Newly Installed Wind Turbines Idled by Minnesota's Winter

TwinCities.com ^ | 01/23/2010 | Tad Vezner

[Red Badger]

I know what, let’s build a small power generating plant next to each windmill to generate the power to run the heaters to melt the snow off the solar cells to heat the oil to allow the windmill to run.......and the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around............

[palmer]

Said heating elements powered by...?

Unicorns on treadmills.

[Cold Heart]

It is the bio-diesel that gels up.
The ethanol contaminated gas just collects water and corrodes your fuel system, especially small or carbureted engines.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

So when the President is given a standing ovation for mentioning ten times the phrase renewable power and clean energy, this is one turkey that will just never fly. He can hope and change all he likes, but nothing will change that 20% figure.

Too bad that kind of info won't be on the front page of my local paper.

[Tax-chick]

Oh, okay. I had a feeling I didn’t have it quite right.

[tflabo]

Global Warming Song... Minnesotans for GW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJUFTm6cJXM

[Dixie Yooper]

It is the bio-diesel that gels up. The ethanol contaminated gas just collects water and corrodes your fuel system, especially small or carbureted engines.

Why didn't they use Amsoil products?

[SoothingDave]

Here in PA they used to mix a little kerosene in with the diesel for the school buses. Last year they had to stop doing that because of emissions, and use some new miracle additive.

That didn’t work.

[frposty]

Oil turning gel-like in winter.

Years ago a friend drove a tank truck from California to Alaska hauling synthetic oil for the equipment up there. Its advantage is that it doesn’t increase in viscosity as much when its cold. Lubricating mechanical devices in cold weather is thoroughly explored territory.

I’m very skeptical that engineers designing the wind turbines didn’t design for winter temperatures.

[kempster]

He lives out in the country and his nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away. He has about 6 acres.

[truthguy]

Yes, it's the worst of all worlds. They don't generate much energy. They cost a lot. They need tremendous maintenance. They are an eyesore. They kill incredible amounts of birds. They use up tons of space. They need governmental subsidies. I could go on but my blood pressure it going up. Windmills are a joke and would never be even considered by power engineers except in some very rare conditions. Only politicians (with no scientific or technical education) who are seduced by the energy charlatans would fall for the stupidity of it all. Just about any 2nd year Mechanical or Electrical Engineering Student at a good university could have told the politicians about all of this but those folks are just too dumb.

[AFreeBird]

Said heating elements powered by...?

Pixie dust...

[TYVets]

No doubt powered off the grid.

The engineer that designed these turbines is now working for Government Motors.

[Pessimist]

And apparently never heard of 5W oil. :)

[TYVets]

Maybe they just should hire Jiffy Lube to go change the oil in spring and fall.

[Onelifetogive]

You mean it gets cold in Minnesota during the winter?

I recommend that they build an enclosure around the turbine and heat the enclosed space with natural gas. Then, to make the turbine move, they should install fans in front of the blades to blow the warmed air across the indoor blades. This should have the side benefit of keeping the output of the wind turbine constant, thus avoiding the typical problem of reduced output when the wind is not blowing.

This should still be significantly more cost effective that the greenies typical boondoggles...

[coldoc]

It’s Bush’s fault...

[clodkicker]

Diesel will also gel up. You’re wrong on the ethanol also.

[NonValueAdded]

oh, that’s good. that’s very good.

[count-your-change]

The heating coils will be powered by electricity from the windmills which will be able to produce power because the heating coils thaw the windmills which will power the heating coils.....but fear not, any excess power will be diverted to the peasantry shivering below.