Many industrial-scale wind plants may soon be placed on the ridge tops of state and private lands in western Maryland.  It is fair to say that the general public has adopted an overall favorable view of wind energy thus far -- on the surface industrial wind energy seems like a great idea. But a deeper, critical assessment exposes an energy source whose profile and efficacy do not match public perception.

By now we are all acutely aware of the serious environmental costs of using fossil fuel energy sources, including the threats of global climate change to Maryland's natural biological diversity. However, there is a growing concern that industrial-scale wind energy is neither a "green" nor viable solution. We should support aggressive energy conservation and efficiency improvement policies as a primary means of reducing energy demand and the concomitant human carbon footprint.

During this public program we will review many aspects of industrial wind energy which are not typically exposed or well understood. We hope to enlighten and to generate vigorous discussion in an attempt to challenge the conventional thinking on this important topic. Some of the key questions that will be addressed include:

1. What is industrial-scale wind energy development?
2. What is the wind energy potential in the Appalachian mountain region?
3. Who benefits from industrial wind energy development? Who pays?
4. How does/will wind energy development affect our electricity grid region (PJM)?
5. What is the application and approval process for an industrial wind plant?
6. What is a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) law and how does wind energy factor into it?
7. Are the RPS goals of MD and neighboring states attainable?
8. How is the cost of electricity to the consumer affected by wind energy?
9. How much electricity is produced by industrial-scale wind plants, and how does their seasonal and annual output compare with that of conventional power plants?
10. How will grid managers compensate for the intermittent nature of wind turbines?
11. How much wind energy can be realistically integrated into our grid region?
12. Will widespread deployment of industrial-scale wind plants bring a substantive net change in energy capacity?
13. Does wind energy offset the use of fossil fuels?
14. Does it reduce carbon dioxide emissions or human air quality-related health risks?
15. Does utilizing wind energy reduce our dependence on foreign oil? 
16. What are the key ecological impacts of industrial wind plants?
17. How will the public issues of aesthetics, noise and light pollution, property devaluation and access loss be handled?
18. Are the wind industry's claims about jobs and economic benefits accurate?
19. Are there viable alternatives to land-based, industrial-scale wind energy?
20. What locations in western MD are targeted for industrial wind plants?