In this 12 part, quick-fire Mythbusters series, Revolution author Todd Westbrook dispels the myths and misconceptions that surround the wind power movement. In the inaugural post, Todd tackles the idea that wind turbines are ugly…


MYTH: WIND IS UGLY

Todd says:
Depends on who you ask, and whether they are looking at an actual Scottish wind farm or a stock image of some of the rusted, ramshackle and abandoned projects built in southern California in the 1980s, which are often used to illustrate negative news stories about wind. UK government figures regularly show a majority surveyed would be happy to have a large-scale renewable energy project in their area, although they do not ask specifically about the aesthetics of onshore wind. For a comparison, it is worth considering the visuals of a wind turbine next to a fossil fuel plant, a coal mine, a radioactive waste storage facility. Eye of the beholder and all that.

Next time: Todd dispels the myth that wind power is noisy…