Mr. Frank J. Morelli posted this as a comment on my blog entitled, Wind Farms in the Glades, another Bad Idea. As his points are well said, I have moved his commentary up to the front page.Two Bad Ideas
Last week the Palm Beach County Commission decided to grow and burn sugarcane on the old Mecca Farms property, and this week the Commission approved 12,900 acres of wind turbines that will ultimately employ 15 to 20 skilled workers in the Glades, where more than 4000 residents are looking for jobs.
Unemployment rates in November were 44.9 percent in South Bay and 30.4 percent in Pahokee.
Environmental groups are concerned about the negative environmental impact of over one-hundred, 30 story high fans. Besides, there are less expensive and more efficient ways to conserve energy like the renewable, geothermal, self-sufficient Free Enterprise Agency plan that I proposed three years ago for the Glades.
If the county had employed that plan there would now be 2000 permanent light manufacturing jobs in the Glades.
Burning sugarcane off the Mecca Farms property is a really bad idea. In the Glades burning is a long standing practice and anyone who moves under the rain of ash cannot complain, but residents who are already situated next to the old Mecca Farms debacle are entitled to continue to enjoy clean air.
I believe the Commissioners are about to buy more lawsuits. Why close sugar production in the Glades, take away their jobs, only to create a nuisance and jobs in Palm Beach Gardens?
Not only will environmentalists sue to prevent the Mecca Farms sugarcane burning, but nearby residents will have a cause of action sounding in nuisance.
I proposed the creation of a county association to be formed to construct and operate a job training and production facility for 2000 workers. The then President of the Florida Senate Jeffery Atwater favored the plan. I drafted legislation and offered it to Senator Larcenia Bullard who proposed a modified plan for Miami-Dade.
Commissioner Aaronson, usually a cautious member of the Commission, favors the Wind Turbines and wants to proceed without hearing from environmental groups.
I think that is a mistake. Environmental groups are poised to stop 114 whirling fans that will only employ 10 to 15 workers and the fast moving blades will kill 40 times that many birds each year.
Burning and turbines are two really bad ideas for the economy and the environment.
Frank J. Morelli, Wellington
This is just another green energy scam.
ReplyDeleteWe will read about thousands of migratory birds getting slaughtered out there. Thanks Burt.
ReplyDeleteSo if we can only have 20 jobs, we should forget about it. 300 birds a year? Southern Boulevard in Wellington kills more every week! You are obviously a NIMBY proponent who is in favor of green alternatives as long as they don't occur within 300 miles of your personal space. Good luck with that.
ReplyDeleteOh, So the comments can only be approved by the blogger. Nice dialogue!
ReplyDelete