Anti-wind turbine syndrome: We need to clear the air by Ketan Joshi

Wind turbines are subject to a disproportionate array of myths, compared to other generation technologies. From throwaway lines about bird deaths, to catastrophic misunderstandings of science and engineering, the opponents of wind energy tirelessly propagate odd falsehoods, based on a ferocious antagonism towards wind energy. These fictions, often deployed in rapid sequence, are difficult to combat. Significantly, the anti-wind lobby binds these falsehoods to a passionately emotive ethos, manifesting as unfiltered hostility. This tactic exposes an unnerving and worrisome fact – to influence public sentiment, evidence is unnecessary – myth and contempt might easily suffice.

A protest at a wind farm development in Midlothian, Scotland in 2006 saw the burning of a wind turbine effigy. The wind farm was ultimately not approved. - Photograph by Julie Howden Source: National Wind Watch

Earlier this year, climate sceptic James Delingpole published an article in The Australian, outlining his views of wind energy. He concluded with this quote:

"As a NSW sheep farmer fighting tooth and nail to stop a wind farm development near his beloved home told me the other day in trenchant style: 'The wind-farm business is bloody well near a pedophile ring. They're fucking our families and knowingly doing so'."

Publishing comments that equate the wind industry with a pedophile ring, whilst unexceptional for Delingpole, might once have been considered a claim too wretched for a major national broadsheet. Delingpole's article was re-posted more than 500 times, mostly by anti-wind groups. Astonishingly, the Hamilton Veterinary Practice, in western Victoria also republished the article, in a blog post on May 20. Though it is traditionally unusual to chance across industry-wide slander about child abuse on the website of a small rural vet clinic, it comes as no surprise when bedded in the context of the efforts of anti-wind groups across Australia.