wind power???

[Redneck in training]

I didn't read all the post so I apologize if a I repeat what was already said.
I think small wind is out due to cheap solar panels. There is one good and several bad aspects of owning small wind generator.
The good:
Generates power when sun doesn't shine.
The bad:
It is generally more expensive per kWh produced than solar.
Requires preventive maintenance=expense.
The maintenance is 140 ft high=expense.
Are prone to damage by high wind, ice build up etc=expense.
last time I looked at installed cost of Bergey 10kW it was about 40,000 DIY before incentives.

If you have the space go solar. Typical warranty for 1st and 2nd tier manufacturers is 25 years, it requires minimal maintenance, the maintenance is on ground or roof of your building. Excess energy is relatively easy to store in a water tank in example for heating at night.

In either case ROI depends on contract with the utility.
Solar with similar production will cost you about 30,000 DIY before incentives.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

State of CO, the energy coops and companies are killing alt power by home owners by paying a ridiculously low rate for net metering compared to commercial that you pay for the power. It makes it **** near impossible to ever get a payback.

That explains it then...just got back from a little sight-seeing cruise through the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, up through New Mexico to Gunnison Colorado. Windmill farms everywhere, but nothing on the Colorado side. Our best guess was that the greenies had somehow lobbied them into oblivion...which may actually be the case.

 

[Redneck in training]

That explains it then...just got back from a little sight-seeing cruise through the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, up through New Mexico to Gunnison Colorado. Windmill farms everywhere, but nothing on the Colorado side. Our best guess was that the greenies had somehow lobbied them into oblivion...which may actually be the case.

Colorado has 2.3 GW of wind power installed. The biggest enemy of large scale wind turbine is turbulence therefore you will not see large wind turbines in hilly or obstructed areas.

 

[Axe Man]

As another poster already mentioned, don't be taken in by rated capacity on a wind turbine. In Germany and England they have been going crazy installing wind turbines over the last decade and are now finding out that turbines are producing at 17% of capacity in Germany and 20% of capacity in England.
Turbines not only don't produce in low or no wind situations but shut down if it's too windy and if there is freezing rain or ice on the props.
Here in New Brunswick the wind turbines are always shutting down after freezing rain storms. When it happened the first time, the company that sold and installed them for the government was called and asked to correct the problem....their solution?.......wait for the ice to melt.
In Ontario they are finding that wind turbines ( over 200' high ) are possibly causing health problems from people being situated too close and agricultural problems from the vibration of the towers causing the earth worm population to vacate the area affected. ( not making this up ). Also turbines are a known enemy for the bird and bat population.

 

[Jim Nelson]

My biggest concern with wind is too many moving parts.On my solar system nothing moves but the meter and that's the power co's problem.

 

[Loren49]

As another poster already mentioned, don't be taken in by rated capacity on a wind turbine. In Germany and England they have been going crazy installing wind turbines over the last decade and are now finding out that turbines are producing at 17% of capacity in Germany and 20% of capacity in England.
Turbines not only don't produce in low or no wind situations but shut down if it's too windy and if there is freezing rain or ice on the props.
Here in New Brunswick the wind turbines are always shutting down after freezing rain storms. When it happened the first time, the company that sold and installed them for the government was called and asked to correct the problem....their solution?.......wait for the ice to melt.
In Ontario they are finding that wind turbines ( over 200' high ) are possibly causing health problems from people being situated too close and agricultural problems from the vibration of the towers causing the earth worm population to vacate the area affected. ( not making this up ). Also turbines are a known enemy for the bird and bat population.

Any resources to support these claims?
Wind myths: Turbines can damage your health | Environment | theguardian.com
Top 10 Wind Energy Myths
http://www.beam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Wind-Farm-Facts.pdf

This website lists 222 things caused by wind generators including prayer problems for monks, weight loss, weight gain, yawning, earthworm disturbance, vomiting blood, PTSD, nose bleeds.....basically everything! :confused2:
Is there anything that is not caused by wind farms?

Loren

 

[wngsprd]

Since solar has been mentioned several times, thought you would be interested in an article in our paper today - from the AP - so may be in other papers as well..."Solar plant incinerating birds by the thousands"...when you read the article, you'll see that by no means is this a typical solar installation. It is a large mirror installation in California that may be cooking as many as one bird every two minutes.

Solar plant incinerating birds by the thousands - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Richmond, Virginia News, Sports, Politics, Classifieds And Commentary

 

[sseelhoff]

Since solar has been mentioned several times, thought you would be interested in an article in our paper today - from the AP - so may be in other papers as well..."Solar plant incinerating birds by the thousands"...when you read the article, you'll see that by no means is this a typical solar installation. It is a large mirror installation in California that may be cooking as many as one bird every two minutes.

Solar plant incinerating birds by the thousands - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Richmond, Virginia News, Sports, Politics, Classifieds And Commentary

Thus solving two domestic needs-energy and feeding the poor. Win/Win.

 

[Axe Man]

Ya gotta love it when someone quotes their climate gods from everyones favourite left wing rag.....The Guardian.
Drs. from Northern Ontario where most of the Industrial Wind Turbines are being installed are reporting their patients that live in close proximity to IWTs complaining of stress, sleep depravation, head aches, anxiety depression and cognitive dysfunction. In 2006 an Acadamie Nationale de Medicine reports the same findings. A 2009 a Minnesota Dept of Health sites a study by Phillips et al where a controlled study of families near 2 Maine wind projects had the same findings.
In 2012 the Board of Health in Brown County Wisconsin requested financial relocation assistance for families suffering adverse health effects by the irresponsible placement of IWTs around their homes.
In 2011 An Ontario environmental review tribunal decision acknowleged that IWTs can harm human health.
These are only a few of the studies and findings available on line
IWTs aren't responsible for all of the worlds ills, unlike climate change for the alarmists.

 

[Loren49]

When in doubt attack one of the 4 references as a way to discredit what you don't like to read. People who dislike wind generators enough can be effected by them. Hate is a powerful thing.

No controlled studies find a higher incidence of medical problems:

Environmental impact of wind power - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The environmental impact of wind power for land-based wind turbines, compared to the environmental impacts of traditional energy sources, is relatively minor. It is slightly higher than the environmental impact of hydro power on a life-cycle basis. Unlike electricity derived from fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, wind power does not use fuel when running or employ a fueling cycle. The total life-cycle emissions are 9 gCO2/kWh. Compared with non-renewable and renewable sources wind turbines are among the cleanest power plants.[2

There are anecdotal reports of negative health effects from noise on people who live very close to wind turbines.[8] Peer-reviewed research has generally not supported these claims.[9][10]

Wind gets clean bill of health | Toronto Star

Among their findings:
Symptoms from what some call "wind turbine syndrome" are no different than symptoms observed in the general population from the day-to-day stresses of life. These symptoms include headaches, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, and ringing in the ears.
All survey-based studies designed to support the existence of wind turbine syndrome are not scientifically valid because they have no control group – those who participate are self-selected and at risk of bias.

http://canwea.ca/pdf/talkwind/Wind_Turbine_Sound_and_Health_Effects.pdf

Following review, analysis, and discussion, the panel reached agreement on three key
points:
• There is nothing unique about the sounds and vibrations emitted by wind turbines.
• The body of accumulated knowledge about sound and health is substantial.
• The body of accumulated knowledge provides no evidence that the audible or
subaudible sounds emitted by wind turbines have any direct adverse physiological
effects.

In conclusion:
1. Sound from wind turbines does not pose a risk of hearing loss or any other adverse
health effect in humans.
2. Subaudible, low frequency sound and infrasound from wind turbines do not present a
risk to human health.
3. Some people may be annoyed at the presence of sound from wind turbines. Annoyance
is not a pathological entity.
4. A major cause of concern about wind turbine sound is its fluctuating nature. Some may
find this sound annoying, a reaction that depends primarily on personal characteristics
as opposed to the intensity of the sound level.

Axe Man used this :Adverse health effects of industrial wind turbines

It was published the College of Family Physicians of Canada but states "The opinions expressed in commentaries are those of the authors." Publication does not imply endorsement by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
And appears more anecdotal than factual results of a study comparing similar people who do not live near wind generators.

I live near wind generators (<1200ft closest) and know a peraon who claims all sorts of things due to these machines. Truth is he was not a happy person before construction but now has something to blame it on...his wife didn't leave because of the towers as he claims.:thumbsup:

Loren