Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I wish to respond to the points raised in what I will call Schlesinger’s Lament on the editorial page of the August 21 issue of the Gazette. I live across the street from the “Ominous, Omnipresent” Allen farm wind turbine. I think the turbine is actually quite beautiful.

Ms. Schlesinger is perhaps four-plus football fields from the turbine; I am a bit further. I look directly out at the turbine from my kitchen window every time I am cooking or washing up — that is at least three times a day, 365 days a year. Each time its blades flash in the sun, I think “no petroleum dependency.” Each time I look to it to see which way the wind is blowing, I think “no coal emissions.” Each time I gauge the wind speed by the blade rotation, I think “no nukes” (which, of course, dates me.)

I have stood at the base of the turbine as it rotated in the winter sun and found it virtually noiseless. I have sat at its base eating slow food with our community this summer as it powered the local songsters and it never interfered with the sound of their music. NIMBY is a losing proposition for our future.

James Malkin

Chilmark