wind-watch.org

[kristopher]

2. They are one of the first astroturf antiwind organizations to spring up

In the early 2000s the UK shifted their subsidy support away from domestic coal mining to development of wind power. That sparked a strong backlash from their domestic coal industry its political supporters.

At about the same time, the Cape Wind project was proposed by Jim Rogers. That too got the negtive attention of some powerful people - among them the Koch brothers.

The Koch brothers organized, staffed and funded a local Cape Cod group called Save Our Sound. About the same time, the Wind Watch website popped up, providing an endless stream of anti-wind propaganda to be used by the "local" astroturf groups that were being created nearly everywhere a wind farm was proposed.

I put local in quotes because there are people who come in to these areas in order to organize opposition.

Wind Watch is almost certainly funded by ALEC affiliated groups out to preserve the energy system as it is presently designed. That includes the fossil fuel and nuclear industries as well as most utilities.

PS - how much success the opposition to the wind farm is will be largely related to how much influence your local right wing radio station has in the area and whether they oppose the project or not. They usually do oppose renewable development, but once in a while the will be honestly oriented more towards a libertarian strain of thinking that can't help but support the projects.