Alternative Energy: Aestheticism v. Solution

Many different scenarios exist surrounding climate change. One way to approach this issue is through the development of technologies in the form of alternative energy sources. One such alternative energy source is wind power. By harnessing the wind through the use of wind turbines (pictured-above-left) clean energy is produced. In a recent New York Times article, the pro's and con's of these turbines arose. Located in the travel section, this article debated the negative ramifications of wind farms on the tourism sector in Greece. Aesthetic concerns like this engender the NIMBY of the "not in my backyard" syndrome. Similar to the tourism objections surrounding the renewable energy source of wind power is another example of a renewable technology; solar power. In another New York Times article, the aesthetic nature of solar panels (pictured-above-right) was debated. The Syverson's who live in Nassau County in New York wish to install solar panels in order to do their part to help the environment. However, the town has turned them down because of NIMBY reasons and aesthetics.

Perhaps the turbines will hurt tourism in Greece, however as the Greek director of Greenpeace, Nikos Charalambidis, reasons "If the climate gets worse here, tourists will vanish and not come back." Because of increased carbon emissions, some answer to alleviate the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere is necessary. Also, as in the case of Nassau County, NIMBY reasons must not deter the use of renewable energy sources. In fact, in this day, such acts should be encouraged, not turned down.