Wind power attracts its share of proponents and critics.  I have received my fair share of nasty-grams touting wind power not as a panacea, but as just one tool in our country’s energy kit.  The debate over wind power has hit a fever pitch across the country, from the Pacific Northwest to New England.

Former Maine Governor Angus King, an independent, sounded off today against critics of wind power.  Calling out a Saudi Prince who told Fareed Zakaria on CNN that he hopes the US does not find alternatives to fossil fuels, Gov. King has this to say to wind opponents:

The truth is that we face a stark reality in energy. Either we stay addicted to oil or go and find alternatives (there's that phrase again), which means two things: change and choices. The question isn't whether we need energy -- it's the basis of our economy and daily life -- but rather where will it come from and what are the costs and trade-offs between the various options for producing it. The key word here is choice, and doing nothing is, in itself, a choice -- almost undoubtedly the wrong one.

No one wants wind turbines in their own backyard, but we do not want to pay high energy prices, either.  The debate in Maine is just one of many occurring throughout the USA--but sending money outside of your state for energy sourced from elsewhere is not a great option in the long run.

Read the entire op-ed in the Portland Press Telegram.

Photo is of Farmington, Maine.

About The Author

Leon Kaye

Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division, GGP Media. Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event. His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He writes for San Francisco-based Triple Pundit, Inhabitat and now The Guardian, for which he writes about corporate responsibility, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's Architect Magazine. Leon works out of Fresno and Silicon Valley, California, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 60 countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.