NIMBYism is a real challenge when it come to moving forward with clean energy systems. Whether it is homeowner associations blocking solar panels or solar dryers (e.g., clotheslines) or manufactured outrage over offshore wind turbines that would be barely visible from shore, often uninformed but passionate clamor derived from issues of “views” can delay and, sometimes, derail renewable energy systems. While there is increasing opposition to coal-fired power plants, despite industry deception of “clean coal“, the ‘invisibility’ of coal’s massive pollution and the inability of most to connect that pollution to very real impacts (mercury in food, lowered IQs, asthma rates, acidification of the oceans, and, oh yeah, global warming) can make the opposition to the visible, but lower impact/higher benefit, renewable power options much greater than the passion aroused by the typically out-of-sight, out-of-mind coal plant. And, those sorts of knee-jerk opposition efforts are coming back to haunt at least some communities.
St Lucie, Florida, is looking to some significant cuts in its schools and other public services. So what? So are, probably, 1000s of communities across the United States (and the globe).
Well, about a year ago, Florida Power and Light a wind project to put in wind turbines, on the site of a nuclear power plant and some nearby conservation land. Following some reasoned (and well-founded) concerns about issues of putting ‘industrial’ facilities on conservation lands and some real negotiations, FPL modified the proposal to put in six turbines (two fewer than the original proposal), totaling 13.8 mw of capacity just on the land around its nuclear power plant. The concerns, however, went beyond the land issues and a variety of groups
If installed, the project would produce enough power for about X households and generate economic activity within and income for the local community. (Remember, renewable power generates more jobs per kWh than polluting “clean coal” and other fossil foolish options.)
Wind has many economic benefits, from construction and maintenance to leases, land purchases and property taxes. FPL estimates that its $45 million investment in the St. Lucie wind project will generate an average $4.6 million in economic activity per year in the county. In addition, the project will produce up to 75 construction jobs and an estimated $3.5 million in additional property and sales tax revenue in its first year.