Dear Editor:
Regardless of whether or not the proposed wind turbine for Cochrane High School is approved, I believe that Cochrane is already a better place thanks to the hard work, commitment and leadership of Stef Bennett and the sustainable development committee.
Since we first heard about the Cochrane High wind turbine proposal, my wife and I made an effort to see and hear wind turbines in action, both large and small. Like many residents of Cochrane Heights, we have been bombarded with information , opinions and in some cases “mis-information” about the proposed wind turbine. It was really hard to know what to believe. So in late October I went to the open house hosted by the sustainable development committee. I needed to get all the facts. I can honestly say that for me it was mission accomplished .
I was blown away by the professionalism of the students. The detailed information that the group presented as well as how it was presented was outstanding and very helpful. They had many computer simulations of what the turbine would look like from various angles and distances ; scientific data about the noise levels produced by the proposed wind turbine and how they compared to other every day sounds. One student even built miniature wooden models of various sizes of wind turbines and had them sitting side by side on a table . It was easy to see that the proposed Cochrane wind turbine is nowhere close to the size of the gigantic turbines that we see in southeast Alberta wind farms. It really is apples and oranges when you see them side by side.
I listened to many discussions between the students and residents voicing their concerns. The students handled themselves like experienced professionals, which is nothing short of amazing considering their age and limited “real world experience.” It was obvious they had done their homework and knew their stuff. Even more impressive was how they were able to maintain composure and stick to the facts. If you’ve ever been in that position where others are challenging your opinions, in some cases packed with emotion , it is easy to take it personally. The students seemed to understand that the wind turbine proposal is an emotional, controversial topic. Everyone has an opinion and it may be dramatically different from your own. From what I saw and heard, the students listened attentively, acknowledged concerns and then presented the facts based on their research.
Their sources of information were many and diverse: From scientific studies of the effects on birds and bats to feedback from people in Calgary and other parts of the world where similar wind turbines have been operating in neighbourhoods and school yards for years.
If these students represent our future, we should all be very proud that Cochrane High School, led by Stef Bennett and her team, is developing some amazing leaders.
My wish is that everyone makes the effort to get all the facts first before forming an opinion. It’s pretty easy to be influenced by the media and other people’s opinions. It seems to me in this case, there is a lot of confusing information and even fear-mongering floating around.
Rob Owens
