Kind of wild that 90% of right-wing objections to wind power is “it destroys the solemn beauty of this natural Idaho landscape” and these folks are saying “it destroys the solemn hideousness of this desolate Idaho hellscape.”

They would have zero opposition to a Walmart

98% of the “natural beauty” defenders have never driven through the miserable flatland of Amarillo, Texas, with or without wind turbines.

I am a Japanese American and this feels very dumb to me.

Would they really be as tall as the Space Needle? I would appreciate a fact check on that one.

It’s definitely possible. Space needle is only 180m tall and the tallest onshore wind turbine in the world is 260m tall. www.powermag.com/worlds-large...

good point!

The final land assessment was based on a height of 740’, 140 taller than the space needle. 9 miles from the space needle is a little north of SEA, and just south of Boeing field. Barely visible.

thank you!

should be noted that the 15 MW turbines are designed to be installed off-shore

www.powermag.com/worlds-large...

I think that a survivors of internment are justifiably angry at how hard they've had to fight to get any recognition of how badly they were mistreated, and are very protective of any of the recognition that they've wrung out of the USG. I can't blame them.

Sure, it's useful to Republicans, Trump, and other enemies of renewable energy, but that's a separate thing.

Imagine going to a concentration camp where you were previously interred as a child and thinking, "Just like I remember it. Thank god nothing has changed here."

Without defending the particular matter here, I for one am glad that Auschwitz doesn’t have a McDonalds outside it.

same! A McDonald's 9 miles away however...

But if it’s Golden Arches were as tall as the Space Needle? 🤪

I actually can't think of any piece of infrastructure more solemn than a wind turbine. Especially when you drive up close to them, like only a few miles away, they appear as quiet monoliths, akin to the giants of old. Magnificent stuff!

I literally drive through Windy Flats yesterday. The slow turning of the tri-bladed windmills were serene, calming, and almost somber. It was impressive and humbling. I reflected upon this administration and its stark opposition to green energy methods, and the horrors of mining. Seems apropos.

It's literally the Trump thing where those wind turbines were marring the view from his resort in Scotland (actually they were barely visible from the shore)

I've been to Minidoka. It's not in the middle of nowhere, it's surrounded by wires and fences and sheds stuff. It's not a solemn landscape--it's pretty ugly, actually. And look at the mock-up:

Do those power lines not "mar the solemnity" or something?

As someone with a home 10 miles from windmills, those closest in this mock are more like 4 miles or maybe even closer

This was labeled "worst-case scenario" lol

"As tall as the space needle" is funny to anyone seen it in person. It's not that tall. Most pictures of it are from Queen Anne hill and you get force perspective making it seem huge. Like Ian McClellan and the hobbits.

Oh yeah, it’s way shorter than those buildings in the background. I think my like 10 story apartment building was significantly taller

I mean, it's 500 ft tall, so it's tall, just not THAT tall.

sometimes I'm like you know what, this isn't really my place to say anything... And yet... "The beautiful view from the historic internment camp site"...

For reference, here is the Space Needle seen from 9 miles away.

Why do people think wind turbines are ugly? They are legitimately the most beautiful of our modern power infrastructure, imo.

How can people be like oooh roman columns but hate on these giant flowering obelisks that spin steadily and provide energy? They're not great for birds. Neither are coal and oil & Nuclear plants are massive/expensive, tho yes provide much more power so let's eat new nuclear overhead and make more

Maybe the solution is building wind turbines with Doric columns 🤔

Solid idea

This is 100% fossil fuels using anything they can as a screen for themselves

I'm thinking this HAS to be an astroturf campaign.

I promise you there are plenty of people completely unaffiliated with fossil fuels who would gladly stop a green infrastructure project for absolutely insane and spurious reasons.

You mean like so much of the supposedly green NIMBY movement?

“Turn the prison into a wind farm with a museum” seems like something everyone would get behind.

I remember ten years or so ago we’d be driving from Detroit up to Georgian Bay in Canada, and the kids would all get excited to see the wind turbines. Them: “Why don’t we have those?” Me: “Because we’re dumb?”

You're right.

oh boy another round of Ground Zero Mosque but less islamophobic (i think)

put some respect on burlington coat factory. they're more than great coats.

Is it possible to even see these from 9 miles away? www.totally-cuckoo.com/distance_vis...

Is Trump reusing some of these internment camps from WW2 now? Build informative museums and fill the old camps with wind power and anything else

This is the way to get Trump to build wind power

Nothing should ever change, it’s the high brow version of the Cracker Barrel logo

“Nine miles away” should be in the lede.

This shit would never fly in Europe if you couldn’t build a power play next to the site of a historic atrocity you simply wouldn’t have any power whats so ever !

Europe is actually quite NIMBY

also if there's any machine more somber and stately than a giant wind turbine i don't know what it is

I'm sorry but if I were locked in a camp and then freed, I would be overjoyed if someone desecrated that place.

Well okay speak for yourself, here

It was initially planned to be much closer to the Minidoka site, but it still reads as a GOP astroturfing campaign more than anything else. The Trump admin canceled the plans because wind is "woke" I guess. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_Ri...

This makes the opposition to the ground zero mosque seem comparatively sane.

When NIMBY goes BANANAs - Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone

Are they profiting in some way? Wouldn't be surprised.

Does anyone actually buy the "turbines are ugly" angle? They're just not. Gas power plants on the other hand? I mean..

yeah I think turbines look cool! I've never understood the aesthetic objection

I have never heard anyone who lives near the wind turbines between Riverside and Palm Springs complain about their appearance. I have heard people complain that not enough of them are working.

This messaging needs to be repeated even if it is by a mega Swedish energy concern www.youtube.com/watch?v=bunG...

The first time I’ve ever seen any in person was driving through the mountains of Csta Rica and they looked cool as hell and also lovely imho