WIND TURBINES: BLIGHTS ON THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE

Human Events ^ | July 16, 2013 | Jay Lehr, Ph.D.

[Osage Orange]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwVz5hdAMGU

[familyop]

The instructions behind the following link on a homebuilt turbine include information on how to "store massive amounts of energy" (re. batteries).

Build our 10 foot diameter wind turbine!
(instructions behind links on the left for building the axial flux alternator, starting with "Stator Mold") http://www.otherpower.com/turbineplans.html

Lefties don't build stuff like that.

There's also a rectifier and controller combination that will help the turbine to produce much more of a charge than is mentioned in the article.

"It's never going to work with the grid we have,..."

Grid power is cheaper. That much is true. And the homebuilt wind turbines only produce much useful energy, where there is frequent and strong wind. As for efficiency, dollars spent per watts produced is important. The complaint often heard about how little wind is used by a wind turbine is not important.

PV solar power produces more with less dollars spent per watt in most places, though, and grid power, better, yet. Alternative energy systems work best, where a property owner lives too far from the grid for grid power, and where he builds/installs it himself (assuming that the builder and installer is an experienced low-tech with good safety habits--experience in proper welding, mechanical and electrical work required).

It's not a project for an "executive," but it's one of the useful things, in some places, that is better than an executive's "SHTF," "TEOTWAWKI," "WROL" "bug-out bag." Besides, it's funny to see the expression on the scowling face of a socialist neighbor from the northeast, when the tilt tower is winched up. And better yet, when the Jolly Roger is flown with it. Steam engines with wood-fired boilers are fun, too. So are diesels.

As for the subsidized wind turbine projects of government-linked corporations, they're about as useful as public schools and land use planners (and teats on boars).

[digger48]

Not only is our area right along a Sandhill Crane Migratory route, we now have 2 pairs of nesting Bald Eagles living near here for the first time in decades.

The pro wind crowd response?

“Cats kill more birds than windmills”

It’s one of their standard replies

[Osage Orange]

We have nesting bald eagles here in NE OK. Big Green is winning....the fight.

[digger48]

We’ve slowed them down here.

Problem here is, most of the elected officials making the decisions to allow this, are leaseholders themselves or have family that are

[Osage Orange]

Same crap going on here..............

[ncfool]

Why not at 1600 Penn in Washington , DC

[gibsosa]

bump

[Cvengr]

Just putting all that global warming to good use.

[Ben Ficklin]

"wind turbines can make electricity at a parity cost"

Windmills can produce electricity cheaper than coal or nat gas because they don't have a fuel cost, other than a royalty.

But the relative capital cost(measured btu to btu) of the windmill is much higher than coal or nat gas. So they are given a production tax credit for 7-10 years and allowed a faster depreciation schedule.

But, if you were to factor in the environmental and health costs of burning coal and natural gas the price of that electricity would be higher. The generator/rate payer doesn't pay these costs. They are externalized/socialized.

But wait, there's more. How do you price electricity?

In TX an CA, where natural gas is used extensively to generate electricity, the price of electricity is tied to the price of natural gas. So if the price of nat gas goes up, the windpower(and coal and nukes) gets more profitable. So the nat gas shortages/higher prices in 2000/2001 set off the first wave of windmill building in Texas. Post Katrina nat gas shortages set off the second wave. Finally, when the economy collapsed in 2008, the price of nat gas collapsed also and is dirt cheap now.

[slowhandluke]

It’s not just the broken windmill. Between construction and access roads, a lot of land around the windmill has been compacted and is the poorer farm land for it.

[Sola Veritas]

In regards to energy, there is no free lunch. In order to create electricity from wind, you have to remove the energy from the wind. I have often wondered if this impacts the weather in both the immediate area of the wind farms, and in areas downwind.

In the same way that cities affect the weather, etc. as they grow, I am certain that wind farms do as well. Is the disruption worth the energy generated? The article already makes it clear that the current generators are not efficient.

It reminds me of those that waste “corn” to brew ethanol to substitute for gasoline. It is a very inefficient way to generate energy (from grain derived ethanol). Too expensive.

[Joe 6-pack]

I've always found piquant irony in that Cervantes' Don Quixote gave birth to the phrase, "tilting at windmills," as an idiom for the vainglorious riding into battle against imaginary enemies.

It perfectly suits the global warming proponents who advocate the very construction of these monstrosities.

[HiTech RedNeck]

This would be to tilt WITH windmills?

[Joe 6-pack]

Yes, so to speak. It is their weapon of choice against the imaginary monster of global warming. Every time I see one (or a slew) of these things, I envision their builders riding furiously into battle thinking that they’re going to save the world, when in fact, they look like fools.

[PeterPrinciple]

Few wind power companies have the financial reserves to dismantle these behemoth lawn sculptures.

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I read the contract one of my iowa farmers has with these. It guaranteed to remove the concrete to 16 inches below ground level when they are done. yah, right............

[Rennes Templar]

Yes and they’re ugly!

[New Jersey Realist]

Birds aren’t too happy about it neither!

[Utah Binger]

Deer Heaven, a Maynard Dixon painting in the twenties.

And now there is this...I wonder how many thousand eagles and hawks have died up here.

[Utah Binger]

Meant to ping you here...