A panel discussion between wilderness advocates and wind power proponents.

As part of NESEA’s annual Building Energy conference, Thomas RC Hartman, AIA, of Coldham & Hartman Architects, has organized a facilitated discussion called “Wind Power in the Wild: Reconciling ecological health and renewable energy”, which has been sponsored by Energysmiths.

Hartman, and his wife Kristin DeBoer who is the Executive Director of The Kestrel Trust, conceived of the discussion as a way to explore renewable energy as an emerging conflict in the environmental community. “If the fundamental purpose of renewable energy is to lighten our load on the earth, then energy advocates must consider how these ‘cleaner, greener’ sources of energy affect wildlife and ecological systems. Conversely, wilderness advocates must determine what level of ecological impact is acceptable if renewable energy is to become more than a mere novelty in the context of our changing climate and resource limitations.” Hartman hopes the night’s lively conversation will help to "evolve the discussion for creating regional energy security while ensuring ecological health.”

Beginning at 6pm on Tuesday, March 13th, at the Seaport World Trade Center, the panel will be hosted by Jim Braude of New England Cable News. Panelists include Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature; Eleanor Tillinghast of Green Berkshires, Inc.; Michael Kellet of RESTORE: The North Woods; and Steve Terry of Green Mountain Power.

The discussion is FREE and open to the public.

Sponsored by Energysmiths.