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Unsustainable Wind Power: Not a Fan!

11/5/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
Click above (goes to turbine noise video)
Let's use the top line to talk about the bottom line. Wind power is economically unsustainable. The sustainability folks are pushing for wind power because they think it's renewable and environmentally sustainable. Think again. 

The number of windmills that would be required to produce sufficient energy for peak demand in worst-case, calm weather conditions would require swarms of these things, waving their arms from practically every hill crest on every square mile of land in the USA. That's during the day. At night, the endless array of flashing red air navigation hazard lights just looks creepy. In addition to the visual blight, the environmental impact of these ugly creatures would be significant and detrimental. And, that doesn't account for the corridors and rights-of-way for electrical power lines necessary to transport their electrical output from the rural areas to the masses huddled in the urban infill areas. It is only a matter of time before there will be significant blow-back against these wind machines from landowners and environmentalists alike. 

Contrast that with hydro power which, where available, can produce and store abundant renewable and clean energy for peak demand, in addition to providing flood control, self-supporting recreational areas, water supply and so on. What's more, hydro power is much less expensive per kilowatt hour than wind power. Guess which technology the sustainables want to demolish and rewild!

There is a 7 PM county council meeting on Wednesday November 7th at the County Courthouse at 311 Grand Avenue to discuss and vote on the revised wind turbine ordinance. It is expected that the council will vote on the ordinance at this meeting. This has come up because people want to install wind generators at the top of Galbraith Mountain.

Given the economic and environmental unsustainability,  why would anybody want a permit to install one of these things? Ah, yes well don't you see, there's the rub: the sustainables have managed to sink their mandibles into government to the extent that government will subsidize these wind generators. Unscrupulous opportunists will glom onto these government subsidies to line their pockets at taxpayer expense. So we will pay twice: once at the electric meter, and again on tax day. 

The sustainables have also co-opted government to place all sorts of rules and regulations to prevent the kinds of development that they oppose. WE submit that they need to live by their own rules. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. If you possibly can, WE encourage you to attend the council meeting on Wednesday, and encourage the council to keep the restrictions at their current levels. 

Note: residential windmills might actually be of some value. On windy days, they can save homeowners on their power bills, and maybe even turn their electric meter backwards on occasion. If individual families want to invest in something like that, WE have no objection -- although there probably are zoning rules against it. 

Beyond their lights and noise, these inevitably batter all kinds of creatures that live in the air.   The monster machines can and do fail - in storms, icing, turbine speed brake failures, and outright collapse.  Watch some of these:

1 Comment
Ma Bear
11/10/2012 11:32:22 am

You wouldn't think these would need subsidy when you stop to consider how much "hot air" drives wind energy!

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