Yesterday's dedication of the new wind turbine behind the McGlynn Middle School in Medford was a rousing American celebration, with lots of politicians, fanfare, and presentations by schoolchildren. 

Most of it, mercifully, was in the school auditorium where students were the MCs and other students read their essays about our imperiled planets. They were pretty well informed, and, at least in one case, humorous, when a student thanked Mayor Michael McGlynn for making the turbine a reality, instead of "just sitting in front of the television."

Larry Chretien, executive director of Mass Energy, related how his organization, in effect, bought the naming rights to the turbine for five years in exchange for $100,000, plus conditions, including that the city reinvest that amount in solar projects as the fossil-fuel savings from the turbine are realized. The deal is for five years, meaning that one day, you may still see an ad attached to I-93's newest landmark.

Just before the ribbon-cutting, students and others pressed in on the dignitaries. Mayor Michael McGlynn is the gray-haired fellow close to the tower.