Wind Turbines as Terrorist Threat: Yeah, Right
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 12.19.07
We’re kind of used to critics of wind power here at TreeHugger. We’ve already heard about, and debunked, the idea that wind turbines are a massive threat to bird life, and our reporting of the New York Times trashing of turbines kicked up a lively debate. However, thanks to Rob Hopkins of Transition Culture, we’ve just heard of a new argument against renewable energy that, quite frankly, has us stumped: apparently the newly announced plans for the expansion of offshore wind power in the UK makes a prime target for terrorists. The claim comes from a letter to the Metro Newspaper by David Hill of the rather mysterious looking World Innovation Fund. Normally, at this point we would voice our incredulity and outrage. Rob Hopkins, however, does it so well that we’ll let him pick up the story:
I have since been wracking my brain as to how a terrorist cell might actually set about making any meaningful impact of thousands of wind turbines situated out at sea. They might hijack an airplane and crash it into, at most, 4 turbines, a somewhat pointless exercise. They might attempt to haul a large amount of welding equipment out to sea, with a generator, in order to try and fell a turbine, a pretty momentous task, and one that would presumably be spotted remotely pretty quickly. They could sail out with a boat full of semtex and then sail from turbine to turbine setting explosive charges. Beyond that I am pretty non-plussed as to how even the most dedicated and maniacal terrorist could have any significant impact on thousands of wind turbines located off shore.I have heard some daft arguments against wind turbines in my time, but I think this is by far the silliest. It is if a terrorist cell decides to target a nuclear power station, or even a coal-fired power station that we need to be extremely worried, as the results could be catastrophic. Surely the terrorist threat is a reason to support wind, not reject it. Or have I missed something here?!
I wonder if the same logic, that decentralised energy systems are somehow an inherent magnet for terrorists, extends to other technologies? Does putting solar panels on the roof make you more or a target for terrorists? Would a wood pellet boiler mean that you could be targetted? If Mr Hill has any specific information, I think we should be told.::Metro::via Transition Culture::
A look at the membership roster evidences that ,as has long been known, there are two kinds of PhDs, those with:
Doctorate in Philosophy
and those with...
Bovine excrement Piled higher and Deeper
I wonder if the David Hill is the same person who wrote
The High Wind Blows (Paperback).
Synopsis (according to Amazon)
Girls, scientists, mystery and intrigue - and an exciting trip to NASA to save the world (well, almost). A fast-moving, easy-to-read novel for early teens.
---------
It looks like Mr Hill is well versed in fantasy.
Or, one could realize that by generating alternative forms of energy, the western world will avoid influence-inducing politics for the sake of energy control and terrorists can go back to Jihadding with each other. There will be no need for the Western world to go to war based on ficticious evidence amd therfore there will be no more terrorists gunning for the West, because they'll be busy killing each other based on WWMD. Addition by subtraction!
Renewable energy would likely be seen by luddite fundamentalists as a positive attempt by wasteful Western cultures to change their ways. The World Trade Center was selected by terrorists for what it represented.
We had better dismantle our bridges, malls, and overland power lines. Maybe they should put up a bunch of decoy windmills in Iraq and Afganistan.
Stuff's gotta get done. I don't know why all the voice against it. These are the same people who complain about high energy prices and brownouts.
They look like functional art. Get them up as fast as possible. The towers can also hold pv solar panels as well. The energy is out there raining down on us. I am rambling.
vsk
But what about the poor birds? Just kidding. Brian is on the right track. "Terrorists" aren't out to destroy the world, they're out to save it (from western influence/domination/corruption/etc.).
C02: we call it life.
Wind turbines: we call them threats to national security.
Here are a list of things that aren't terrorist targets, and should therefore be built:
-Coal plants that are surrounded (in the air) by particles that are highly flammable
-Nuclear power plants that could kill thousands and give thousands more cancer if tampered with
-Any fossil fuel plant (highly flammable)
As vsk pointed out, there are already a million potential terrorist targets; the terrorists are not going to change their plans just because we dot the landscape with a few turbines. Even if they do, surely we would rather have them target a turbine rather than an occupied building. Build the turbines!