There was a huge controversy over the Sheffield ridge wind turbines over the past few years. After much fighting the First Wind company was granted the permits they needed to start constructing their wind farm on the ridge. Personally, I have no political agenda when it comes to the wind farm, I don't live in Sheffield and I don't know what the impact of the farm will be on the people who live there (for the record I live about 7 miles away, and I don't yet know what impact it will have here either).
What I will say is my opinion on the visual aspect of the new addition to Vermont's landscape, which is that I think they are beautiful, in a strange and awkwardly tall way. They have an imposing grace, if you will. I know that is contradictory to everything else that is being said, but let me explain...
I can smell the earth, there is no smog to interfere,
I can hear the crickets and peepers all summer, there is no traffic to block out the sound,
I have been privileged to experience the changing of seasons, the harshest of winters, the most colorful of falls, the sweetest of springs and the stickiest of summers.
I have not lost these loves because of the project, and I don't expect I will.
There are many who say that aesthetically these towers are an eyesore, they ruin our landscape and deter tourists from visiting because they mar the landscape of our natural hills. That may be true, I don't claim to know the whims or photographic preferences of our visitors.
What I do know is these "metallic monsters" have grown up one, after another, after another over the past few weeks and each one has added a juxtaposition to our ever changing landscape that keeps me watching the horizon. I stare, not because I am horrified, but because I am fascinated.
400 feet of power producing protuberance (that may be one of the most awkward things I have ever typed)
So what do you think, graceful giants? or awful eyesores?
2 comments:
I also think they are quite beautiful. And I think there are pros and cons to everything. However, we have been relying on everyone else's resources for so long, it's about time we started using our own.
I also think they are quite beautiful. And I think there are pros and cons to everything. However, we have been relying on everyone else's resources for so long, it's about time we started using our own.
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