Tom Friedman on Fresh Air

On NPR this week, Terry Gross talks to Tom Friedman, who’s promoting his new book: Hot, Flat & Crowded.

Under the lead, Thomas Friedman’s Argument for ‘Geo-Greenism’, they cover TF’s disgust with John McCain, who …

a) didn’t show up for any of 8 different Senate votes for the PTC; and

b) voted for this summer’s gas tax holiday

[It makes McCain's recent embrace of 'Change' rhetoric sound insincere.]

TF also expresses disappointment that Obama’s energy strategy ’seem like he’s checking off boxes’.

Terry asks who are the enablers in the US addiction to oil, and I was disappointed to hear TF mention first the oil companies — a standard & weak victimization line, as if we are their hostages (which I do not believe to be the case) … the alternative energy revolution will come from incentives (leadership) and innovation (either Danish or American can-do-ism) together and it doesn’t matter what the oil companies do — apart from the world oil market’s pricing mechanisms). And when the people want to change behavior, lobbying goes only so far.

There’s more. Enjoy …

Local Progress on Martha’s Vineyard

“Small host of wind turbines is in the research and planning stages” | Janet Hefler | The Martha’s Vineyard Times | 12 Jun 2008.

Some of the obstacles to 20%-Wind include the local community approvals processes. Neighbors are tending to be a significant early source of objections based on the turbine noise problem. Although people say visual aesthetics are also objectionable, a good number of folks say too they like the way wind turbines look.

I had this same personal reaction on a European trip in 2003. On the train from Brussels to Hannover, we saw the wind turbines as we crossed the border into Germany in the lovely rolling hillside farmlands of Aachen (the university town). It was a surprise to me and quite a mystery: as the quiet train smoothly coursed the valley all you could see at first were these strange white wing-tips arcing passed on the other side of the hill. These great white wind turbines came into view as we crested the ridge; they looked to me that instant like animated dinosaurs aligned across the landscape with slow-moving arms.

It is my belief that the aesthetic objection — like the opposition to Cape Wind from home-owners concerned about their view of the Nantucket Sound — will subside as wind turbines become commonplace.