HealthLink Supports Wind Energy

The U.S. possesses hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of a free, non-depletable, zero-emissions resource: wind (1). The urgency to develop renewable energy technologies that began so strongly in the 1970s following two oil price shocks, fizzled in the 1980s and 1990s. Fuel prices plummeted to artificially low levels and early renewables projects underwhelmed.

Recent technological breakthroughs however, have made wind power and other renewable energy sources viable components of a 21st-century energy solution. They're cost-competitive, reliable, and more efficient. Adopted into the mix, wind can help counter over-reliance on any one source and encourage the production of a leading source of clean, low-cost renewable energy.

HealthLink Wins Wind Grant

February 14, 2005
Grant Money Will Encourage Local Windpower

HealthLink has received a grant to forward the installation of wind turbines in local communities. Through the awarding of this money, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative is looking to HealthLink to assess the current state of interest in wind energy in North Shore coastal communities and to encourage the installation of wind turbines in each town or city. Who will own the turbines? What might suitable locations be? How soon will they pay back? HealthLink will hold public forums and meetings to present the issues to the public for discussion and as a basis for decision-making.
's volunteer core was pleased with the grant which will help them to continue their work to protect public health by reducing toxic pollutants in the environment.

"We are very excited about being given the financial support to spread the word about a technology that produces energy from a free, inexhaustible fuel which does minimal damage to the environment and produces no harmful emissions," stated Jody Howard, one of HealthLink’s key volunteers on the wind project.

"Understanding all the health damage caused by burning fossil fuels, we have concluded that the only hope for a healthy future is renewable energy, and in the northeast, the only practical renewable is wind. With this grant, the hard work of figuring out how to install wind responsibly can begin in the community," said Jane Bright.

Added Gail McCormick, "Today's wind turbines are sleek, elegant and environmentally friendly. They are certified user-friendly by planet earth! Building a better tomorrow means taking action today!"

HealthLink has many plans to make the public aware of the benefits of wind energy. They include an Earth Day program at Salem State College with sessions, student research projects, and general activities open to the public; a  spring wind festival on Lynn/Nahant causeway celebrating the power of wind, with participants' kite flying, sailing, windsurfing, twirling pinwheels, playing woodwinds, racing wind-powered go carts, and other wind-propelled devices; and working with local manufacturers and unions to develop a healthy turbine industry.

 To launch the public awareness campaign, HealthLink is launching an information-gathering project.  Travelers who have spotted wind turbines on their visits are asked to send photographs of these installations. These photos will be posted on the HealthLink  website (www.healthlink.org) with informative descriptions and displayed in a traveling show.

"Clean air is our bottom line," said Lynn Nadeau. "Windpower is in the game. It's time to get off the bench!'