[John Jorsett]

Very interesting. Why haven't the Altamont wind turbine blades been painted, then? It sounds a lot cheaper than shutting them down for long periods as the article describes. Also, could the support structures simply be sheathed instead of replaced, or would that be more expensive?

[pillbox_girl]

Very interesting. Why haven't the Altamont wind turbine blades been painted, then? It sounds a lot cheaper than shutting them down for long periods as the article describes. Also, could the support structures simply be sheathed instead of replaced, or would that be more expensive?

Good question.

I suspect it comes from two factors:

1. The enviro-nitwits aren't about coming up with solutions, only new things to whine about. They concentrate their efforts on creating a new government permit and regulation system for Altamont (more government bureaucracy) as well as imposing "compensation" for bird mortalities (wealth redistribution). So it should be obvious they're all too busy to actually solve any problems.
2. The owners of Altamont probably aren't interested in the costs (however minimal) of doing any improvements. It is, after all, in the Peoples Glorious Workers Paradise Republic of Kalifornistan. They know that eventually the government will make the taxpayers foot the bill.