Wind energy stirring opposition, innovation

Federal incentives and state clean-energy mandates led to the installation of nearly 3,000 wind turbines in the United States last year, Tiffany Hsu of the Los Angeles Times reports. This, combined with thousands more proposed projects has residents near wind turbines or proposed projects worried. (Times photo by Anne Cusack)

"These large projects enter at their own peril without involving the community," Tom Soto, an environmental activist and managing partner of Craton Equity Partners told Hsu. "Just because they're renewables instead of landfills doesn't mean they're off the hook."

Donna and Bob Moran of Tehachapi, Calif. moved to Tehachapi seeking solitude and serenity but now their scenic valley view is marred with wind turbines. "Once, you could see stars like you wouldn't believe," Donna Moran told Hsu. "Now with the lights from the turbines, you can't even see the night sky." (Read more)

Concerns that turbines are unattractive, noisy and dangerous are seen by some scientists, who are exploring possibilities for turbines that float and fly, run without blades or have blades as long as football fields, Hsu reports in another story.