Today’s New York Times has this article about Michael Mercurio, the “latter-day environmental knight errant” from Long Beach Island who has taken an innovative approach to energy use but has become a target by future-fearing neighbors as a result.

This article includes a photo of Mercurio’s home and the windmill, making it today’s “Click This”. It’s far less obtrusive than even I had pictured it.

Also, the article quotes the lawsuit Mercurio’s neighbors filed which says,

“…in a 14-mile-per-hour wind, the three fiberglass blades produce noise greater than 50 decibels, the rough equivalent of light traffic or a noisy refrigerator.”

Oh no - they might hear a noisy fridge or… *gasp*…. light traffic? I understand people want their peace and quiet but, frankly, their short-sightedness is appalling. Plus, in their carefully-sculpted language, they make you think 50 decibels would have you walking around with your fingers glued inside your eats. So, just to give you a larger reference point, according to this site:

Careful, they may ban public conversations next — 60 decibels?!? Do they think we’re living in Newark Airport?!!?

What’s your thought on the topic? Do you want to tell Mercurio where to stick his windmill, or do you want to ask him how to install one in your backyard?

— by Donna M.
Donna is both a Jersey native and recent transplant from NYC. She is executive editor and a co-founder of GoOutJersey.

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