Oil and Wind
We see two kinds of legacy being made now. In the Gulf the spill that’s still gushing will have repercussions for decades. It appears that the fishing industry in the Gulf coast on down the FL coast and into the Keys will be affected for a very long time. Tens of thousands who work directly on the water or in connected businesses will be affected, many who are still recovering from Katrina.
While the oil will disperse, the more volatile components of the oil will vaporize (affecting the air quality) the remaining tar balls will be floating around on the Gulf for decades. The tiny droplets of dispersed oil will enter the food web and affect the ecosystem and human health for the entire Gulf for your children’s lifespan.
Meanwhile the Obama administration has approved a wind farm off Cape Cod. This will, with normal maintenance, will provide zero-emission and zero-CO2 power for decades to come to help power the Cape and islands nearby. These wind turbines will displace the power currently generated by burning oil. They’ll do it quietly, and without a major impact on the ecosystem, wildlife, and quality of the area. Unlike oil wells, if a wind turbine fails, no ecological damage will result.
I hope the Obama adminstration continues to leave the latter legacy and doesn’t pursue the insanely damaging legacy of oil.