Pawnee Wind Farm

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted July 3, 2009577 views6 comments

Environmentalism is filled with trade-offs. The Pawnee Buttes area of Colorado used to offer expansive views in every direction, but Excel Energy's push to develop wind energy meant the development of the very large Pawnee Wind Farm just north of the popular Pawnee Buttes landmark. Viewscapes have been altered in the name of clean energy.

On a recent trip, however, a low-hanging fog transformed the scene into what I feel is a dramatic statement on nature and man co-existing.

This is my first entry into the Environmental PJ forum; I don't usually take pictures of Man and Nature of any sort, but couldn't resist this scene.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 3, 2009 at 9:20 AM

Les,

This is a wonderful image and it is a dramatic statement on nature & man co-existing. I really like that you chose a pano crop for presentation and think that the low hanging fog worked well in your favor.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 6, 2009 at 9:12 PM

Nice shot Les. I was out there yesterday and today and was very surprised to see this. You would think they could have found 100 other spots to place these. It really disappointed me, but I also like how you captured it.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 6, 2009 at 10:02 PM

A strong and compelling statement. The fog with the turbines just peeking out over the top is excellent.
congrats on the EP !

sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on July 6, 2009 at 10:27 PM

A fine image Les. Congrats on the EP.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Les Barstow on July 7, 2009 at 3:05 AM

Imagine my surprise to post this during a "lull" just before the 4th of July holiday and then come on tonight to find I'd made my first EP in a topic I don't normally post on!

Kurt, I know what you mean about it being a surprise. I was out when the first few windmills were going up, having heard nothing about it, and thought the same thing - how is it that with all the space on the Colorado Plains that Excel had the leases for this plot and chose to use them? And why not somewhere else? But I'm pragmatic about it; most photographic views don't include the windmills, and the alternative is another coal-fired plant putting out more haze to ruin my views, with more mines...

Registered on May 15, 2004, 54 Posts, 135 Comments

Comment posted by Hank Pennington on July 7, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Beautiful comp Les! And it smacks the nail on the head for one of my concerns. I recently drove down the Columbia River Gorge, and I don't recall a single view without windmills. Yeah, alternative energy is one of my key concerns, but the "cost" is just beginning to sink in. What's the world going to look like in 10 years? I'm betting Photoshop is going to need a Windmill button for to automatically clone out the things. I'll post a photo from my own recent shooting that helps illustrate the windmill dilemma.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 1532 Comments