This newspaper has been critical of Saco’s windmill experiment. Last month an editorial took note of an opportunity to sell it at a loss, advising: “Take the money and run.”

But at the risk of being inconsistent, we hope controversy over the turbine and Saco’s electric car won’t result in hasty decisions. The lack of a quick payoff should not convince city councilors to abandon the city’s efforts to make good use of green technology.

Supporting new approaches to energy use and conservation is a good civic attitude, and the hope was that it would also be fiscally sound. Unfortunately, the wind turbine at Saco Transportation Center cost $207,000 when it was installed in 2008, but generated only about $3,900 worth of electricity in two years. Saco’s all-electric car has traveled only 892 miles since it was purchased in the fall of 2007.

This lack of success could be considered part of the city’s education in adopting environmentally friendly ways of capturing and using energy. And perhaps Saco can still find a way to benefit from these poorly performing investments.

For instance, the ZENN two-seater apparently doesn’t get much use because its top speed is only 25 mph. That’s much too slow for some roads, but we can think of many places in Saco where a slow-moving municipal vehicle would set a good example. Though many city employees might prefer a vehicle with plenty of horsepower, departments should be strongly encouraged to make better use of this efficient alternative.

As for the wind turbine, its maker acknowledged that it’s designed for sites with brisk winds, and is clearly not the right machine for downtown Saco. After choosing a highly visible location, the city then programmed it so that the blades would turn in even a light breeze ”“ a public relations decision that resulted in the turbine often consuming more energy than it generated.

Critics of the windmill have made a strong case against it. If a $130,000 offer ever  materializes, the city should strongly consider taking the $70,000 loss, and putting the money aside for another environmentally friendly use. But who knows how solid the estimate is. It comes from the former chief executive of the now-defunct firm that sold the turbine to Saco.

In the meantime, city officials should consider carefully whether they can make adjustments that will bring better performance. By acquiring hard-earned knowledge about the costs and benefits of green technology, Saco will be in a better position to make good choices in the future.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com.