I support renewable energy because I believe in man-made climate change. This is the notion that burning fossil fuels and releasing certain gases into our atmosphere has caused our planet to heat up since the 19th century. This is accepted as fact by NASA and any number of scientific agencies around the world. We are currently on an accelerated path to increase carbon emissions as our need for electricity and transportation rise.

While hybrid and electric cars make modest gains in popularity, if you drive them here in Freeborn County, you are likely powering that car by a coal-burning plant in Wisconsin. Some may ask, “What about those huge wind turbines in Hartland? Doesn’t that do us any good?” Well yes and no. The power generated by the wind farm goes to supply energy to certain areas of Illinois, because of existing infrastructure, but we do receive a positive economic impact here.

When my family pays our electricity bill, some of that money goes to Wisconsin. That is where the power was made and that is where Excel Energy will be taxed on their properties and environmental waste. The same goes for here but without all the environmental waste, since wind power is clean energy. We’ve received around $4 million annually since they put in the wind farm, as well as one high-paying job for a technician.

There are only a handful of ways to get your energy from a renewable source, and we have bountiful wind and sun here in south central Minnesota. Unfortunately the solar power industry is undergoing catastrophic policy changes, effectively leaving us with wind power as the sole viable option. Unless, of course, you are comfortable with a nuclear reactor in your backyard.

Where am I going with this? In two weeks, at 2 p.m. Feb. 20, there will be a public hearing on a new proposal by the Freeborn Wind Farm at the Albert Lea Armory. They want to build more wind mills around Glenville soon. This new proposal will add 10 new high-paying permanent jobs and millions of dollars annually in economic benefit to Freeborn County.

If you value sustainable renewable energy locally produced here in Freeborn County, come show your support as we evaluate its benefits versus the needs and concerns of property owners who are impacted by its construction. I will be there to support renewable and sustainable energy.

Thomas Martinez

Hayward