The wind turbine went up a few days after Christmas, white blades whirring against the blue winter morning sky.
It generates a small amount of electricity, although more equipment is needed to deliver and store more power. But for the 30 residents of a tent city at CRAB Park, power sources like solar panels and wind power could help heat hot water for handwashing, light dark tents during the winter months and charge phones.
“The idea came from residents and former residents a year ago,” said Fiona York, a supporter of the tent city.
“When people are living outdoors and you give them that little bit of stability… you start thinking long term about resources and setting things up that are workable.”
Ideally, we would give up something fairly useless like a parking garage. They have rain/snow protection, have power outlets already, and often have bathrooms. They are also generally near resources inside of cities.
Something else that’s are useless in their current state are golf courses. They are less bleak than a parking garage, but they don’t have the same infrastructure.
Parking garages would be perfect!
As much as I love golf, I agree about the courses. I now play only on “pasture courses”. Basically a chunk of unirrigated land with 9 flags surrounded by sand for a “green”. $5/round, $50/season. They may be just a Saskatchewan thing, but I love them.