Wind Turbine ********. Just opened the mail and seen the plan for three massive units

[CobyRupert]

Actually, here in New York, similar to the rest of the country, the areas of high wind energy production, are not near the population centers where the largest electrical demand are. The transmission lines are....I won't say stressed, but it is a constant juggling / balancing act that has to be adjusted minute by minute.
This is where weather (wind) predictions become critical. Solar power (passing clouds) coming on and going offline adds to the instability. Especially if it takes an hour or so to fire up a natural gas or coal plant when the a cloud goes by or the wind kicks off.
Every time you flick a light switch a generator has to be there to supply that additional power, every time you flick it off, a generator someplace has to shed some load. There is no electrical storage capacity in the grid. Stability becomes an issue.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

So far all delivery systems have thier unique problems of being up to date. Don't think I'd want to live along side of high voltage transmission line corridor.

Pro'&con's

HVDC transmission is becoming popular and the lines can be buried. I suspect there would be very little EMF produced.
High-voltage direct current - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Deleted

 

[gsganzer]

Here's an issue that seems to get overlooked. For every expected megawatt of wind energy, there needs to be a respective alternate source for backup, because the wind doesn't blow each and every day at a constant amount.

I've commissioned a number of NG combined-cycle and simple cycle power plants that serve the sole purpose of leveling the load from wind energy.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but it just illustrates that the energy policy of this country must be a comprehensive plan that includes nuclear, fossil fuels, renewables and conservation.

Like all sources of energy, they all have their pro's and con's and wind energy is not exempt.

 

[ruffdog]

I guess I would rather be near a wind turbine than a frac sand mine, an oil refinery, rail, or airport.

 

[Sodo]

Energy is one of the most productive markets available to the big investors,,,,who make a large part of their income off the small investors (us). Profit is centered on what energy options the public chooses thus marketing is essential to their profit. Everyone should expect fabricated articles and studies, news releases, paid radio shows, paid forum members.

Very difficult what to "believe", anymore because these folks are skilled. But if you "follow the money,,,,,," you can guess right. Just keep in mind this wealth is coming out of --your-- pocket.

 

[dodge man]

I work for a company that did the surveying and some engineering for a small windfarm, maybe 12 units. It never got built. There is also another one on paper nearby that had over a 100 units. I did quite a bit of research.

First off, wild life problems is a non issue. House cats kill more birds that a windfarms ever will.

Second, I think the noise is a non issue also, at least for me, but some people do seem to hear them if they are close.

Third, shadow flicker is a real issue, but only if you are close. To the OP, if you are over a mile away, it won't bother you. I've seen distances of less than a 1000 feet thrown around, and maybe closer to 600 feet before the shadow flicker becomes a problem. I've seen videos of shadow flicker and it can be bad, like someone turning the lights off and on in a room.

4th, people that live near them don't seem to be upset by the view. Kind of surprised me. I went to a meeting and a small group of people that live near one came to the meeting and tried to help shoot it down. The ruined view never came up.

5th. There is a lot of resources that go into building one. How much fuel goes into getting the concrete to them, and it takes a lot of concrete. How much fuel goes into all the construction? Its not free energy and it does use up a lot of non-renewable resources building them.

6th. It can generate a lot of tax dollars depending on the state. They generate property taxes in Illinois, but some states don't tax them at all, it varies a lot by state.

 

[buickanddeere]

Are you not aware that big oil and gas own the wind turbines? It's win, win, win. Looks great in the media. Makes lots of $$$ that's to guarantied subsidized electrical rates. All those "free" carbon credits reduce the cost and penalties while operating a refinery .

 

[gsganzer]

Most of the IPCC Scenarios that we hear about in the media are "worst case" scenarios.

Do you know that the models predict everything from cooling to warming? There is a significant range of uncertainty in the models.

I agree. One of the big issues I have these days is that everything is so polarizing and each side only presents evidence that supports their claim. I'm more of a moderate, and "fact" based thinker that prefers to look at empirical evidence. If the changes are going to adversely impact some areas, doesn't it stand to reason that the same changes might improve some other areas?

Example: I know this is probably overly simplistic, but if the climate change raises the world temperature and makes some areas too hot for agriculture, wouldn't it stand to reason that areas that were previously too cold, may now have an optimal temperature for crops?

 

[Sodo]

Example: I know this is probably overly simplistic, but if the climate change raises the world temperature and makes some areas too hot for agriculture, wouldn't it stand to reason that areas that were previously too cold, may now have an optimal temperature for crops?

You're right but it could take a generation or two to adjust (30-60 years?). Only farmers who could afford to buy wasteland upon speculation that it may become productive are the huge agribusinesses. Any farmer you know will probably be aced out of that deal.