Out of Thin Air (renewable energy)

American Thinker ^ | April 13, 2009 | David S. Van Dyke

[neverdem]

I am really astounded by the public's apparent ignorance about "wind energy".  We all experience sunshine and wind but few of us bother to examine the "quality" of that sunshine and wind.  Obviously wind turbines only spin and generate electricity when the wind is blowing.  Accordingly, solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining on them.  In order for these technologies to be economically viable you have to have a lot of wind and/or a lot of sunshine.

Wind energy works best in areas with a lot of sustained wind usually blowing from one prevailing direction.  Here in the mountains of New Mexico we certainly get wind, but it is seldom sustained wind of significant velocity and it often changes direction.  We're far better suited for solar power than wind turbines.  The truth is, there may be a number of areas around the country that experience frequent, sustained wind from one prevailing direction, but not all are suitable for large, unsightly wind turbines.

I lived in Amarillo, Texas for over 10 years.  I can't imagine anywhere better suited for large wind turbines than West Texas.  The wind is so predominately from the southwest that all the trees grow leaning to the northeast (after you live there a few years you don't even notice it).  The wind blows all the time.  I remember there being very few days without incessant wind.  Except for the majestic canyons (most of which are located on private land), the vast expanse of west Texas is unbelievably flat and is almost always windswept.  This is perfect terrain for the T. Boone Pickens plan for wind farms.  There is "high quality" wind there.  It's nearly constant and almost always from one general direction.  Further, a huge tower and wind turbine is not particularly aesthetically displeasing.  You're not blocking anyone's view of anything except more flat, featureless landscape. 

The problem is that these things cost something like a million dollars each and every spring they experience another weather anomaly in that region -- tornados.  Over the next few years I anticipate there being a number of million dollar losses of wind turbines due to weather.

I certainly would not want a huge wind turbine (many times the size of a pump jack) blocking my view of the Sandia and Jemez mountains.  Large wind farms are only effective in certain locations and if those locations happen to have nice scenery around them, you can expect tremendous resistance to them. 

The great promise of wind energy currently depends on huge government subsidy.  As soon as the subsidy dries up, these great twirling giants will suddenly look pretty stupid when they are no longer cost-effective to build and maintain.

Further, once these wind farms clutter up a skyline, more and more people will lose interest.  Solar power is even more inefficient except in a very few locations.  Even in the best locations solar arrays require a lot of real estate and unless built on top of an existing structure, they destroy or certainly change the ecosystem beneath them.

Wind energy is limited to rather specific geographic locations and certain prevailing weather patterns.  Right now it is utterly dependent upon government subsidy for viability. There is a wealth of information available online to show where solar and wind are potentially viable options and where they are most likely not good options.  Most of the land mass of the United States is, for any one of a number of reasons, not well suited for these technologies on a large scale.

Wind energy is limited to rather specific geographic locations and certain prevailing weather patterns.  Right now it is utterly dependent upon government subsidy for rconomic viability. Only a fool would believe that government subsidy will create thousands of sustainable long-term jobs and significantly supplement our future energy needs out of thin air.

[Kitanis]

Another aspect of Wind Energy to consider is.. that the wind is variable. To maintain a constant state of power.. other sources have to be balanced to handle the fluctuations in power to maintain a constant cycle.

Up here in the Pacific Northwest.. where a extensive grid of Damns provide 45% of the regions power.. They have to throttle back the dams when the winds increase.... To do that. they reduce the water flow of the turbines and open a few flood gates. The environmentalists hate that because they claim it kills the fish.

Wind energy provides only 7% of the electricity on the Bonneville Power Administrations grid..

Wind Energy is a neat concept.. but spoiling of views, noise in some areas.. Its Not the answer to all the energy needs of the country

[okie01]

Another valid point that the writer could make:

Wind energy and solar energy both need to be fully backed-up by conventional energy sources -- for those times when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. Each and every watt generated by a wind turbine or a solar array must be backed-up by a watt of coal- or natural gas- or nuclear-generated power.

Not exactly the model of efficiency, no?

Regarding wind generation in West Texas, the month of highest electricity consumption in the Southwest is August (air conditioners, doncha know). And when is the wind least likely to blow in West Texas?

That's right. August.

[smokingfrog]

Map 2-6 Annual average wind resource estimates in the contiguous United States

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http://rredc.nrel.gov

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[neverdem]

Thanks for the map!

[count-your-change]

Of course all those windmills in far off windy places take lots of wire to bring the power to the user too. I’d rather see a smaller version for the individual house used.
I don’t know what the pay back time would be but at least it would tend to put the cost on the user.

[cabojoe]

Here's a pic of my Dad, BIL, and I hoisting Dad's new wind turbine on the mountains above San Diego last weekend. It took him months and lots of frustrations to get all the permits required, but in the end if he gets his rebates it should cost very little.

[Kirkwood]

I really want to like photovoltaic panels, but when you run the numbers, they are just not practical, even when the govt picks up 80% of the cost in some states. I would never recoup the money I put into the system, although someone in their 20s might be able to.

[mtdrake]

I just noticed something very interesting in that wind across America map. There seems to be a very good place for a wind mill farm just along the coast of Cape Cod. Has anyone looked into building one there???

[Wpin]

I also view the large windmill ‘farms’ as a blight on the land. What’s the difference between 100 windmills and 100 billboards? Perception, that is it. Both, block natural views.

In Illinois some unlucky communities rushed to allow wind farm development. One, near Rochelle Illinois has about thirty or forty windmills which rarely can be seen turning.

I am a supporter of individual energy development, wind, solar, what have you. Where we become independent from the government and it’s utilities.

[Talisker]

I just noticed something very interesting in that wind across America map. There seems to be a very good place for a wind mill farm just along the coast of Cape Cod. Has anyone looked into building one there???

::: grin :::

[anglian]

Cape Wind, the mammoth and controversial 130-turbine wind-energy project off of Cape Cod, Mass. A leading foe of the $1 billion project is Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., an early and influential backer of Obama’s presidential bid. A strong proponent is Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a close friend of Obama and a source for some of his best campaign speech lines.

The plan to erect 130 giant turbines across 25 miles of federal waters in Nantucket Sound http://www.wind-watch.org/

[mtdrake]

Thanks anglian. My remark was an attempt at sarcasm, pointing out the hypocrisy of the left on this issue.

[J Aguilar]

Wind energy and solar energy both need to be fully backed-up by conventional energy sources -- for those times when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. Each and every watt generated by a wind turbine or a solar array must be backed-up by a watt of coal- or natural gas- or nuclear-generated power.

Nuclear generated power cannot follow the instantaneous ups and downs of wind production: for that purpouse gas turbines are utilized which may explain the interest of certain groups in windmills and why the last wind lobby meeting was held in Texas. That is, wind energy is the cover up of the oil industry to step into the electricity market.

Another question when wind farms expand is the possibility of a cascade failure due to dips in the grid: when a dip occurs, the proteccions of the asynchronous generators used in windmills disconnect them to avoid damage in the rotor. Its sudden disconnection increases the dip, which triggers neighbouring protecctions. In the end, whole windfarms collapse and the entire grid may follow if there is not enough spare capacity.

Although the problem can be solved with more power electronic equipment (which increases the cost of the wind turbine), the truth is that wind is not an adequate source of power in most places.

[M.K. Borders]

The local REMC has a sub-station just outside of town. Recently they have mounted two solar panels and one small windmill.

Rumor has it that this is an experiment. The theory is that these tree items can produce enough electricity for one family home. This is an effort to see if that is true.

Further rumor is that REMC is considering this as an alternative to power transmission lines. An REMC customer could elect to have this items delivered and erected on his property and pay a monthly fee.

[mvpel]

I certainly would not want a huge wind turbine (many times the size of a pump jack) blocking my view of the Sandia and Jemez mountains. Large wind farms are only effective in certain locations and if those locations happen to have nice scenery around them, you can expect tremendous resistance to them.

[Ben Ficklin]

According to an article in the Houston paper yesterday, Texas added 2671 MW of wind power in 2008. Iowa added 1600 MW to surpass California.

[barb-tex]

Don’t worry about the cost, which for him is very little, as you say, we poor taxpayers will be happy to assure him cheap power. REBATES are , like rent subsidies, are Welfare for the well to do. If it is only profitable with subsidy, it should not be done.
barbra ann

[barb-tex]

If you can’t recoup your 20%, why should I opt for my 80%?
barbra ann

[cabojoe]

He’s probably paid more taxes per year than most pay in their lives. He deserves to get something back from the taxing scoundrels.