.gif)
Open letter to Colorado County on wind energy Dear Editor:
My name is Barrett Thomas. I was raised in Eagle Lake, graduated from Rice High School, and remained a Colorado County resident until recently retiring from the Army after serving 20 years as an activeduty Infantry officer and am now a renewable energy developer.
As someone with great love for our country and Colorado County, it is disheartening to hear statements implying that wind energy is “harmful development,” particularly when the benefits wind energy can bring are substantial.
Some communities have legitimate concerns about something new and specifically wind farms coming into their local area; however, wind farms should not be considered a “nuisance” but rather viewed as a significant boon to the local economy.
I have witnessed wind farms positively transform communities through the tax revenue, jobs, and lease payments they generate, which directly benefits county schools and other essential services. This additional funding can be a great advantage to maintaining and improving our educational facilities, supporting our teachers, and enhancing student programs. In a time when many rural schools struggle with funding shortages, the financial support from wind farms can be transformative – often in the tens of millions of dollars for counties and school districts.
Moreover, the revenue from wind farms bolsters the county’s budget, allowing for better infrastructure, public safety, and community services. This financial injection helps in maintaining and improving the quality of life for all residents.
I grew up working in the rice fields every summer and many members of my family farm to this day. Wind farms can present substantial benefits to our agricultural community. Contrary to concerns that they might harm farming operations, wind projects support local agriculture. They provide farmers with a steady income through lease agreements that can make tough years on the farm much less so.
Additionally, these leases, that are often 30 years or more, ensure that farmland remains in production rather than being sold off for other developments such as urban sprawls or ranchettes. Wind farms can preserve the open space that helps maintain our county’s rural character and mitigates the environmental impact associated with sprawling developments.
As our demand for energy continues to grow, wind energy can play a vital role in meeting that demand at a very low cost. The levelized cost of wind energy is lower than all forms of conventional energy and assists in keeping energy cost down.
Opposition to wind farms, often based on hyperbolic rhetoric, misconceptions, or fears of their impact, fails to acknowledge the comprehensive benefits these projects bring to our community.
I ask the citizens of Colorado County to consider the long-term advantages of wind energy projects. In my travels across the country, I have personally witnessed the positive benefits these projects can have for farmers, communities, and schools. I am happy to avail myself to discuss such projects anytime and encourage Colorado County to seek these opportunities out rather than attempt to shut the door on them before they even come knocking.
Barrett Thomas
