cape cod wind turbines, gulf coast oil spills, and giant kitten shaped helium balloons

What a difference in offshore energy sources.  Wind off of Cape Cod (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/science/earth/29wind.html?hp) versus oil from the Gulf Coast (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=43829).  The debate certainly rages on regarding offshore wind turbines.  There's nothing quite like, or at all like, looking out at the ocean from the beach, just sea and sky until our eyes can no longer resolve the difference.  So adding adding windmills to that view is about as natural as adding a giant kitten shaped helium balloon to that view.  However, if the alternative is standing on an oil soaked beach while you gaze out at drilling platform, then there's probably room for discussion.