Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Can America's first floating wind farm shake off environmental concerns?
The Guardian ^ | July 31, 2016 | Matt Weiser

Posted on 08/12/2016 9:31:57 PM PDT by rockinqsranch

The deep waters off the coast of California could become home to the country’s largest offshore wind energy project and a test case for a technology that is still in its infancy.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: electricity; environment; wind
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last
To: rockinqsranch

All of these expensive clean energy projects are money laundering schemes for the democratic party.


21 posted on 08/13/2016 6:25:54 AM PDT by abclily
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abclily

“All of these expensive clean energy projects are money laundering schemes for the democratic party.”

Yes they are. Good post.


22 posted on 08/13/2016 8:46:11 AM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists Call 'em what you will, they all have fairies livin' in their trees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: KamperKen; rockinqsranch; ROCKLOBSTER
KamperKen: " If one drives past a wind farm one will notice that most are not spinning since most failed some time prior and were abandoned in place."

On a windy day in your typical windmill farm of, say, two dozen wind turbines, I typically see all but two or three turning, suggesting operating rates approaching 90%.

The windmill industry says you can expect annual maintenance costs on newer turbines around 2%, or $80,000 on a $4,000,000 windmill.
Over its 25 year life, that would mean repairs totaling $2,000,000.

How much to they earn?
I can't say, numbers not readily available, but conventional wisdom says that without government subsidies, windmills are losers economically.

To which the industry responds that government subsidies for wind turbines are no greater than those subsidies provided other energy sectors.

Take your pick.


23 posted on 08/13/2016 10:46:08 AM PDT by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: BroJoeK
the industry responds that government subsidies for wind turbines are no greater than those subsidies provided other energy sectors

Depends on what the meaning of the word "subsidy" is. Is is a tax break, or an outright grant?

Of course "the industry" is all RAT...so they're probably lying.

24 posted on 08/13/2016 3:15:19 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Canadians can't be our President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: ROCKLOBSTER; KamperKen; rockinqsranch
Thanks.
This source says the wind power subsidy is $.022 per kilowatt hour, which is almost 50% above electricity's wholesale price of $.05.

By contrast, the "subsidy" for oil works out to about $.60 per barrel, or around 1%.
So, 50% subsidy for wind turbines vs. 1% for oil... ??

I've been trying to work out a rough idea of the economics.
Let's see, if a large new wind turbine (let's suppose 3 megawatts) costs, say, $4 million to build, and $80,000 per year to maintain, how much income does it generate.

Well, this source estimates they average 16 hours per day, which I think produces $2,400, or $876,000 per year, plus another $385,000 in subsidies.
So, if loan payments on $4 million over 20 years are $210,000 per year, and who knows what other costs...
Of course, if they only average eight hours per day, that could get dicey.

So, it might work, especially with tax payers kicking in a real nice Christmas bonus. ;-)

25 posted on 08/13/2016 4:39:49 PM PDT by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson