Posted on 07/08/2011 4:59:15 PM PDT by PROCON
Because wind does not blow all the time, wind power is an intermittent technology that needs other power as back-up to ensure that the lights stay on. Currently, wind capacity is backed up by existing fossil fuel capacity (natural gas or coal), but Britain has determined that it will need an additional 17 natural-gas powered plants to keep the lights on by 2020. The generators that will be used when the wind does not blow will cost UK consumers 10 billion pounds.[i] To cover the cost of this additional standby capacity, the utility companies are asking for capacity paymentsthat will be charged year round. In other words, consumers will need to pay for the heavily subsidized wind power and then pay again for capacity built to back-up wind in order to keep the electricity on.
(Excerpt) Read more at bigpeace.com ...
Denmark, the worlds most wind-intensive nation, with more than 6,000 turbines generating 19% of its electricity, has yet to close a single fossil-fuel plant. It requires 50% more coal-generated electricity to cover wind powers unpredictability, and pollution and carbon dioxide emissions have risen (by 36% in 2006 alone).
Ah, yes, the best intentions of idiot liberals (Progressives), I truly hate liberals, I can't tell you how much....
I know this will sound radical, but why not build giant wind generators to blow air through the wind turbines when they aren’t turning? Problem solved.
I knew there was someone else as intelligent as I am!!!!!!I always figured that the perfect electric car would have a large battery, you would charge it up just once and be able to drive it virtually forever because you would have 4 alternators, each driven by one of the wheels which would keep the battery charged indefinitely!!!brilliant, right and if not, why not (I know the answer)
Personally, I have no problem with wind and solar power being part of the generation solution. There is every indication that with a little development they could both be significant players, LOCALLY. You are right though, they are never going to solve all of our energy generation problems.
Wind Power has hidden dangers you don’t know about and hasn’t been reported about.
http://www.theonion.com/video/in-the-know-coal-lobby-warns-wind-farms-may-blow-e,20876/
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