Wind Power

[wcup102]

I do not know why for the life of me Oneida County is not getting on board with neighboring Madison and Lewis counties and setting up wind farms. I can see some of Madison's windmills from my house and often driving ocal roads. They are not bad to look at, matter of fact, I think the are neat to look at and awe about. My understanding is that the people who own the property they sit on are paid a very handsome sum for rent of the property. Makes me wish I lived on a hilltop. I don't know if those counties are benefiting from the power generated or if it is transmitted elsewhere, either way it has to be revenue generating for the county. Can anyone shed some light on this?

[kim]

I like windmills. I think they're pretty and a great idea. I also saw show recently about UNDER OCEAN windmills which I thought was wonderful! The ocean is much more predictable than wind, so we'd be able to know exactly what to expect. I'm with ya, though...I think in the long run windpower, and ocean windmills are great ideas.

[countrygal]

I don't understand why people don't like them. I think it's because I don't know enough about them. I know people say they make noise and give people headaches. They kill birds. But I would sooner see a windmill than a big ol' power line anyday!

Anybody else know why people object to them?

[Swimmy]

Some of the cons I have heard relate to environmental impacts. Birds being killed, the noise on a windy day rivals an airport, surrounding wildlife is driven away, headaches are caused, destroys land value and the scenery, etc.

Many are dismissed as NIMBY concerns. Others are concerned that if wind farms are mass produced in the area, then a nyri power line would be inevitable.

For starters, you can visit Wikipedia's Wind Power page. As with anything involving wikipedia, don't take it as gospel, but rather use it as a starting point for more authoritative research. But it should provide you with more information about wind power and its uses.

[frankcor]

The benefits far outweigh the cons in my mind, but that's the opinion of this engineer only. The technology is proven and as the demand for oil continues to rise, wind-generated electricity becomes more and more competitive.

Several nations that border the North Sea have also demonstrated the feasibility of generating electricity from tidal currents. Opponents argue that stealing energy from the tides will alter the Earth's rotation and orbit, causing us to move closer to the sun. I rank that right up there with opposition to wind generators based on noise and bird-strikes. At what point do we have to start keeping it real?

[Clipper]

I think there is something tranquil about the large windmills rotating slowly on the top of a hill. they are so large and turn so slowly, that I doubt that bird strikes would become a major problem to the environment. I would wager there are more feathers in the grill of my truck than on the ground beneath the windmills.

Headaches?? People that bitch about progress give me a headache, not windmills. I would rather have the windmills and the limited and alleged noise, than the rumored, suspected, or otherwise alleged cancer causing effect of the emissions from the high voltage power lines running down state.

[frankcor]

I recall reading that the number of bird-kills is negligible to other man-made devices such as wind-shields or picture windows. And the average maximum noise levels are under 50 dB. That's like a babbling brook. Gimme a break.

[Swimmy]

I have not researched this, but someone was trying to explain to me that the power production rating is not accurate. Something about how the rating is calculated on a day when the windmill would be operating under a constant wind at a particular speed that in the real world rarely ever happens. In other words they typically produce below their rated output per hour. Anyone know about that?

[frankcor]

There are places where windmills operate for much of the day; along a ridge-line or in a valley that channels winds locally, for example. They aren't feasible everywhere.

The most common A/C windmill designs can produce a reliable electrical output at some minimum air-speed. If the wind-speed falls below that requirement, the windmill brakes to a stop; some even turn the generator into the wind or "feather" the blades. As the wind-speed increases above that minimum, the blades are braked to keep the rpm at a constant speed. The braking can actually produce more wattage. Thus, the rotation speed remains constant at any windspeed between the minimum and safe maximum speeds.

As designs improve, that minimum speed will get lower, and that will make more and more locations suitable sites for wind generators.

Long story short, a 1KW generator will not produce 1KW 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need an uninterrupted constant supply of electricity, build a hydroelectric dam (well, maybe not at Hinkley).

Wind generators supply power to the grid when they can. They sit idle when they can't. The grid utilizes the wind-generated electricity when it can, replaces it with oil, coal or gas when it can't.

[Swimmy]

A Wind Storm: Pros and cons on Jordanville project I think Ms. Frey does a nice job of explaining the naysayers' concerns with wind power.

I think the ideal solution would be to put them on the ocean as France and Japan are doing. Although such a project must also consider the potential environmental impact with the sea's ecosystem, but it's something to look into.

[clarencebunsen]

Ted Kennedy has a BIG problem with off-shore wind generators. He and Senate allies managed to block wind projects all across the US for a time last year with legislation to stop them in his backyard.

[dgriffin]

A number of folks here in the Catskills have hooked up home windmills and report positive results. They connect to the grid, so it's essentially buying your power from the grid, except when the wind is blowing and you're selling it back to the grid (at a lower price, of course.) You get constant power and lower bills. An article I read some years ago said you should put up a wind monitor at your location and get 6 months to a year's data before making the investment.
Article on similar solar installation in Vermont:
tinyurl.com/jx8cl

[Swimmy]

So don't plant them in Boston Harbor, what about along the Long Island coast on the west end?

[strikeslip]

I don't have a problem with windpower -- as long as it produces a tangible ** local benefit ** for everyone such as low cost power. PILOTS and money to host landowners does not count in my book. The generalized benefits must make it worth our while to be stuck looking at the things every day. (They may be a novelty now, but that will wear off -- imagine every hilltop covered with the things).

The problem is that around here, we simply don't need wind power. The power will simply be sent downstate over power lines that will mar our landscapes and reduce our property values.

Those who need the benefits should be the ones who host them.

[Swimmy]

strikeslip said:

Those who need the benefits should be the ones who host them.

Now if only we had the political clout to enforce this logic! I fully agree with you.