing itself as a "green" city, a move that most can agree is both smart and responsible. So it needs to lead the way in showing other communities the proper course to becoming "green."
Finally, officials should keep in mind that the resistance to wind turbines is, at least partially, based on fear of the unknown or of any kind of change. Most people don't even notice the utility poles and wires that have stretched along the sides of most local streets for generations. But if they were the brand-new way to get electric power and utility companies were seeking to erect them for the first time, they would likely face fierce opposition.
And most people have managed to get used to cellphone towers, as ugly as they can be. At least windfarms have a certain gracefulness to them.
