Posted on 02/05/2010 7:48:37 PM PST by neverdem
For those who suspect residents in places like Minnesota of embellishment when it comes to their tales of bitterly cold winter weather, consider this: even some wind turbines, it seems, cannot bear it.
Turbines, more than 100 feet tall, were installed last year in 11 Minnesota cities to provide power, and also to serve as educational symbols in a state that has mandated that a quarter of its electricity come from renewable resources by 2025.
One problem, though: The windmills, supposed to go online this winter, mostly just sat still, people in cities like North St. Paul and Chaska said, rarely if ever budging. Residents took note. Schoolchildren asked questions. Complaints accumulated.
If people see a water tower, they expect it to stand still, said Wally Wysopal, the city manager of North St. Paul. If theres a turbine, they want it to turn.
No one knows for sure why these turbines do not. Officials believe there may be several reasons, but weather is the focus of much speculation. It is not as though turbines cannot function in cold places; thousands of them work perfectly well throughout Minnesota and the Midwest, the American Wind Energy Association is quick to note.
But the 12 turbines in question, each 20 years old, spent their earlier years twirling in California...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
One possible moral of the story: Don’t buy old used junk from California. There is probably a reason its for sale.
Algore and his enviroloonies have some ‘splainin’ to do. LOL!
If you’ve ever driven through West Texas (north of Lubbock, towards Amarillo), you might be astounded by a couple things:
1) How many wind turbines there are, and
2) How many of them are NOT TURNING.
I’m not sure why. I’d like to know.
However, I wager that when enviros quote some big honkin’ number of megawatts of wind power available in Texas, they’re talking POTENTIAL. Not actual.
Food for thought. I think the whole wind power contribution to the grid is MUCH less than is touted, and not just in Minnesota.
I'm glad these morons finally admitted what these damn things are really all about. They're "educational symbols" for the "great unwashed masses". I suspected this all along.
>> Food for thought. I think the whole wind power contribution to the grid is MUCH less than is touted, and not just in Minnesota.
Is his name Pickens? Anyway, he’s pushing gas now...
I can see it now. They'll install motors and heaters to keep them turning through the winter. It would make about as much sense as installing them in the first place.
If this is the same turbines that was reported on earlier in the week, they are stopped by the extreme cold. The fluid that is part of the working mechanism didn’t stand up to the extreme cold in Minnesota. The contractor said it would. The city is set to sue for non-compliance to their contract. Stupid city government. Build a freaking coal fired power plant and stay warm, and run lights and machines and tools. They bought into the crap of global warming. Suffer you idiots. November 2010 we start taking our country back!
They are an eyesore and I have heard the noise they make can drive you insane. It sounds like they are a money-pit. We have plenty of oil. DRILL IT!
>> Is his name Pickens?
Heh... yeah, that’s a lot of it. Maybe MOST of it. “T-Bone” also has a pipeline and water rights thing going.
>> Anyway, hes pushing gas now...
Yep. And not running wind power ads anymore either.
So sad... I’m “pushing gas” too, but unlike T. Booone, it doesn’t seem to make ME any money, just makes Mrs. Tick gag now and then. If you know what I mean (and I think you do). ;-)
I’ve seen several wind farms out here in So. Cal., and every one of them have a percentage of non turners. I’ve wondered why some turn, and others immediately next to them don’t.
>> We have plenty of oil. DRILL IT!
Isn’t it funny? We spent thousands of years figuring out that petroleum is a darn good, efficient, cost-effective source of energy... and then, with a little pressure from the left, we FORGOT all that in a couple DECADES!
What the heck is wrong with us anyway??!?
Here are a few "educational symbols" they can use in the classroom without going outside...
I think the Good New senator from Massachusetts should spear head a project fo a wind farm out by teddys old place and call it the Ted Kennedy memorial windfarm
These windmills ARE educational.
They teach children that government is not to be trusted to make good choices.
Feelings beat out common sense every time in Liberaland.
Nothin' is wrong with "us."
But everthing is wrong with "them." :)
Why can’t they just take the wind turbines to a local airport and get them de-iced (stated in my most nerve wracking, know it all, greenie-environmental voice)
Sic semper “green technology.”
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