Wind of Change: the Design of Wind Energy

The theme being addressed by the bloggers of Geniocity this week is wind energy, and how the idea of establishing this renewable energy in our area would affect the community and businesses of Northeast Ohio.  It is hard to argue against the need for renewable energy sources, and in many parts of the world wind farms have become a legitimate option for generating electricity.  The United States is actually the leader in installed capacity of wind energy, serving a collective 4.9 million American households.  Much of this energy is produced by wind farms containing multiple hundreds of individual wind turbines in an agricultural setting, but many cities in the Midwest are investigating the idea of locating clusters of wind turbines in a metropolitan setting or just offshore where possible.  However, when ideas such as building wind farms in an urban setting arise, debate is generated as to how these new structures will fit within a city’s existing architecture, and their ultimate impact on the environment and aesthetics of an area.  Some complain that the wind turbines are an eyesore and pose a threat to birds and wildlife.  Others however treat the turbines as a welcome update to city/community architecture, and in many areas across the world wind farms serve as a tourist attraction.

Here in Northeast Ohio we have plenty of farm land near enough to the winds of Lake Erie that could effectively house wind turbines and generate electricity.  We also have a great deal of shoreline that touches downtown Cleveland.  A great deal of lakefront property near Burke Airport and the ports and marinas stretching to E 55^th could be a prime location for wind farms.  What of the alternate idea of locating smaller scale wind turbines in inner ring suburbs such as Lakewood or Euclid?   This idea sparks the debate as to regulating wind turbine location and design, and raises issues of public safety and aesthetics.  I recently had a phone conversation with the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Architecture Critic Steven Litt, and as a result he pondered the aesthetic and design issues facing wind energy production.  In an article he posted, he raises many good points about the need for architects and designers—rather than engineers—to play a lead role in creating wind turbines that would be located in urban or community settings.

While not against wind energy, Steven does argue that being on the forefront of sustainable energy is no reason to scar our civic landscape and change sight lines and the overall feel of a community.  He lists several instances in Cleveland’s development history where engineers hardly gave design or aesthetics a passing thought as they divided neighborhoods and blocked access to Lake Erie.  Steve makes a compelling argument that as we look to wind as a viable renewable energy source, we should also show responsibility of design and aesthetics and create structures that please the community and enhance the look and feel of the city, as well as provide a cleaner form of energy to the larger grid. Please visit Steve’s Blog and read what he has to say about the architecture and urban design facets of wind energy, and his suggestions as to how Cleveland can responsibly embrace the movement.