OUR VIEW: Wind power doesn’t blow

The cool morning breeze coming out of Logan Canyon could be a lot more in the future than just a reason to bundle up in the morning. The wind could, and should, be a source of power for future generations in Cache Valley and throughout the country.

During past years, power has become a major issue in the western United States. Rolling blackouts and brownouts have come to be a part of daily life in some states.

Wind power has a number of benefits that would actually counter many of the problems we are finding in our lives today. It reduces dependence on non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels as well as strained renewable sources like hydroelectricity.

Another major benefit of wind power is that it helps lower pollution levels. Wind energy is clean energy, with less coal being burned as an energy source, pollution decreases significantly.

Possibly the largest benefit of wind power, however, is its cost. When shares of wind power are purchased, the rate is locked in for a 30-year time period. While the cost of wind right now is only slightly higher than natural gas, in 30 years it will be significantly cheaper than other energy sources.

It is hard to find many negatives about wind power. Some people say the windmills and wind farms are unattractive, but that is a problem easily solved.

Windmills would not be placed in popular locations like the Quad and in downtown Logan, they would be placed out of the way, in low-use areas, minimizing visual impact. They might even make dull areas like Wyoming or western Utah more pleasant.

In the end, the benefits of wind power blow all other energy sources away.