Many local activists say the rush to renewables, backed by Obama, risks trading one power problem for another
By Dan Springer FOXNews.com Tuesday, May 05, 2009 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/05/environmentalists-wage-fight-obamas-energy-plan/
A key part of President Obama's energy plan -- replacing fossil fuels with green alternatives -- is facing increasing opposition from an unlikely source: environmentalists.
Some environmentalists, who have successfully fought a wind farm on the border of Oregon and Washington, are trying to block a massive solar plant in the Mojave desert. And now an Oregon county is considering a ban on wind power in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
"We all want to be as green as we can be. But at what cost?" Richard Jolly of the Blue Mountain Alliance. "To take everything from us? This valley could be surrounded by them."
Jolly says 400-foot wind turbines are a bird-killing eyesore. The developer argues the danger to birds is exaggerated but admits every big energy project has its downside.
"If we hold out for the perfect environmental silver bullet, if you will, it will always be 15 years down the road," he said. "We have to make incremental progress."
For decades, environmental groups have talked about "big oil," painting the petroleum industry as greedy and destructive. Now similar language is being applied to renewables. Instead of eco-friendly green power, increasingly it's "big wind" and "big solar."
Large environmental groups, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, bristle at the idea of dissension in the ranks.
"We are working very aggressively to make a planning process happen with utilities, with industry, with local groups all at the table," said Rick Duke, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's Center for Market Innovation.
Obama has set a goal of getting 25 percent of the nation's power from renewable sources by 2025. The White House contends that will create millions of jobs and has the support of business and environmental leaders.
But many local activists say we need to slow this rush to renewables or risk trading one power problem for another.
