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“Time-shift” it, more than store it for long periods of time like chemical batteries are designed to do. For example, Wyoming has a great wind resource but has a small population, thus is in a great position to export power from wind generation. The state is also toward the eastern edge of the Mountain Time Zone, which means the wind tends to produce power at a different time of day than in power-hungry California. In this case the shift is favorable but that’s not always the case. Using wind to pump water into reservoirs that can run hydro generators is also being utilized.

I don’t know why otherwise intelligent FReepers exhibit Algore-like scientific tendencies whenever an article favorable to wind power is posted. As conservatives, we should be championing the application of science and engineering - in free markets - to address our energy needs. While there are subsidies today, wind has been moving rapidly toward self-sufficiency and that is the ultimate goal of the industry.

I’ve got solar for incidentals (computer, weather transceiver, etc) Like much of the East I have no wind to utilize. I have no problem researching better ways to create power or implementing cost effective ones. I do have a problem making people pay through taxes or especially through electric rates for feel-good energy sources that don’t add up. I know people with $800 monthly bills in the winter, and I don’t want them suffering for no reason.

Our utility here, Georgia Power, has numerous hydro dams across the state.

Lake Oconee was built basically as a storage battery.

Water flows through turbines from Lake Oconee into Lake Sinclair during the day to help supply the base load demand.

At night, when excess power is available, water is pumped upstream from Lake Sinclair back into Lake Oconee, and that water power is used again the next day.

I guess that fits your “time shift” statement.

"I don’t know why otherwise intelligent FReepers exhibit Algore-like scientific tendencies whenever an article favorable to wind power is posted."

Only communists want to control all of the property that they can see. Only socialists receive free PV solar equipment and are too lazy to learn or install it themselves. See surveyed Tea Partier opinion on turbines near their properties in comment #15.

Starve the bipartisan b. Avoid buying anything that you don't need. Become more energy-independent and generally self-sufficient (food, entertainment, etc.). Learn to manufacture something useful as a hobby for now.

While there are subsidies today, wind has been moving rapidly toward self-sufficiency and that is the ultimate goal of the industry

You are misinformed about wind power. The wind power industry is addicted to subsidies and mandates. The ultimate goal of the industry is to quietly demand perpetual subsidies while claiming publicly that it wants to end subsidies. Your idea of exporting wind from Wyoming to Califronia is preposterous. The cost of the transmission capacity is staggering.

Please admist that the economics of wind power are backwards. The utility industry is heavily capital intensive. The fuel cost is a minor part of the equation. Peak power demands largely determine the capital needs. Wind power fails miserably in almost all locations because it provides little base-load and peak power.

The Texas experience is all that you need to know about the economics of wind power. Texas has more installed wind power than any other state, about 10,000MW at a cost of about $10B. Yet, during peak demand in the summer months, the wind turbines barely deliver. In peak times this summer, the wind turbines only delivered 880MW, about 1.3 percent of power needs. For an investment of $10B, Texas only receives peak power of less than one conventional plant.

I have to feel the same way. I cant figure out what is wrong with advocating drilling on our own land, making use of oil sands in North Dakota, Alaska, all of the coasts AND investments in wind, solar, geothermal energy, electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells. I never did get why it had to be either or. And discoruaging people from driving SUVs or trucks if they dont really need them for practical purposes or to do theur jobs effectively.

Simply proclaiming “we need oil” and not addressing the oil need in the aforementioned ways just isnt productive and puts us in continually bad positions, at home and abroad. That is why we have to fight with China, where probably at least tens of millions of people have been getting cars for the first time, over oil, we still have to rely on the folks of the Arabian penninsula for oil (even if we do utilize all our own oil)-and so they can still spread terror cells and hate madrassas from West Africa to the UK to East Asia and ignoring anyone who objects, we will have to make compromises with Mexico allowing them to send more ilelgals, and we have to stress over other nations trying to take Canadian oil. Frankyl I can figure out what about this attitude could be anything remotely resembling patriotic.