October 11, 2018
By Ellen Cardone Banks, Atlantic Chapter Conservation Chair
The Sierra Club has embraced the goal of a just transition to 100% renewable energy in all sectors — electric power, transportation and energy use — no later than 2050. The scientific consensus is that we must call for nothing less if we are to hold back the most catastrophic effects of climate change and mitigate mass extinction of species. Clean renewable energy will substantially reduce the harms to human health from greenhouse gases and provide thousands of new jobs.
One obstacle to public acceptance of the 100% goal is lack of awareness that it is attainable. Even though technology moves quickly, as we can see from the past 20 to 40 years with computers and cell phones, people look at cars on the highways, furnaces in their homes, and the ubiquitous messaging that natural gas is “clean” and can’t envision things changing so much. It’s up to us to convince our friends and neighbors that it can happen. Scientists, such as DeLucchi and Jacobson in 2010 and others since then, have “done the math” and shown that we can stop burning all fossil fuel and phase out nuclear power by 2050.
There are many pieces that lead toward these goals. Energy efficiency is crucial, and a 3% reduction per year proposed for New York State energy storage is vital, and is moving fast. Transportation, responsible for about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, must be electrified — not only passenger cars but public transportation and movement of goods. Rooftop solar and ground-sourced heat pumps will contribute for households. The best calculations indicate that large-scale solutions are essential: solar, offshore wind and land-based wind. Small changes alone can’t get it done, regardless of wishful thinking.
Of these large-scale solutions, it appears that land-based wind has faced the most opposition in our state, even though it has been safe and successful in New York, other parts of the country and abroad. The largest wind farm in our state, Maple Ridge on the Tug Hill plateau north of the Adirondacks, with almost 200 turbines and 325 MW capacity, was built with very little to no opposition and was welcomed by local residents (I’ve interviewed residents of this community). It has been peacefully co-existing with dairy farms and wildlife, bringing jobs, income and energy to the region since 2006.
Since Maple Ridge started operating, a multi-state, highly coordinated, antiscientific opposition, with supposed evidence of “dark money”/ fossil-fuel funding, has been deployed to several areas of New York State along the Lake Ontario and Erie shore areas, where wind projects have been proposed. They have predicted massive harm to birds — contrary to all evidence from similar wind installations. They have warned of strange adverse health effects not supported by properly conducted studies. They have warned of harm to military radar despite Department of Defense support for wind and required DOD clearance of projects. They have predicted reduced real estate values — again, with no evidence.
Opponents have circulated alarming and false brochures of bizarre wind-turbine mishaps (bursting into flames and flinging their blades across the countryside) and moved in to gain power in local government boards. Retired elected officials have been given big anti-wind lobbying contracts from small communities that are already in distress. One of these towns lost tax income from a shut-down coal plant and has had to cut back on its school budget and local services. Instead of embracing the financial benefits of wind power they are taking on debt to oppose it.
Recently, a new ploy has emerged to denounce wind farms as “corporate” invaders of communities — a particularly cynical move considering that fossil fuel corporations are among the largest corporations on earth. Yes, community-based renewable energy is an ideal but to get to 100% clean energy as soon as required, we cannot rely on small, individually funded solutions alone. Most of the products we use are “corporate,” after all.
Sierra Club values include commitment to just transitions, including appropriate landowner and community compensation, construction jobs with union-scale pay and benefits, and proper siting of wind turbines to protect wildlife. We should demand all these features in large-scale power projects. Wind power is the safest and least land-intensive, large-scale energy source. As Sierra Club members, we are committed to science and evidence. Land-based wind has earned our support.