To the editor:

In my many years of military service, one saying stuck with me, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”. L’Anse, through the clean energy Summit Lake Wind Farm, has a chance to lead in the battle to save the planet.

Climate zones are marching north at 3.8 feet per day. In the climate rucksack are deluges, floods, (think Houghton/Hancock, Saxon Harbor, and Duluth), forest fires, and deadly heat waves. Animals and plants are moving north. Those that can keep up, do. The others are on the extinction short list. The Audubon Society predicts that by 2080 our iconic loon will no longer nest here but near Hudson Bay.

The citizens of L’Anse have the strategic opportunity to mobilize local resources, this time wind, to secure an energy future that is more secure, resilient, and independent. Coal and oil come from supply lines hundreds of miles long. These are vulnerable to terrorist attack, social upheaval, an ever-increasing risk of weather disasters. May I also mention the ever-increasing risk of higher fees?

Here we have solar, wood chips, hydroelectric, and wind. These rely on our local work ethic and enterprise which we have in abundance.

Are there downsides? All projects have downsides and must be evaluated to mitigate them. We must ask the right questions and use critical evaluation skills to analyze the risks. Be careful when you listen to arguments. For instance, bird strikes are often used as anti-wind propaganda. At one time when wind tower supports were lattice structures and blades spun quickly, birds would unwittingly fly into the invisible blades while checking out attractive places to nest. Today, conical supports and slow blades make bird strikes a rarity.

Many writers have hidden agendas and are skilled at anti-wind propaganda. When using your critical evaluation skills, one tip is to research who funds the organizations that opposes wind turbines. Often you will find organizations whose funding is anonymous. This is dark money. Read the book, “Dark Money” to inoculate yourself from lies.

Sometimes projects have unintended good side-effects like new jobs close to home. One side effect of wind turbines that I like point out is that a turbine needs hundreds of pounds of copper for its generator. When the wind turbine rage catches on, copper mines will be profitable.

Is wind power practical? Ask Texas. They have the most and they know a lot about energy and profit!