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Wind turbines generating regret; $100,000 turbines to create $1.50 in electricity monthly
peninsuladailynews.com ^ | December 4, 2016 | Paul Gottlieb

Posted on 12/06/2016 9:58:36 AM PST by lowbridge

Three windmill-like turbines loom motionless over the city of Port Angeles’ new Waterfront Park.

The $107,516 spires stand immobile more than two months after they were erected and more than a year after the city council approved them.

Once they are working to generate electricity, they will produce so little power — $1.50 worth of electricity a month in savings — that at least one council member is regretting her decision to purchase them.

They have not been activated because the city is involved in an inspection-related dispute with the manufacturer, UGE International Ltd. of New York City, Community and Economic Development Director Nathan West said last week.

The impasse could be resolved by January, after projects with a higher priority are taken care of, West said.

The turbines will power the 31 lights that illuminate the park, Deputy Power Systems Manager Shailesh Shere said last week.

They can generate up to 3 kilowatts an hour but under normal conditions will generate a quarter of that, Shere said.

Shere said they are expected to generate $1.50 worth of electricity a month, based on current retail Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rates.

City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch said last week the turbines were intended to do more than generate electricity.

“They were also meant to educate folks about wind power,” she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at peninsuladailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: bhoenergy; electricity; energy; globalwarming; oops; washington; wind; windturbines
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1 posted on 12/06/2016 9:58:36 AM PST by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

On the good side, it will pay for itself in less than 6 thousand years.


2 posted on 12/06/2016 10:01:09 AM PST by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge
“They were also meant to educate folks about wind power,” she said.

Mission accomplished.

3 posted on 12/06/2016 10:02:27 AM PST by niteowl77 (Don't need no Bushes. Don't need no Clintons. Don't need no fooling around.)
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To: lowbridge
“They were also meant to educate folks about wind power,” she said.

I'd say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED there! People are sure learning how un-economical wind power is!

4 posted on 12/06/2016 10:02:44 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: lowbridge
"They were also meant to educate folks about wind power"

ROFL! Teach people that wind power is a ridiculous un-economic boondoggle? Teach people that libtard morons push this crap on all of us so they can "feel good" about themselves while the public pays? Teach people that politicians who push this stuff don't know WTF they are doing?
5 posted on 12/06/2016 10:03:07 AM PST by Enchante (Hoping the Clintonistas are gone from our public life forever!!)
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To: lowbridge

Wind power is not exactly new. Competing with gas and coal is new.


6 posted on 12/06/2016 10:03:36 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: lowbridge

These are the cathedrals of the global warming cult-religion.

Its not about the money, its about honoring their gods.


7 posted on 12/06/2016 10:06:15 AM PST by PGR88
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To: lowbridge
"They were also meant to educate folks about wind power."

Well, then, Sissi....consider me educated.

8 posted on 12/06/2016 10:06:22 AM PST by diogenes ghost
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To: lowbridge

Here’s a 3.5 kw diesel generator for $5,700.
http://www.hardydiesel.com/marine-diesel-generators/kubota-compact-marine-diesel-generator-3-5-kw.html
And it’s a Kubota. It will be running when the wind tower has fallen silent.


9 posted on 12/06/2016 10:07:11 AM PST by 9422WMR (President Trump, I like the sound of that!)
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To: lowbridge

I never knew that would happen, said no one ever.


10 posted on 12/06/2016 10:07:28 AM PST by pinkandgreenmom
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To: lowbridge

My good friend is the city Finance Director and I’m sure he gave the city council a cost/benefit analysis prior to their decision to construct the system.


11 posted on 12/06/2016 10:08:49 AM PST by shotgun
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To: lowbridge
The turbines will power the 31 lights that illuminate the park,

At over $100K a piece X3 just to light lights, those are some expensive lights..............

12 posted on 12/06/2016 10:09:57 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: lowbridge

City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch said last week the turbines were intended to do more than generate electricity.

“They were also meant to educate folks about wind power,” she said.

But Bruch regretted joining the council’s unanimous decision in 2015 to approve the purchase.

“These are not giving us the quantity of energy that we would use, that we would want,” she said.

“I did not realize they would produce so little energy. I wouldn’t have voted for it knowing it was that little.

...

The turbines will illuminate the park with safety lighting for about $1.25 a month of the $1.50 that will be generated, putting the remaining 25 cents of power back into the BPA grid, which the city will get paid for, Shere said.


Liberals and other peoples’ money. Always a recipe for disaster.


13 posted on 12/06/2016 10:10:57 AM PST by Flick Lives (Les Deplorables Triumphant)
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To: lowbridge
Shere said they are expected to generate $1.50 worth of electricity a month, based on current retail Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rates.

City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch said last week the turbines were intended to do more than generate electricity.

“They were also meant to educate folks about wind power,” she said.

Too bad the city council didn't get educated on wind power by this farce. But, who cares? It's only taxpayer money - not like anyone* had to work for it.

*By anyone I mean anyone in government. Peasants don't count.

14 posted on 12/06/2016 10:10:58 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: lowbridge

I bet the park is closed at night................


15 posted on 12/06/2016 10:12:09 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: lowbridge

In Texas, windmills produce 11% of the electricity consumed in the state.


16 posted on 12/06/2016 10:12:23 AM PST by Timpanagos1
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To: lowbridge
What, that they are worthless and are a good example of government waste in action, errr inaction?
17 posted on 12/06/2016 10:15:52 AM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: Sacajaweau

I recently traveled east on I 40 across the Texas panhandle in and out of Amarillo. In our travels my wife and I have observed lots of wind turbines and count them as we go. Generally, between 10% and 20 % are not turning. That drops the efficiency for the array considerably.

That was not the case in the panhandle. The towers two and three deep went on and on and on, mile after mile after mile. The turbines co exist with the range land. The turbines were pretty much all turning. The guys in Texas have got their act together and apparently can maintain their stuff in very good order.

This is in Texas mind you. Texas across the border from Oklahoma where “the wind comes sweeping down the plain”. Literally the land of gas. You talk of subsidies qand I think like you...... somebody collected a ton of money to build those mega extensive wind farms. One or two towers like the one in New York are just plain trivial compared to Texas


18 posted on 12/06/2016 10:18:50 AM PST by bert (K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;WASP .... Macroagression melts snowflakes)
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To: lowbridge
"They were also meant to educate folks about wind power"

Well class, when we spend 100 grand and get nothing in return, what do we have?

19 posted on 12/06/2016 10:20:18 AM PST by circlecity
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To: Timpanagos1

In Texas, windmills produce 11% of the electricity consumed in the state.


Is that the grid connected equivalent, or is the actual generation contribution? If it is the actual contribution is it corrected for conventional plant “hot standby”? There’s a lot more to it than just a blanket statement. Now back out the subsidies and tell me about the economies of wind.


20 posted on 12/06/2016 10:21:50 AM PST by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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