Mount Krížna is worth its name. The name literally means "the cross-roads mountain". This peak of the Veľká Fatra mountain range is, indeed, a crossing point of two alpine ridges. Apart from cross-roads of five marked hiking routes it is also a place of diverse purpose orientation: the ecologists would prefer maintaining the 1574 m mountain in its virgin beauty; tourists would like to see a cosy chalet on the top to recover after a demanding climb up the difficult Majerova skala section. Defence department would prefer an army observation station there, and the fans of renewable energy resources find the best use in installing a wind blade tower in the grassy uplands.

There are at least ten reasons to stop and think each time when touching the light switch. Annual consumption of coal, natural gas and crude oil equals to million years of natural formation of these resources. Their combustion products release annually 70 million tons of sulphur to atmosphere. The most evident adverse impact of the present the power exploitation of resources is acid rain that has damaged 31 million hectares of forests across Europe, a continent with the largest flue stack density. As a result, 85 per cent of our forests in are decaying.

Among other significant fossil-fuel related ecology factors are carbon dioxide emissions. They account for growing threat of overall climate changes and greenhouse effect by 55 %. The greenhouse effect leads to an atmospheric temperature increase and lower rainfalls. These changes take at such a rate that cannot be paralleled to any time in history of the Earth. The nature alone cannot make any compensation for them or adapt to them. The overall temperature increase due to the greenhouse effect can result in phenomena such as perishing of ecological systems, desiccation of lowlands, extension of prairie formations, soil devastation, and substantially higher fire incidence.

Lester R. Brown, Washington based World Monitoring Institute director described the adverse situation: "During the next few years the world will probably be exposed to dramatic climate changes with numerous dry spells, floods, and likely also famine. These events will enter significantly the global consciousness and end up in the nineties becoming a decade of ecology."

Is there any way for our planet to get back to a normal and ecologically balanced system? "Fossil fuels reduction and their replacement by renewable resources," recommends Lester R. Brown. Flowing water, sun, wind and tidal waves as power resources combine several benefits compared to the classical ones: they are renewable, inexhaustible, ecologically pure. The radiated sun energy exceeds the human energy demand ten thousand times. Utilising 0,005 per cent of the sun energy would definitely resolve all energy problems.

Approximately 0,2 per cent of the sun radiation towards the Earth is changed to wind, which is 1000 times more compared to the energy potential of water streams. Only three per cent of the wind energy can be theoretically utilised, and yet this energy potential is much higher than the present human energy demand.

The natural ecological resources are best utilised in the United States where the installed wind power plant output is 1600 megawatts, corresponding approximately to three thermal power plant units.

With 360 megawatts installed output in 1991 the Denmark took lead among European countries in utilising the wind power. The Netherlands and Germany with 50 megawatts each fall behind. Denmark has the highest wind power plant concentration along the coast line where up to 50 % of the power demand in cities is generated. The state renewable energy programme is supported by the Folkecenter in Hurup Thy, technical research and education centre that contributed to the power increase generated by the wind power plants from 520 megawatts in 1995 to 610 megawatts in 1998.

The most dynamic power plant development among the EU countries was recorded in Germany, where the installed power output of the wind power plants is 632 megawatts, i.e. 11,5 times higher compared to 55 megawatts in 1991. Apart from suitable natural conditions the fast growth rate can be attributed also to strong economy, state support, and enthusiasm. The state demonstrates its positive attitude towards the wind power plants by 6-8 pfennig subsidy to the basic price of 17,29 pfennig per kilowatt-hour. The gross investment return rate for a wind power plant is 10 years.

A superior interest of the state in ecological power production overriding any other activities in Germany can be shown at the example of the Krummhorn village, apparently the most attractive recreation resort of the northern Germany. Thirty wind power plant towers were built in the surroundings of the village and other forty are still planned. Udo Reemtsma, a village mayor, claims a loss of income in the community from travel and tourism. One pfennig is paid to the village for each kilowatt-hour produced by wind as a state compensation, bringing 500 000 DM in communal revenues annually.

Not only enthusiasm is needed in Slovakia. Three more preconditions are needed that also helped Germany move up the list of countries mastering the wind power. Our economy stands on feet of clay, natural conditions are suitable only in some areas, and there is no state support. With annual 200 000 kilowatt-hour power generation and the present kilowatt-hour purchase price guarantee the rate of return of 10 million SKK investment into a wind power plant project is in 100 years.

Asking with Hamlet "to build or not to built?" is quite a relevant question under the circumstances.

Although the first wind power plants have already been built in the Záhorie, Kremnické Bane, and Sečovce regions, the wind exploitation status in Slovakia is still limping. A demonstrating project has been in progress in co-operation with the Danish Ministry of Environment since 1992 to persuade those reluctant that alternative power resources are viable also in our country and show to the opponents the truth about the wind power plants, and that their ecological impact and economical relevance can be contributory.

Conservative opponents object against the noise, TV signal interference, and argue about wildlife impact. But according to the experts, the noise level is not beyond 50-60 dB, which corresponds to noise in a standard office room. The blades are made of wood or fibreglass, thus TV signal interference is excluded. If they were harmful for birds or game, the vicinity of the plant would have to be scattered with dead birds, and animals would be avoiding them. Neither is true, because nothing of that sort is acceptable in the ecologically conscious Denmark.

According to professionals, the wind conditions in Slovakia are not ideal, but sufficient for a supplementary wind power plant system, that can be quite motivating especially for villages. Mount Chopok or mount Krížna are ideal sites to erect the three-blade tower with respect to wind speed. And also the anticipated Kremnické vrchy site is worth considering.

There are two extremes in renewable power approach in Slovakia. The first attitude opts for the exclusive use of the original power resources neglecting any alternatives. The other claims that building a wind blade tower at every hill will cover the power demand of the country, and existing nuclear and thermal power plants could be decommissioned. Of course, neither of them is sound; the first one is bound to end up in a devastated environment, the other is not realistic, since the classical power generating capacity cannot be replaced.

Striking a happy medium seems to be the solution. The secret is in a reduced consumption, nuclear power plants safety upgrading, reduction of emissions from fossil fuel sources to a minimum level, and a growing share of alternative resources in the overall power generation structure.

The above quoted Lester R. Brown commented Slovakia by saying: "It is our understanding that the Slovak and Czech Republics are among the most severely polluted and ecologically distressed countries of the world. But one of their strong points is the highest rate of education of their population, being well aware of this situation." And that is quite encouraging.