Gov't Report: Wind Energy Needs Taxpayer Support To Survive

Capitol Confidential ^ | 8/21/2012 | Tom Gantert

[MichCapCon]

A 2011 Wind Technologies Report released by the U.S. Department of Energy in August highlights how dependent wind energy is upon government subsidies.

The report cites government aid as two of the three key factors that contributed to growth in the market in 2011. The continuation of state and federal incentives for wind energy and the ability to meet construction deadlines to qualify for a federal grant program were two of the factors.

The report states that forecasts for 2013 and beyond span a wide range "depending in large measure on assumptions about the possible extension of federal incentives."

The 2010 wind report by the DOE also recognized the importance of federal subsidies to its growth.

"On the other hand, with the window of eligibility for the Treasury Grant program scheduled to close at the end of 2011 (though most projects built in 2012 are also likely to qualify) and with federal tax credits slated to expire at the end of 2012, growth beyond 2012 is highly uncertain," the report said.

The reason for that is obvious, said Paul Chesser, associate fellow of the National Legal and Policy Center.

"Of course it is highly uncertain," he said. "Without government’s help, it would be pretty much extinct.”

[103198]

Die!

[103198]

Die!

[Surrounded_too]

Die, MF’er

[DBrow]

I think I read a while ago that most of the EU stopped wind subsidies, as not being “sustainable”.

[MNJohnnie]

Then it is a not economically viable and needs to get out of the way for real energy sources.

[formosa]

Then kill it. We are out of cash.

[Graewoulf]

Then “DIE, you gravy-sucking pigs!” (from comedian Steve Martin).

[Nip]

Until wind energy can produce commercially available energy in less than 5 knots of wind and stay on line in 110 mph it will remain a science project that escaped the laboratory.

Unfortunately during its escape a Federal Bureaucrat managed to also escape and was last seen riding the escaped science project to the Treasury Building.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Translation: Wind energy consumes more energy than it produces.

[cripplecreek]

For a competitive cost outlay we could produce energy with lots of small dams in Michigan and they produce power every day all day. (In simple terms, they'll pay for themselves over time)

If anyone wants to be added to the Michigan Cap Con ping list, let me know.

[mo]

Yet another great scam on the taxpayer...globull warming...electric cars...etc.etc...

the legislators aiding and abetting these scams have some ‘splainin’ to do-

[DungeonMaster]

No it doesn’t.

[noiseman]

My wife and I recently drove to Dallas and back (Restoring Love), and along the way from Denver to Dallas passed more wind turbines than I could count. Yet I would conservatively estimate that at least 80% of them were not running, despite steady winds.

The strange thing was that despite the fact that most of the wind farms appeared to be producing very little power, we also lost count of the number of semis hauling turbine blades, nacelles, and towers that we saw. The obvious conclusion is that while most wind turbines are not even running, government subsidies continue to encourage the manufacture of even more of them, presumably to be installed and forgotten.

It’s like a giant WPA program, but one that results in nothing of lasting value.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It does if you count money as energy.

It costs money to build a grid around an intermittent energy source.

Wind power is a complete disaster

Denmark, the world’s 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 power’s unpredictability, and pollution and carbon dioxide emissions have risen (by 36% in 2006 alone).

[Fully Awake DAV]

Let me get this straight.....so..we as tax payers fund building wind farms, then we pay higher electric rates for the “Green” energy....so how is this a benefit? Also, there are over 14,900 defunct wind turbines in the United States. In some cases entire wind farms are motionless, burnt out hunks of junk littering the mountain ranges.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I still can never get over the “if you build they will come” mentality on this and other alternate energy sources. I know competent engineers who even subscribe to the idea that once you field the idea that the cost will come down to an economical rate, even though no real numbers support it. My math isn't the best but even I can read numbers that tell all that you don't get something from nothing, or something is a constant drain like ethanol. We don't need slide rules or paper anymore to tell us that the numbers aren't magic, computers do that.

[cripplecreek]

I wonder if anyone has any numbers on the cost or raising a windmill and transmission lines? This pdf file is the feasibility report on retrofitting two small dams in Ann Arbor Michigan for power generation.

HYDROELECTRIC REDEVELOPMENT ARGO AND GEDDES DAMS FEASIBILITY STUDY CITY OF ANN ARBOR

Pay special attention to the part about them running above capacity 28% and 23% of the time and the lack of an estimation of how often they will be below capacity.(they won't) When a dam exceeds capacity, the generators keep on turning and excess water is dumped over the spillway. With a windmill, when the wind is too light or too strong, they shut down.

I don't know why we're even talking about wind power at all in the east where there are literally thousands of dams like this. Instead the greentards are in a rush to tear all the dams out so they can never produce power.

[GeronL]

then it should not survive

[bgill]

My snow cone stand can’t survive and needs some stimulus, whaaaa!