Despite concerns, windmills are beneficial~ Letter to the editor

Watertown Daily Times | Despite concerns, windmills are beneficial

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010


I am often amused with what some people in Cape Vincent say or write about windmills. Early on they were described as poorly engineered and accident prone. Pieces of ice were cast off them like high-speed projectiles. Many were reported to catch fire and break up, crushing spectators. Birds, bats and low-flying airplanes were put in danger by the huge rotating blades. Reflection caused blindness, and the sound windmills emitted caused vertigo and ringing ears. The criticism made one feel that a new weapon of mass destruction had been invented, not a means for generating electricity cleanly.

As the debate or battle proceeded and many of the objections proved to be weak indeed, the focus became location. Obviously, this consideration is meritorious as ill-placed windmills could be more than disconcerting. If one were placed on a road, say Route 12E, accidents could happen.

Moving on, we find that the way they are going to be placed profits some of our town board members. Were these deals made to ensure board members' cooperation? Smells like collusion. Is this greed or is this just progress? After all, windmills will also help to lessen our dependence on foreign oil; besides, without some shady deals, not much seems to get done in this country.

What is most important, it seems to me, is that windmills are a step in the right direction, particularly, if one is concerned that clean air will benefit our progeny. Carbon-based fuels are polluting the air we breathe, our oceans and our lands.


There are those who feel that windmills don't belong in Cape Vincent because of the economic reasons. Some people prophesy that our land values will fall. If one preaches that often enough, they will.

Those who claim they are aesthetically displeasing are actually blind to telephone poles and wires, stoplights and ramshackle buildings and homes, and land stripped of trees and covered with blacktop; behold a 40-acre parking lot.

It has been said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I've noticed people visiting Cape Vincent to view the windmills on Wolfe Island: a new tourist attraction for Cape Vincent. Who'd of thunk it?

Robert Cardarelli

Cape Vincent