Letter: Don't like solar farms? It's all relative

In your June 3 issue, a couple wrote in about a solar panel project about to go up in their area and voiced their concerns. Perhaps if it were presented in another way the project would seem more palatable.

I’m a retired construction worker that has worked in and on three of the ways power plants produce electricity — coal-fired, diesel, and gas turbines. All three are very noisy inside the plants. So noisy, hearing protection is needed. Many studies have concluded that coal plants are a danger to man and are being phased out. Diesel, even with large mufflers, can be heard from a block or more away and the same for the turbines. The fumes from both are an acquired taste.

If I was one of the unlucky souls that lives near any of these plants — and people do — I would be overjoyed to hear the plant was closing down and the area converted to solar. In the same paper was an article on using sheep to take care of the vegetation under the solar panels in an Xcel Energy’s solar array. What a great idea.

The person that coined: Everyone wants progress—no one wants charge, knows the human mind. Our electrical co-op is based in Rushford and their office/maintenance building is almost surrounded by solar panels — embracing change — which is heartening.

Mike Mc Tighe, St. Charles