02/13/2023
Rural counties fight push for more wind turbines
More than $370 billion in U.S. taxpayer money is set to be spent on clean energy projects, like wind turbines and solar panels, in the coming years. But, some Americans oppose plans to build the giant turbines in rural counties where there is plenty of wind and available land. "These huge industrial wind turbines you will see for miles," said Jon Winkelpleck of Tama County, Iowa. "It's our job to protect our farmland." Still, other farmers welcome the thousands of dollars a year they can collect for allowing the wind machines on their land.
■Class discussion: Should a farmer or rancher be able to object to a neighbor allowing wind turbines on their own land? Why or why not? Should land-owners be able to object to oil wells, fracking or coal mining on neighboring land? Would you rather live near wind turbines and solar panels or oil fields and coal mines? Which is worse for your health and the environment? Do you think we need to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources? Is it worth spending billions of taxpayer dollars to make the switch? What are the problems in changing to clean energy?