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small wind
You may not be aware of it, but the most powerful person in your neighborhood is inevitably someone you angered eight years ago when you trimmed a branch from his or her tree that was overhanging a sidewalk, smacking passers-by in the face. At the time, you thought you were doing the community a service by taking care of a nuisance situation. That “good deed” is now coming back to bite you quite hard because you did not consult the tree’s owner before taking action. Your angry neighbor has shown up at the building permit hearing for your wind turbine to vocally oppose its construction. You’re doomed! Sounds like an “urban legend”? Don’t dismiss such a scenario. While the above anecdote was fabricated, far more ludi- crous situations have actually played themselves out in real life, stymieing the most well-planned garage- or deck- construction project. A zoning or building permit hearing in the U.S. is an interesting event, and I encourage everyone to attend one sometime before they die just to see local “democracy” in action. In all other areas of our society, an “accused” is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Not so in a zoning hearing. One neighbor can raise concerns about your con- struction project to the zoning committee for no other reason than they don’t want to look at it, and you will likely be sent home empty-handed of the required building permit. If you argue your case, the burden of proof is on you to con- vincingly counter whatever innuendo your irate neighbor has raised, regardless of how far-fetched it is. What makes people tick? Second, we all form opinions on just about everything we encounter in life. Once formed, those opinions are not easily changed, regardless of the facts. Opinions need not be rational for a person to espouse them quite vocally in public. And due to today’s muddled media coverage, the line has been blurred between fact and opinion. A classic example of this is a “fair and balanced” interview with a credentialed scientist citing pier- reviewed statistics about global climate change, and a coal company public relations firm voicing an “opposing viewpoint” based on the economic interests of their fossil-fuel company client. Third, due to the widespread use of the Internet, misinformation on just about any topic you can think of is pervasive and widespread, and not easily countered once it is in the public arena. All too many people lack the critical thinking skills required to help them differentiate between fact and nonsense. After all, if it’s on the Internet, it must be true. As an ex- ample, many people recite such gems as “the Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space.” In fact, many human structures—highways and dams to name a couple—are visible from orbit. Controlling Your Destiny Take control of the situation, rather than letting the chips fall where they may. You will need to start working on your neighborhood well before you even get estimates for the wind system. Get out and meet your neighbors if you haven’t already done so. Invite them over sometime for snacks and beer. The familiar face of a “nice guy” or “nice gal” is much harder to argue against than a complete stranger. Broach tangential topics during these social gatherings, or even during chance encounters. Talk about the rising cost of gas and electricity, mercury pollution of our lakes due to burning coal to generate electricity, global climate change, the risk of nuclear energy, habitat destruction if we open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or threats to homeland se- curity when we are dependent on others for our energy needs. Look for common interests, similar concerns. Then raise the idea of generating electricity from renewables such as wind and solar—maybe, someday. Emphasize that wind is part of the solution to our energy needs. All of this helps your neighbors to formulate opinions about you and your interests while you open up future possibilities. As you investigate turbine and tower possibilities, share your findings with your new acquaintances. Get their input. They will have lots of questions, which offer you two opportunities. The first is the ability to answer questions with facts and real data instead of having them grope around on the Internet not quite sure what they are looking for, or, worse, stumbling upon whatever misinformation they find on some anti-wind farm Web site. The second opportunity is for more interaction with the very people whose support you most need. Whatever you do, don’t deceive your neighbors or make something up when you do not know the answer. Both will sour the relationship, and tarnish any support you might have garnered in short order. Offer to find out the answers to their questions and get back to them with the results of your research. Then do it. The art of friendly persuasion The biggest group, and the ones that will need the most attention, are the folks who have not yet formed an opinion, nei- ther pro nor con. They will likely have some questions and concerns about your wind turbine, and it is in your best inter- est to ferret these out and address them. Are they concerned about sound? Get the sound reports from the manufacturer of the turbine you are considering. Better yet, find a similar turbine and let them know where it is so that they can listen to it themselves. Are they concerned about a threat to birds or wildlife? Allay these fears with information from any number of environmental organizations which endorse wind power over fossil-fueled generation. Most concerns are legitimate, if for no other reason than the person raising the issue does not know the answer, and, as such, need to be addressed seriously. In fact, this is your responsibility, as well as in your self-interest to address the questions and concerns before someone else does. Many people will never have encountered a small wind turbine be- fore, or if they did, it was in the early 1980s, the era of wind experimentation. Today’s small wind turbines bear as much resemblance to the turbines of 25 years ago as today’s cars represent automotive technology from that earlier period. Some concerns, however, are not legitimate, based instead on hype and instilling fear, the forte of the anti-wind farm
Web sites. Are they concerned about Give and take
To a point, that is. Offering to install a 30-foot tower amid 60-foot trees so that your neighbor will not have to look at the turbine is counterproductive, to say the least. You need to explain, forcefully, why such a solution is unacceptable. If you have made any allies during your preparatory visits with neighbors, ask them to either attend the hearing in your support, or send a letter supporting your request for a building permit to the committee considering your application. Zoning officials are nose counters. If the number opposing you outnumber you and your supporters at the hearing, even though the vast bulk of your neighbors either support you or don’t care one way or another, you will not get the permit you need. It is imperative that you enlist allies to voice their opinions in public. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Ten peo- ple who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent.” Don’t ever allow yourself to be outnumbered. You’re not done These follow-up activities will help pave the way for others who wish to pursue their own wind systems. copyright 2007 by Mick Sagrillo Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and
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