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EXPOSED: A KEY ELEMENT OF THE WIND ENERGY FRAUD
powerlineblog ^ | NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | JOHN HINDERAKER

Posted on 11/27/2018 3:07:03 AM PST by dennisw

In Wisconsin, a wind turbine farm is being decommissioned and disassembled after only 20 years of operation. It turns out that this is typical. My colleague Isaac Orr explains at Center of the American Experiment’s web site:

What’s really surprising about these wind turbines being decommissioned after 20 years is the fact that people were surprised by it. You’d be astonished at how many people I talk to have no idea that wind turbines only last for 20 years, maybe 25. In fact, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory says the useful life of a wind turbine is only 20 years.

This is the point: the federal government produces figures on the “levelized cost of energy,” comparing coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar and so on. Most people naively assume that the government’s numbers are authoritative. In fact, as usual when it comes to energy, the government’s thumb is firmly on the scale in favor of crony energy that funds politicians:

The short usable lifespan of a wind turbine is one of the most important, but least-talked about subjects in energy policy.

In contrast to wind, coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants can run for a very long time. Coal and natural gas plants can easily run for 50 years, and nuclear plants can be updated and retrofitted to run for 60 years.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: energy; envirowhackos; fraud; fundingtheleft; greens; turbines; wind
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1 posted on 11/27/2018 3:07:03 AM PST by dennisw
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To: dennisw

The only man that can say that and get people to pay attention is the POTUS. I think he’s got other fish to fry. May not accomplish anything to say it other than to rattle the Bernie types.


2 posted on 11/27/2018 3:10:21 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

He can even say the Democrats are against wind energy because they’re against ALL energy.


3 posted on 11/27/2018 3:12:30 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: dennisw

Wind is forever.

The salesman promised,


4 posted on 11/27/2018 3:18:45 AM PST by ptsal
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To: dennisw
Could some engineer clue me in on why 20 years is a limit? Structural fatigue in the tower?

Routine maintenance shouldn't be the issue. Wind turbines have moving parts that will require regular maintenance and periodic replacement. The same is true of any other power plant, factory or piece of mechanical or electronic equipment. Stuff wears out. But if you want to keep the thing operating, you can. This is why B-52's are still flying and antique cars are still on the road.

At some point, major components fail, repair is too expensive, and it makes sense to retire the old unit and build new if the technology is still relevant. But on a wind turbine, everything, including the blades, would seem to be easily replaceable as a matter of routine maintenance except the tower itself. Current designs have very tall, skinny towers, but I'd be surprised if these are designed to be scrapped in 20 years. If so, surely there are sturdier designs that could be used.

5 posted on 11/27/2018 3:31:55 AM PST by sphinx
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To: sphinx

Do not confuse the issue with logic.


6 posted on 11/27/2018 3:35:20 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: DIRTYSECRET
Yeah, I know … food fights are more fun if no one knows what we're really talking about. But I AM curious. Wind has some legitimate small scale applications for off-grid uses, but large scale, commercial wind power is subsidy driven. I wonder if the 20 year limit is a financial artifact based on the subsidy structure.

Or maybe it's structural fatigue after all.

7 posted on 11/27/2018 3:42:39 AM PST by sphinx
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Except THEIR energy which, by the way, should be FREE to them because they are better and more equal than us.


8 posted on 11/27/2018 3:46:05 AM PST by Shady (We WON the Battle, Now let's WIN THE WAR!!!!)
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To: dennisw

Since the primary output of a wind turbine is government subsidy money, it makes sense that wind turbines have a limited lifespan.

After years of spinning off maintenance subsidies, it is time to go back to the government for another Big Score, the construction subsidy to build the new one.


9 posted on 11/27/2018 3:51:17 AM PST by Haiku Guy (ELIMINATE PERVERSE INCENTIVES)
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To: sphinx

Nobody subsidizes renovation.

After twenty years of being an obnoxious neighbor, there is no political will to renovate a wind turbine. Therefore there is no government subsidy.

Without subsidy, it doesn’t happen.


10 posted on 11/27/2018 3:54:54 AM PST by Haiku Guy (ELIMINATE PERVERSE INCENTIVES)
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To: sphinx

They are essentially helicopter transmissions scaled up. I wouldn’t trust my life to a twenty year old helicopter transmission I don’t think.


11 posted on 11/27/2018 4:07:08 AM PST by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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To: dennisw

why isn’t the story of the slaughter of birds being told? Yea,wonder why.


12 posted on 11/27/2018 4:08:30 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: Dr. Ursus

2014: StopTheseThings: Wind Turbines: lucky to last 10 Years
https://stopthesethings.com/2014/05/28/wind-turbines-lucky-to-last-10-years/


13 posted on 11/27/2018 4:14:17 AM PST by MAGAthon
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To: dennisw

Solar panels only last 20 to 25 years as well. We put an array up with a 80 year pay back. Leadership would ask me what the payback was and were confused when I’d say “none”. They had to have the number though. I never recalculated the payback after a lightning hit took out 25% of the output and we had to pay a contractor to fix it.


14 posted on 11/27/2018 4:14:31 AM PST by gbaker
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To: dennisw

New meaning to renewable energy.


15 posted on 11/27/2018 4:15:52 AM PST by cp124 (I didnÂ’t leave America, it left me.)
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To: sphinx

Fatigue Life of Wind Turbine Structural Components

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/55d2/b3390dfc2995c0c52e39c2ce7f6189e43c40.pdf

Retiring worn-out wind turbines could cost billions that nobody has

https://www.energycentral.com/news/retiring-worn-out-wind-turbines-could-cost-billions-nobody-has


16 posted on 11/27/2018 4:15:55 AM PST by PapaBear3625 ("Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire)
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To: Dr. Ursus

Don’t forget this story is coming right on the heels of GM discontinuing the Chevy Volt. Now what does the battery driven car have in common with windmills?

BTW-Every time I drive along wind farms none of the windmills are turning. Just a few. Don’t worry. Solar will save us.


17 posted on 11/27/2018 4:16:10 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: Dr. Ursus

I have seen them cluttering the landscape in nearby West Virginia.

Have yet to find many people ‘happy’ with them.

Usually see them just sitting there stagnant(the fans) and I will ask a local how hot does it have to get before they plug them in to get the valley cooled down......

Of course, whenever I go into an ‘Australian themed’ bar, I will ask the inevitable question...

What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back?

A STICK.

Everyone likes a ‘little A$$ now and then but NOBODY likes a SMART A$$


18 posted on 11/27/2018 4:18:02 AM PST by xrmusn (6/98“Free competition enforced by law” is a grotesque contradiction in terms."Ayn Rand)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

BTW-Every time I drive along wind farms none of the windmills are turning. Just a few. Don’t worry. Solar will save us.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
(#18)
Usually see them just sitting there stagnant(the fans) and I will ask a local how hot does it have to get before they plug them in to get the valley cooled down......


19 posted on 11/27/2018 4:22:46 AM PST by xrmusn (6/98“Free competition enforced by law” is a grotesque contradiction in terms."Ayn Rand)
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To: wastoute; sphinx

It’s likely not just the transmissions. Those huge blades undoubtedly flex, and are made of some variety of composite. Here’s a video of one being destroyed in a high wind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCRoN2NGLYI Even with 20-25 years of normal wind, you wouldn’t want to be near one when a single blade failure unbalances the whole thing.


20 posted on 11/27/2018 4:25:19 AM PST by Pecos (Better the one you have with you than the one you left at home.)
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