There are certain classes of humans that are impediments to sensible renewable energy development. We'll define and give an example of each type.

The NIMBY

NIMBY is short for Not In My Back Yard. Some people have amazingly large backyards which need protecting from unsightly wind turbines, for example Senator Ted Kennedy, who requires the entire ocean around Cape Cod, despite the energy requirements of the area.

The BANANA

BANANA is short for Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone. Those folks that have kept us from getting nuclear power? BANANAs. We're less likely to see them when wind turbines are proposed.

The environMENTAList

The environMENTAList has fine ideals ... which are entirely disconnected from objective reality. We've got another FAQ entry about wind turbines killing birds. This urban legend that all wind turbines kill birds arose due to one very badly placed and massively overstudied site in Altamont Pass, California. We hope one of those rare Pacific tropical storms takes the whole thing out so we don't have to hear about it any more ... and this will derail most of the environMENTALists who get shipped around the country disrupting wind turbine projects.

Don't think less of us for having described these characters. We have to live here, too, but one wealthy person or one crazy person blocking jobs and power for many just isn't fair or sensible given the issues we face.