TimesArgus.com - We Are Vermont

Windmills won't replace Yankee



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Published: August 13, 2008

Do not pull the plug on Vermonters. The Democrats have this great desire to close down Vermont Yankee. The latest buzz is windmill power. It's clean, it's green and Al Gore loves them.

How many windmills will it take to replace the power Vermont Yankee provides? How much will the windmill endeavor cost?

How long will it be before the windmills will be cited for the obstruction of migratory birds and special (expensive) modifications will need to be added to the windmills? You know like the fish ladders that hydro dams needed to add to make sure salmon get back to their spawning areas. It might be just as simple as drawing a scarecrow on the blades.

Then the question becomes where to put the windmills. I'm sure the proponents of windmills will not want them marring their vista views in their towns. Democrats usually come up with these ideas — but stipulate "not in my neighborhood."

Then of course there is the solar option. I don't know about your neck of the woods, but Barre was not too good of a solar option this past month. We might have generated enough power to run our microwaves for about four minutes.

Bottom line: If it ain't broke, don't shut Vermont Yankee down. Don't pull the plug on Vermonters.

John Santorello

Barre







READER COMMENTS


Where do these guys get their dreamed up stuff? Is this published somewhere by the business-loving, people-hating GOP?

It's not just the Dems who want that dangerous, falling-apart relic decommissioned (I think that's the term, John, not "shut down"). It's shut down about half the time anyway as it's so old and creaky - and out-and-out dangerous.

So, you're for species-decimation too, Johnny? I think the fishermen among us might see those fish ladders differently from you. It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature.

Hey, here's one non-GOP who would be happy to see wind generators (not "wind mills," Johnny. Geezum, how old are you?) all around the hills near my house. I've seen them in Pennsylvania and Ireland and they are beautiful things to behold. And Johnny, the birds aren't as stupid as you think. Not too many of them end up on the blades. They'll be OK. You see, the difference between them and the fish is that they CAN go around the obstacle by themselves. Think about it. I know you'll understand.

As for solar, I may give solar hot water heating a try next year if the GOPs in Congress will stop blocking legislation that favors alternative energy over their billion-dollar cash cows called "the oil companies."
-- Posted by Jest Askin on Wed, Aug 13, 2008, 11:00 pm EST

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Sure thing, John Boy. After all, how could collapsing cooling towers, charter membership in the leak of the week club, decom fund shortfalls and getting written up by the Shrub/Cheney NRC forcing even the likes of doogie the dim to the point where he says" it's like Homer Simpson is running the place" possibly give anyone the idea that Vt Yankee is "broke".

Ya wanna tell me how Saddam's WMD was right where Rummy said it was all along now, too, since you're on such a roll and all.
-- Posted by Jake Giddes on Wed, Aug 13, 2008, 12:31 pm EST

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