Changing cow wind for real wind power

Here’s a double whammy for the environment. Triple Pundit reports that “ranchers and property owners in high, steady wind areas of Wyoming and neighboring western states turn to wind energy associations as a means of better understanding and coming to terms with the growing number of wind energy project developers and agents interested in leasing rights to their land.”

And why are they doing that?

Because it seems like cattle ranching isn’t as lucrative as it used to be. “The cost of diesel and gasoline, as well as fertilizers, hay and other inputs, have shot up sharply over a period of years. This year’s calf prices, meanwhile, are the lowest since 2002 putting pressure on the many smaller, family run cow/calf operations spread across the Mountain West”, continues the report.

Without wanting to indulge in a bit of schadenfreude, a lovely German word that means pleasure in other people’s misfortunes, I do welcome any move away from animal farming, especially in favor of renewable energy. As we’ve reported before, livestock accounts for the emission of more greenhouses gases than transport, or 18% against 13%, besides being a major force of deforestation and wildlife displacement. I hope the winds of change will bring lots of rewards to the Wyoming folks.

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Antonio Pasolini

London-based, Italo-Brazilian journalist and friend of the earth.

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