Grant Park neighbors irked by massive wind-energy device
September 20, 2007 at 5:12 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsIt’s a damn shame Curt and Christine Mann, the Grant Park couple who erected a 45-foot-tall wind turbine on their property, don’t live in eco- and rebate-friendly San Francisco — they’d be getting paid for all this. But we’re not San Francisco, and outraged neighbors of the Manns filed a suit this week in Fulton County Superior Court requesting the city pull the couple’s building permit and require them to file for a certificate of appropriateness with the Atlanta Urban Design Commission — who, with such a cool-sounding name, you wish would have an awesome website. But alas, it doesn’t.
It’s been said once before on this blog, but I’ll echo the statement because it is worth repeating. I applaud and encourage any effort by anyone out there to invest in renewable energy, recycle or make better choices not just for the environment, but for their fellow residents. It’s smart, and you might save some cash. But a huge turbine in an area that doesn’t even receive enough wind needed to eke out the benefits? Commendable for the awareness, but fruitless in the end.
May 14th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
That poor turbine has caused so much tension in Grant Park. You would think a cool, hip, supposedly eco-friendly neighborhood would be down with the wind turbine, but no… people actually have signs in their yard protesting it–maybe these are the same people that were against the Piedmont Park parking lot? Kind of ironic… My family and I looked at buying the house next door to the wind turbine. It’s… interesting looking, but it’s quiet and my son thought it was awesome! You’re right, though: Sadly, it doesn’t produce nearly enough energy to make any real difference or offset the cost.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Not enough energy to make a difference? I thought every little bit helps…..
May 14th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Ah, I wrote those words when I was young and foolish. Which was about eight months ago.
Every little bit helps, but in the case of the Grant Park turbine, it can’t generate any power off the little wind the area receives. So in many ways, it’s a lawn ornament. I’ve tried contacting the couple who own the house, however, because I’d love to be proven wrong and find out that they’ve had success with their purchase.