Meanwhile, Windbaggers resort to Threats, Intimidation July 8, 2011

I can’t prove that the anti-science “Windbagger” movement is part of the larger right wing astro-turf campaign organized by fossil fuel and Koch-funded interests -yet – but their tactics certainly are reminiscent of what we’ve been seeing elsewhere.

Owen Sound (Ontario) Sun Times reports:

Some local wind-energy supporters say the more they speak out, the more verbal abuse and threats they receive, despite evidence of widespread backing for turbines in Ontario. Ripley-area farmer and wind energy supporter Jutta Splettstoesser noted an Ipsos Reid poll conducted last July that surveyed 1,361 adults across Ontario and indicated 89% of those surveyed support wind energy in their region of the province. “We know there is a silent majority out there that supports wind and this just proves it,” she said during a recent meeting at her family farm near Ripley. But wind-power supporters say rhetoric from opponents is becoming more strident and personal. Recently a posting appeared on the Wind Concerns Ontario website with a recommendation to teach Splettstoesser a lesson. “Splettstoesser needs to be tied to a wind turbine blade down at Clear Creek to be spun around a few times to learn something,” a person was quoted as saying in a newspaper story posted on the website this spring. The story was later removed from the website at the reporter’s request.

“It shows on what level (some) people operate. We should have a democratic, fact-based conversation and not be threatening people,” Splettstoesser said. Splettstoesser spoke in favour of wind power at a recent Grey Highlands council meeting. Meanwhile, opponents of wind energy were holding a rally outside the council chamber, and some of those at the rally were sticking their tongues out at her husband Ralph. “That’s just disrespectful . . . I want a democratic, rational discussion,” she said. Wind Concerns Ontario is a provincial umbrella organization that opposes industrial wind turbines. John Laforet, president of the organization, said recently that a Forum Research poll indicated 56% of Ontarians support Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak’s plan to lower electricity bills by cutting support for more wind or solar projects. Shirley Underwood, who lives on a farm near Arran Lake, said she’s attended meetings of Arran- Elderslie council where the wind-power opponents far outnumber pro-wind people and dominate the discussion. “People are shouting. I’ve had people shaking their fists in my face. . . I had people who couldn’t be calm enough that they could shake my hand or say their name or to be able to have a discussion. . . It was a little bit scary. I felt like there was so much anger and hatred. They couldn’t even articulate where that was coming from,” she said. “I only attend meetings now where I know there will be control and there will be discussion on both sides where everybody will have a say, and I know if I start a sentence I can finish that sentence without someone heckling me,” she added. Underwood said her husband was at a meeting of the inter-municipal wind turbine working group and found the anti-wind representatives almost uncontrollable.