Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: lowbridge

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

(assuming no maintenance costs, like paint or bearings)

This certainly should educate the public about wind power...


21 posted on 12/06/2016 10:23:26 AM PST by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: bert

Right now, Texas has the Wind Capacity to generate 18% of the power in the state.

Texas is a big state and 18% of the power generated in Texas could power any number of state’s entire electricity consumption.


22 posted on 12/06/2016 10:24:54 AM PST by Timpanagos1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

23 posted on 12/06/2016 10:27:01 AM PST by Carthego delenda est
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VTenigma

Wind Power works in Texas, there have been times when wholesale electricity prices became negative in Texas due to Wind Power generation.

The actual capacity of wind generation in Texas is 18%.

Also, Texas electric utilities are deregulated on the retail level and that permits the consumer to choose their utility company and even the source of their electricity.


24 posted on 12/06/2016 10:29:11 AM PST by Timpanagos1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Timpanagos1

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

From elsewhere:
“This report estimates that a dishwasher unit uses somewhere around 1.5 kWh on average to run a load of dishes”

“The average price people in the U.S. pay for electricity is about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.”

So if they are buying these things for $107,000 what am I missing. This would not come close to making sense.


25 posted on 12/06/2016 10:34:21 AM PST by KSCITYBOY (The media is corrupt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Timpanagos1

Wouldn’t ya know it! Those evil rednecks are actually better environmentalists than the hipsters in LA.


26 posted on 12/06/2016 10:34:40 AM PST by proxy_user
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: bert
You talk of subsidies and I think like you...... somebody collected a ton of money to build those mega extensive wind farms.

----- and his name is T Boone Pickens.

27 posted on 12/06/2016 10:37:09 AM PST by SanchoP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Timpanagos1

“Also, Texas electric utilities are deregulated on the retail level and that permits the consumer to choose their utility company and even the source of their electricity.”
What a farce. Choose the source of electricity? How does that work when we share the same power lines? Can we choose our own source of public supplied water? I’m getting Perrier from the city tap, not me, I only drink Ozarka!!
Ha haa, here is my laughing face : ;-)


28 posted on 12/06/2016 10:38:49 AM PST by 9422WMR (President Trump, I like the sound of that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

“This certainly should educate the public about wind power...”

Here in Texas, we are very educated about wind power.

We see the wind mills, we see our lights on, we see utility bills falling due to deregulation and the impact of wind generation on natural gas prices.


29 posted on 12/06/2016 10:39:52 AM PST by Timpanagos1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: KSCITYBOY

A $100k wind turbine is pretty much a toy or experimental.

Most commercial wind turbines used by power companies are $2 million or more. And they have serious maintenance costs seldom mentioned.


30 posted on 12/06/2016 10:40:29 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Timpanagos1

I checked you specs with a number of Texas energy websites.
It appears as if you are quoting non-peak power demands.

Its easy to meet power demands in AZ in Dec, MN in May and Texas in the winter.

Texas wind generation is NOT generating 18% of demand in the summer.
Real numbers are about 3%.


31 posted on 12/06/2016 10:43:22 AM PST by Zathras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: SanchoP

Here is an interesting article about wind...
http://theoildrum.blogspot.com/2005/08/guess-who-opposes-cape-wind.html?m=1


32 posted on 12/06/2016 10:43:27 AM PST by 9422WMR (President Trump, I like the sound of that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge
This Democrat Sissi Bruch?

How's Solyndra going, Obama? Where's that $535 million dollars?


33 posted on 12/06/2016 10:44:52 AM PST by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 9422WMR

Of course it is all the same power lines, but being that electricity is fungible, a consumer has the option to buy electricity generated from a certain source.

Essentially, if 10% of a utility’s customers want wind power, their utility will purchase at least 10% of their power from wind power sources.

Because of wind power, there have been times where wholesale electricity prices have gone negative. That means that not only is electricity free, but you are paid to consume.


34 posted on 12/06/2016 10:48:11 AM PST by Timpanagos1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Zathras

I don’t think I mentioned summer, but over the course of a year, including summer, wind generates 11% of the power consumed in the state.


35 posted on 12/06/2016 10:50:03 AM PST by Timpanagos1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Timpanagos1

You didn’t answer my questions. Also government intervention through subsidies causes market distortions, hence negative pricing. From what I know the negative pricing mainly occurred at night when surplus energy was being produced “off peak” when heavy industrial demand was at the lowest. Negative pricing occurred to spur demand during those times and this situation only exacerbates the “hot standby” issues.


36 posted on 12/06/2016 10:52:12 AM PST by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Zathras

Claims in Iowa are wildly exaggerated too. Supposedly, 30-40% of Iowa’s electricity is from wind turbines. That’s likely BS based on turbine nameplate ratings. Real electricity generated isn’t half that. It’s also expensive, so a lot of it is sold to Illinois so IL can meet their ‘green’ requirements.


37 posted on 12/06/2016 10:52:16 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: KSCITYBOY

The windmills in this story are toys.

The windmills in Texas are not toys as they produce 11% of the electricity in the state, and Texas consumes more electricity than any other state.


38 posted on 12/06/2016 10:55:23 AM PST by Timpanagos1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

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.

They are certainty an education as prime example of the government's fraud, waste and abuse.

39 posted on 12/06/2016 10:55:23 AM PST by Stand Watch Listen (ELITE IMMUNITY: how the puppetmasters / puppets continue to function)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 9422WMR

I believe marine version means extra corrosion protection and dual fuel diesel/whale oil.


40 posted on 12/06/2016 10:56:44 AM PST by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson