The action of the county council to relegate a renewable energy source (wind power) to commercial and industrial zoned areas I believe is tantamount to shutting out the possibility that we can participate in being part of the solution to climate change. It is tantamount to locking our local economy out of real and good jobs in the construction and maintenance of such facilities which are long term and environmentally sustainable. There are a few areas in the county with suitable wind characteristics capable of providing economically sound turbine sites. These sites tend to be near our ridge lines. Our ridge lines are not zoned commercial/industrial as this new ruling requires for turbine location. Thus the county council has for the near future has eliminated this possibility for real sustainable growth in an industry with a real future by taking a "sleight of hand" action rather than lead us into the future. It is an obfuscation of intent not to accommodate a positive change. What if we were required to produce energy locally? It would be so foolish to take wind power out of the equation. Look at The Herald's front page stories on Nov. 28; profiteers trying to get a coal shipping going and a second article about ocean acidification. A choice is at hand. Shall we make money now and further pollute the planet or invest in a clean sustainable energy source (wind power)?

Jerry Brownfield

Bellingham