Wind power has frequently been dismissed as a possible addition to Kentucky's energy spectrum, and this type of alternative energy production does face challenges here. …
Iberdrola has already shown it can make wind power work elsewhere in the country and the world.
The company has 38 wind farms in 20 states that can produce enough electricity to power 900,000 homes. Internationally, Iberdrola is the largest renewable energy operator and one of the largest private electric utilities.
That kind of resume will lend credence to the study the company will perform in Daviess County, and a more accurate assessment of whether a commercial wind farm will work here. …
But wind farms also bring with them critics, which is understandable given how the massive turbines can easily change the landscape.
Wind farm proposals in other states have been met by opposition, and here locally there would undoubtedly be some who object to how these turbines will affect the view and environment.
That discussion — whether a wind farm should be built in Daviess County — is for another day. Before getting to that step, it must be determined whether one can be built here and succeed. And that's what Iberdrola hopes to accomplish.
Kentucky's history is steeped in coal, and coal will continue to be a major player in how this state fuels its economy and powers its homes. But looking ahead, Kentuckians will need to make educated decisions about how to tap other energy resources, including wind power. Thanks to Iberdrola, that education will begin soon.
— Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, Oct. 31
