Wind Energy Farm Threatens Mel Gibson Heritage Site

An Australian subsidiary of the German energy firm Conergy is planning to place up to 500 wind turbines at the site where Gibson's star-making turn in the post-apocalyptic documentary popcorn flick Mad Max II was filmed, and Marketwatch is suitably pissed off about the whole thing.

I'm not entirely sure that this is a real controversy, but it bears a striking resemblance to something that occurred in Massachusetts earlier this year. The Cape Wind project is to be one of the first offshore wind energy farms developed in the US, but it has been dogged at every turn by sailing enthusiasts and filthy rich land owners along the coast (including Senator Ted Kennedy) who were concerned about the aesthetic appeal of 130 wind turbines located 4-11 miles offshore. It has been determined through numerous studies that the farm will not cause noise pollution on shore, and could bolster some aquatic life in the area; additionally, it is expected that the farm would provide clean power to about 200,000 homes in Massachusetts. The project only has to pass the federal hearing hurdle at this point, but opposition groups are sure to drag the process out as long as possible. Ugh.