(Rewrite of post from 9/26)

Walking out to the Knoll on a brisk fall day, it’s impossible not to notice the aggressive winds that dominate the treeless landscape. As summer rushes away, winter floods in to fill the seasonal vacuum. It feels wrong for so much energy to race across the fields, unimpeded and unharnessed. In theory, New England’s valleys and mountains would be the ideal location for windmills. 

Wind energy is the epitome of engineering’s potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. Vermont embraces nuanced solutions to climate change, so it seems fitting that wind energy would be an example. Contradicting supposed environmental values, the state has a moratorium on windmills for aesthetic reasons. The nearby Adirondacks, however, have none of the state restrictions prohibiting wind power, and all the same suit-abilities for wind power as Vermont. However, the aesthetic dilemma associated with 300-foot tall structures remains. To combat climate change, aesthetics can’t become a limiting factor. Places like New York and Vermont must fully embrace wind power as a weapon in the fight against climate change, despite its visual displeasure. 

As a state, New York has a considerably greater need for renewable energy. In 2019, New York legislators passed a law promising zero energy emissions by 2040. The state’s population is significantly urban, which means renewable energy relies on its rural regions, like Adirondack Park. However, a 20-year-old Adirondack Park Association policy prohibits structures over 40 feet without special approval (wind turbines reach about 300 feet.) This means that the only wind farms in the area are outside the park’s boundaries. 

Aside from bureaucratic obstacles, Park residents and environmental groups have presented many other worries about wind energy. Windmills would be most successful on mountain tops, which requires land to be cleared and results in views being obstructed. Doing so would decrease the tourism appeal of the area, hurting an already struggling economy. Further, wind farm employees would likely have to be brought in from outside the area, since residents aren’t trained in the field. 

The arguments against windmills are valid concerns, especially considering the vulnerability of rural mountain economies. While it’s important to honor the views of locals, some of their claims are provably false. The arguments against implementing wind energy farms in Adirondack Park could have made sense 30 years ago. Recent studies on windmills across the US have shown that their presence doesn’t actually decrease property values. Today, the climate crisis has never been more urgent. It’s time to concede hopes of preserving romantic rural landscapes for the sake of our earth. By making use of pre-existing natural processes, places like the Adirondacks can be preserved long term.