As we continued to head west from New York, the cities and towns spread out and became fewer and much farther between, and the farmland grew more expansive. The incredible open space unfolding around as we made our way down the back road of this country is one of the many impressions that remains with me. As the hills of the east fell away behind us and the flat lands of farming and grazing began in Minnesota and continued into North Dakota and through Montana and expanded all around us, we began to see more and more wind turbines among many of the farms and ranches.
Before we left Rochester, we had seen signs of the current controversy over wind turbines in the surrounding towns, so it was interesting to see them so well established throughout the farm lands and grasslands of the northern and central states, especially among the corn fields (much of which will be used for production of ethanol), which continued as far as the eye could see as we made our way back eastward through Illinois. Tom captured some up close and personal photographs in those cornfields of farmers harvesting the corn for ethanol. This story can be found here.
We are interested in learning more about the use of this source of renewable energy, the controversy surrounding its establishment, the benefits and drawbacks, and in hearing from the families and communities that have embraced this energy production method as well as from those who are opposed to it. As we research this, we will share the stories we find.
USA Through Our Eyes 
Be safe in your travels and have a bagel for us, lol.
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Long Island is quite close to South Kingstown by ferry. We’ll be heading for New York in the spring to see the Chihuly exhibit at the Botanical Gardens, but I don’t get there very often, but when I do, I find a bagel shop.
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Yes, it was the Newport Jazz Festival we attended. It would have been around 1968. What an experience it was. Wow, you were there for Dylans performance. How exciting. I grew up in the small town of Tupper Lake, NY. Left home for college at 17 to begin seeing the world. I have spent many a days visiting Long Island. It is where I had my first bagle and 10,000 bagels later am still eating them, lol.
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I live in Southern Rhode Island and go over by boat in the fall. Summer around the beaches is very crazy and locals learn to do things after the tourists have left. George Wein, a well-known Jazz Promoter, created the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954 and the The famous Folk Festival in 1959. That’ s the one where Dylan got booed for going electric. I was there that night. I wonder if the Festival on Block Island was one of his? He also created the famous one in New Orleans. Where did you live as a kid?
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Isn’t it something how we want energy alternatives but not in our back yard, lol. “Block Island”, wow. I was there when a young boy visiting a jazz festival. I remember the boat ride to the island and the views. Do you go there often.
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We have had wind turbines put in the ocean off Block Island. Lots of rich people with ocean views were not happy!
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