>> “OTOH, an article this morning at Fuel Fix points out that the US led the world in adding windpower in 2012.” <<
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That is not a good thing!
Wind power adds nothing to our generating capacity, because when we add wind capacity we have to add an equal amount of conventional back-up for it to be reliable; wind just doesn’t blow consistently. Wind power is foolishness unless it is used to lift pumped storage. JBS speaks the truth that you don’t want to hear. They’ve been doing that for 55 years without a single error.
Pump storage is fine for some flat places but here in Michigan we have literally thousands of existing dams with at least 300 having enough head to generate power on par with wind. Dams also can last for centuries with proper maintenance. Plus they generate power 24/7 and actually create property value.