We've noted before that with wind power, "if it's not one thing, it's another." The newest thing appears in Maine, where wind turbine protesters cite a brand-new medical malady. Maybe big pharma can develop a pill for it someday, but in the meantime ... welcome "turbine anticipation anxiety syndrome."
An article in the Portland Press Herald cites a Dr. Monique Aniel, "a retired radiologist who lives in Mexico." She says Maine's process for setting wind power goals "seems to have ignored medical and environmental concerns ... and the well-being of residents near the mountains that are targeted for turbines."
"People have what I call "turbine anticipation anxiety syndrome," she told the newspaper.
Dr. Aniel's concern supports the view that a number of Mainers apparently have developed: that the state's goal of 2,000 MW from wind by 2015 and 3,000 MW by 2020 is just too much. Both onshore and offshore installations are included in the vision.
Protesters planned to be at the Augusta Civic Center for yesterday's Maine Wind Energy Conference, objecting to what they call a too-cozy relationship between state officials and wind power developers and to the visual and other effects wind installations will have. "You're not going to be able to go anywhere in western Maine and see the silhouette of mountains against the sky," one resident lamented.
No one commenting on the paper's article seemed to be worried about the new syndrome, though it could be that they were just too overcome by it.
It's always something.
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