Regulating Wind Turbines

With backyard wind turbines all the rage these days, planners at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission would be wise to take up the matter of drafting a set of uniform wind turbine regulations for the six towns to consider.

It’s good that the Vineyard is going green, with turbines large and small in various stages of planning in every Island town.

But it is also true that construction of tall turbines all over the Island with no broad thought given to how this will affect the Island landscape and skyline may be something the Vineyard will live to regret.

With its considerable planning and mapping resources, the commission is well positioned to help develop an Islandwide plan for wind turbines — a plan that encourages the construction of turbines in the most suitable places.

This is a perfect initiative for the regional planning commission and there is no reason to wait.