Tilting at windmills once again

12:00AM / Wednesday, December 15, 2004Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor, To adequately refute all of the statements made by Eleanor Tillinghast in her most recent article [Advocate, Dec. 9] would take far more time and space than I have, but I will mention as many as I can. Her article begins by stating the tip height of various wind turbines above sea level. How this relates to environmental impacts I do not know, since the tallest point in Massachusetts is a TV tower. There are only two wind projects anywhere close to completion in the Berkshires, and both have gone or are going through extensive review, as would any project of this magnitude. The Hoosac Range in Florida was not even mentioned by the Berkshire Natural Resource Council in the BRPC regional plan as deserving special protection. Yet somehow the destruction of Berkshire County is eminent? The general sensation one receives in Tillinghast's article is that various environmental, governmental and local organizations are arrayed in a vast conspiracy to desecrate and ruin "our ridgelines, quality of life and tourism economy." The fact of the matter remains that reliable and scientific studies show wind turbines may actually improve tourism and home values. Tillinghast then misrepresents the stateâ€™s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard by not recognizing that the RPS can be satisfied by projects outside of Massachusetts, which meet certain requirements. She also uses figures from the United Kingdom and Germany, which are simply not applicable to todayâ€™s wind turbines. Regarding conservation, it is obvious that energy conservation must be a truly important part of our future, as must sustainable agriculture and population. However, energy conservation cannot be considered a source of energy. Wind energy is the only viable source of electricity that does not result in large-scale pollution or radioactivity, and as Berkshire Windâ€™s recent long-term contract illustrates, the price of wind can be significantly lower than that of traditional sources. Tillinghast seems quite certain about the subsidies Hoosac Wind might receive, but totally neglects the 200 billion dollars in various direct and indirect subsides provided to traditional sources... every year. At one point Tillinghast claims that Florida â€œrejected a wind power plant proposal 20 years ago.â€ In fact, the article referenced on her Web site makes no such statement. Moving on to public opinion, the handful of news articles sited by Tillinghast does not change the fact that the majority of citizens in European countries continue to support the changeover to renewable energy, and some polls indicate increased approval among people who live near a turbine, or have visited one. According to the BBC, â€œInitial concerns over the impact of turbines on the landscape, noise and construction traffic, had largely vanished after development was completed.â€ In the final footnote provided on Tillinghastâ€™s Web site, she seems to state that since some of our pollution comes from China or the Midwest, it is not worthwhile to reduce pollution locally. Global warming and pollution are a global problem, and not recognizing this, in my opinion, is more likely to â€œruin our environmentâ€ than anything else. There is not a â€œrush to wind power.â€ This is the steady progression of a technology, as well as a society. A society that recognizes the importance of a stable, renewable, clean source of power, when done correctly as governmental agencies have certified time and again. Simon Zelazo Florida The writer is a member of Citizens Using Renewable Energy

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Unpaved Cycling Event to Benefit Jimmy Fund

Community submission12:36PM / Monday, September 14, 2026

LENOX, Mass. -- The Pan-Mass Challenge will once again bring together hundreds of cyclists and volunteers in the scenic Berkshires of Massachusetts for PMC Unpaved, the organization’s charitable gravel ride and camp experience on Saturday, Oct. 3.

All money raised through PMC Unpaved goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In 2026, the PMC aims to raise a record breaking $79 million.

The 2026 event marks the fifth annual PMC Unpaved. The experience will kick off on Friday, Oct. 2, as participants gather around a campfire at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac to enjoy s’mores, live music, and a shared mission to end cancer.

Cycling begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and includes three gravel route options spanning 20, 30, and 50 miles. Riders enjoy the paved and unpaved country roads of the Berkshires through western Massachusetts and even into New York state.

Immediately following the ride, the PMC Unpaved camp experience continues with live entertainment, activities for riders and their loved ones, and a speaking program featuring PMC leadership and members of PMC’s Living Proof community, riders and volunteers who were previously treated or are currently undergoing cancer treatment and who serve as Living Proof of the progress made through raising funds for cancer research and treatment.

Those interested in experiencing PMC Unpaved for themselves can visit unpaved.org for more information, including details about day-of registration.

View Full Story