Wind turbines destroy precious farmland

Every story about wind energy in Iowa states that 25 percent of electricity generated comes from wind. That statement is true only if the wind is blowing strong enough to generate electricity from wind turbines. Historically it's blowing strong enough less than 40 percent of the time, which means 60 percent of the time it is generating zero percent. Rock Island Clean Line will not answer 'What happens when the wind stops?”

Your editorial ('Energy export,” April 6) told about the thousands of jobs during construction and 500 permanent jobs, but RICL admits almost all permanent jobs are associated with the wind turbines and not the line itself. You fail to acknowledge our argument against RICL deals only with the proposed route which bisects farms clear across the state destroying some of the best farmland in the world. Every single inch is on private land.

I am disturbed you would repeat the lie from RICL that 'only 10 total acres are destroyed across the state” which leads me to believe you have no concept of what this does to a farming operation. The reality is 10 acres per mile, which would be close to 4,000 acres across the state.

Your editorial fails to point out wind electricity is more expensive than coal, gas, oil, hydroelectric and nuclear. There would be no investment in alternative 'clean,” 'green” energy without government subsidies, which makes RICL more problematic with the possibility it could become the 'bridge to nowhere!”

Jerry Crew

Preservation of

Rural Iowa Alliance

Webb