Posted on 08/04/2008 9:33:59 AM PDT by Graybeard58
What's in store for America when most of its electricity is generated by the sun and wind? Trouble, turmoil and tyranny. With more than 125 wind farms, England is many years ahead of us when it comes to alternative power. But it has just as many NIMBYs per capita as America, and theirs detest wind farms.
A 2007 government-commissioned study found upward of three-quarters of people living within 1.2 miles of "condor Cuisanarts" say the loud whooshing sound the blades make is ruining their health and quality of life. But their biggest complaint was about falling property values. More than a few homeowners have gone to the trouble and expense of selling their homes at a loss or a discount just to get away from the noise.
The British Wind Energy Association scoffs at such "subjective perceptions," but the judiciary begs to differ. A judge last month ruled one couple's home, worth $330,000 in 2006, has been rendered worthless by the deafening roar of the wind farm built since then in their neighborhood, the Telegraph of London reports. As a result, thousands of homeowners may see the value of their homes and their tax bills plummet, throwing the housing market and government budgets into turmoil.
However, the government remains committed to the deployment of 7,000 more windmills by 2018, and it's not about to let NIMBYs dash its green dreams. So while officials continue to reject windmills in national parks and other sparsely populated areas, they are crafting a law to forbid homeowners from complaining about noise from wind farms.
For those who refuse to be believe such green fascism might visit America one day, think again. Though not yet so severe, it's already here, and it's metastasizing.
Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.
If you want on or off this list, let me know.
“For those who refuse to be believe such green fascism might visit America one day,”
The Telecommunications Act of ‘94 mandated placement of cell towers, and overrode local zoning to do it. Fedgov could and did take towns to court when the town voted to zone out cell towers.
I expect the same mandates once wind becomes the flavor of the day.
Condor cuisinarts?
It’s teh 1996 Act, sorry.
A Township May Not Deny a Special Exception for a Telecommunication Tower without Substantial Evidence, Pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Omnipoint v. Zoning Hearing Board of Pine Grove Township, 181 F.3d 403, (Third Circuit, 1999)
Note: Distinguished by Omnipoint Communications Enterprises v. ZHB of Easttown Twp., 248 F.3d 101
Cross Reference- MPC Section 912.1; Telecommunications Act of 1996
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a district court’s decision ordering a zoning board to grant a special exception to a wireless telephone service provider permitting it to construct a telecommunication tower pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Third Circuit Court found that a township zoning board failed to support its denial of the special exception by substantial evidence, in violation of the Act.
Luckily for the US, we have large areas where the wind farms could go without anyone living nearby for miles.
Wind power is but one portion of a large, interlinked, and complex system that would be required to give us the amount of power that we would need. As is per usual with the libs, they demonstrate their lack of scientific expertise by reaching for every gold-colored ring that passes by the political merry-go-round. Folks, none of this is gonna work until we 1) get good, low-cost storage methods, 2) have a reasonable selection of economical, ecological generating methods...e.g., solar, wind, etc. Until then, just think about Obama’s D+ in science (if that loon even scored that high).
I once thought wind would be a great source of energy. I must say I am unimpressed today. The large amounts of land required, the relatively low energy produced, the long term payoff on investment, the short life span of the equipment, leaves me thinking this is a dead end.
I have become more convinced over the years that a key to our energy self-sufficiency is at least partial and in some instances total self-sufficiency for individual homes. Homes that overproduce could actually reduce draw on the grid.
I am not convinced we have the technology to achieve this today, but it is my hope that within ten to fifteen years, there will breakthroughs that make it possible.
In the interim we need nuclear plants to increase power availability. I am sick and tired of the local utilities in my area running commercials on my utility bill dime, to tell me not to use electricity.
What happens when the wind doesn’t blow at night?
Wind energy is a moronic idea. I don’t want to lose my AC in the summer because a weather pattern shifted and the wind quit blowing.
We need nuclear, and we need it 20 years ago.
also, tboonepickens = idiot.
Not gonna happen any time soon.
If wind power cannot be made self-sustaining (and unsubsidized) by the economy of scale, it is hopeless to expect individual home self-sufficiency, any time in the future we can reasonably look into.
It is also a waste of time to discuss the practicality of alternative energy with a public which, 95% of them (charitably), have no grasp of the energy distribution system that is currently in place.
By far, the major inefficiency of the existing grid is the waste of energy due to transmission losses. This is true regardless of the energy souce. For instance, if we could magically reduce the transmission distances by half, we would "gain" about 25% of the total energy produced, instantly. What does that suggest?
The possibilities are endless, and the arguments equally endless. The only (temporary) solution in the short term (50 years) is use of smaller nuclear plants sited closer than has been traditionally the case, to the areas being served. Alternatives can be pursued to one's heart's content at the same time. But not blindly and irrationally just to be "doing something".
As a final thought, you left out maintenance as the achiles heel of both wind power and solar power. Discussions of these alternatives sweep that major factor under the rug, then lock the rug in the deepest corner of society's consciousness.
Thanks for the comments.
Do you see any expansion of infrastructure? I mean serious expansion. I don’t see it and it disturbs me.
I’m not in the industry, but I do keep an eye on what takes place around these parts, and I just don’t see it.
What I see is a government and power production climate that is now geared toward conservation and limiting usage.
Power
Water
Freeways
These three concerns seem to have reached some magical point in time where the government and even the utilities seem to think we can’t expand them anymore. It’s as if they refuse to face the reality that populations expand and infrastructure must do likewise or we face serious problems.
As for your comments, I’m not completely opposed to your take on this. I agree with much of what you have said. It does seem to me though that our major emphasis is the large energy production facility. I know that there are people out there who are working on single property type solutions, but I’m not convinced they are truly qualified to do so.
It does seem to me that there could be ways to make homes more self-sufficient than they are. Vast improvements could be made. I have a few projects in mind for my own place that won’t cost much. If I could cut the need to have the air conditioner on by half, that would be a great savings in energy and cash.
You mentioned power transmission loss. Are we anywhere close to some new advancements that might cut that loss significantly?
Energy, corporations, highways, welfare, public schools, guns, food, politics, values - all things that would improve instantly by 25% if handled locally as the Founders intended.
That’s interesting. I’ve never been close to a wind turbine generator. I’m surprised to learn that there’s a noise problem. Of course, if they were out at sea...perhaps off Teddy Kennedy’s place....
IMHO:
Give me a portable solar unit I can roll onto a slab near the house to run my refrigerator or AC.
btt
In such areas, nukes should be welcomed. Real energy.
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