As Spanish Fork City geared up to celebrate a new 18.9 megawatt (MW) wind power plant with a community kite festival on Sept 5 and 6, I was disappointed to read such a misleading and negative editorial on wind power from the Daily Herald ("Herald Poll: Should wind power get priority?" August 22).

The editorial claims that T. Boone Pickens' goal to see 20 percent of America's energy generated from wind power "is virtually impossible ... at least in the foreseeable future." Last year, U.S. cumulative wind energy capacity reached 16,818 MW, and wind contributed to more than 30 percent of the new U.S. generation capacity in 2007.

While the 20-percent goal will not happen overnight, achieving the 20-percent wind energy scenario is feasible, achievable, responsible and smart.

According to the Department of Energy study, "20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply," the nation possesses affordable wind energy resources far in excess of those needed to enable a 20 percent scenario.

The report also finds that the 20-percent wind scenario could:

• provide $205 billion in net economic benefits to the U.S. economy;

• reduce water consumption by 17 percent;

• support roughly 500,000 jobs in the U.S;

• support more than 200,000 jobs through increased local spending;

• increase annual property tax revenues to more than $1.5 billion by 2030;

• provide a new cash crop to farmers and ranchers in the form of annual lease payments of more than $600 million in 2030 ($2,500 - $4,000 per installed MW per year);

• and provide reliable energy for less than 0.5 cents per kWh.

Utah has the technical potential to contribute nearly 2,500 megawatts of wind towards the national 20-percent goal -- this excludes sensitive lands, national parks and areas unsuited for wind development (i.e. the top of Mt. Timpanogos). This amount of wind would provide enough energy for over 660,000 average Utah homes and yield a net economic benefit of approximately $2.7 billion and over 1,110 long-term jobs.

Wind power provides benefits and new revenue streams to citizens, businesses, schools, governments and communities. The Spanish Fork wind project is already providing benefits to the both Nebo School District and Utah County. During the first 20 years of operation of the wind project, the total revenue to the Nebo School District is estimated to be $1.267 million and $3.682 million during every 20-year project phase thereafter (assumes 2-percent inflation).

Utah County and the city will reap millions in direct, indirect and induced economic impacts over the life of the project.

Wind is already being integrated in utility grids across the nation without issue and is cost-competitive with traditional energy resources. One square mile of land can accommodate approximately 10 MW of wind, while leaving most of the land still available for traditional uses, such as farming, ranching, or gravel pit operations -- wind is ideal for rural communities and landowners looking for additional income. And bird lovers should worry more about house cats, cars and glass windows (the top culprits for bird mortalities). The National Audubon Society strongly supports wind power as a clean alternative energy source.

Achieving the 20-percent goal won't happen on its own; it will take a collective effort to make it a reality. Spanish Fork is doing its part. Wind energy may not be perfect, but what energy resource is perfect and without impacts? In my opinion, wind energy offers an improvement over how things have been done in the past, and Utah stands only to benefit from more wind development.

• Joe Thomas is mayor of Spanish Fork.