wind farms

[sue currin]

Any body live around wind farms or the 115KV power lines? Washington County Maine wants to put one in and being the transsmission lines through Penobscot county, They don't have any of there land messed-up or the noise or the power lines, but get 500 million in tax revenues. Seems unfair to Penobscot county. What do you know about wind farms?

[Dave S.]

I don't know a lot about windfarms, but I am learning. There are a lot of them going in/trying to go in around here. I support them. One ski area is putting in three turbines this June. They will provide all of there summer needs and I think about 60% percent of their winter needs!!! This is great, IMO. Another ski area that has just put in 300 condo units is fighting the turbines saying it ruins the natural beauty of the hills. Like 300 condos doesn't? And where do they think the grid is going to come up with the juice for these high-end engergy wasting homes? More wind and hydro is needed, NOW!


Dave

[Junkmanme]

I support the hydro-electric idea..even on a small-scale. But, I'm not convinced that wind-power has reached the point of being viable (at least not on a small scale). Just an opinion..certainly not a "wind-power scholar".

By the way, I'll trade you some wind for some water......

Bruce

[Rockin'B]

We have wind farms in No Il. I love the idea, but can't understand why large wind farms aren't built in Western Nebraska or Eastern Wyoming. The wind never stops blowing there. And the population is small and spread out. Seems like it would avoid the objections raised when wind farms are proposed closer to more populated areas.

Are there transmission problems, or something like that, that prevents building in locals like that?

[Sand Flat Bob]

Originally Posted by Rockin'B

We have wind farms in No Il. I love the idea, but can't understand why large wind farms aren't built in Western Nebraska or Eastern Wyoming. The wind never stops blowing there. And the population is small and spread out. Seems like it would avoid the objections raised when wind farms are proposed closer to more populated areas.

Are there transmission problems, or something like that, that prevents building in locals like that?

This is a typical, I fully support this, but build them in someone elses back yard.

Bob

[MaineFarmMom]

It's not a county project. The wind farm is going up on private property a friend of ours owns. It's in a low population area (I know you know that but people from away don't) where it will disrupt the views for few people. I think we'll be able to see it when we're driving across Rt 6 up on the big hills in Kossuth.

Have you been to Mars Hill to see the wind farm up there? It's really not bad.

In Washington county we have the natural gas pipeline that we don't use, the incredibly ugly and disruptive transmission lines over the pipeline going in now, and LNG coming. The transmission lines don't provide our power, we're on the co-op. They've just crossed Rt 1 in Princeton. The poles are so big and ugly they're a little alarming when you first see them. I can't imagine what this gawd awful mess is going to look like when they run the wires. The wind farm will be the least invasive and cleanest power supply we have in this county. There are a few turbines in Washington county now. They're sitting in blueberry barrens.

I support the hydro-electric idea..even on a small-scale. But, I'm not convinced that wind-power has reached the point of being viable (at least not on a small scale). Just an opinion..certainly not a "wind-power scholar".

I like hydro-electric too but Maine has removed the dams and moved away from this. That's good in some ways, bad in others. I also like wave power off the coast. It's been in discussion for several years.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Junkmanme

I support the hydro-electric idea..even on a small-scale. But, I'm not convinced that wind-power has reached the point of being viable (at least not on a small scale). Just an opinion..certainly not a "wind-power scholar".

By the way, I'll trade you some wind for some water......

Bruce

Wind for water---I think I know a lot of Kansans that would certainly be thrilled to take you up on that offer.

Everyone wants electricity, well almost everyone, but they don't want nuclear plants, coal fired plants, or wind farms. Personally I think that nuclear is really the way to go but should be supplemented by wind whenever possible.

I have visited a wind farm and never found its appearance offensive in the least. I would welcome one full well that it is the probably the most environmentally friendly source we have here in Kansas.

With any large power source there are going to be transmission lines. They certainly aren't attractive but are needed. Hm, maybe we could do like New York City and bury them. I understand they are getting ready to put in a feeder line that will be below grade.

[Pony]

I read that there is a constant thrumming noise that you can feel in your solar plexus from the windmills, and that it is quite annoying.

Has anyone else read this or experienced it?

Pony!

[Junkmanme]

MaineFarmMom........

I LIKE that Wave-Power idea very much also! It seems the MOST environmentally friendly and certainly SEEMS to be the MOST RENEWABLE !!!

[Rockin'B]

Originally Posted by Sand Flat Bob

This is a typical, I fully support this, but build them in someone elses back yard.

Bob

That's not at all what I meant. I have no objection to them at all. In fact, we bought our place knowing full well that a proposed wind farm is going in all around us.

What I mean is exactly what I said. I don't understand why they aren't built in places like that. I've been there. It's remote country and WOULD avoid all the objections that people seem to have.

Don't put words in my mouth.

[Wolf mom]

There's a huge wind farm outside Riverside (I think) Calif. that is no longer in use. Anyone know why? maybe that would answer some of your questions.

There's talk of putting one up outside of Holbrook, Arizona. No one around. With all the sun, I have always wondered why no solar farms.

If my well ever goes out & it's not too much more money, I'd put a windmill up in a heartbeat.

[ajaxlucy]

We visited a university that had put up a wind turbine. I think it was supplying 40% of their power. Seems like a good idea.

[wy_white_wolf]

Originally Posted by Rockin'B

...Are there transmission problems, or something like that, that prevents building in locals like that?

Yep. It's called line loss. Adds a lot to the cost of sending power long distances. There are a few smaller windfarms already in operation and some in the planning stages here.

And Wyoming doesn't have the transmission lines to send anymore power out of state than we already do. New lines could easily cost 10X what the generation costs. One of the planned developments of 99 windgennys in my area is expected to about 200 million. But if decided to sell the power to Salt Lake City area the transmission line is expected to cost over 2 billion.

Coal can get away with the loss as you either have to ship the coal or transmit the electricity.

[Rockin'B]

Originally Posted by wy_white_wolf

Yep. It's called line loss. Adds a lot to the cost of sending power long distances. There are a few smaller windfarms already in operation and some in the planning stages here.

And Wyoming doesn't have the transmission lines to send anymore power out of state than we already do. New lines could easily cost 10X what the generation costs. One of the planned developments of 99 windgennys in my area is expected to about 200 million. But if decided to sell the power to Salt Lake City area the transmission line is expected to cost over 2 billion.

Coal can get away with the loss as you either have to ship the coal or transmit the electricity.

That makes sense. There had to be a reason. Not sure there's too many other areas with as consistent winds as that.

Thanks!

[lvshrs]

Pony,

I've been within about 50 ft of one of the turbines bases here in West Texas and have never noticed anything...there is a slight swooshing noise but the wind itself makes more noise in the trees than the turbines....I find them peaceful to watch.

[strider3700]

The noise seems to depend on the turbine. I've heard of the vibration/noise complaint being voiced over a turbine in Britain but it doesn't seem to be a common complaint. It's a large slow turbine. That wind farm thats been shut down in california is probably one of the older small super fast turbine farms. They took a publicity beating because the turbines would kill the occasinal bird and the farm was situated where some rare condor or something like it routinely passed through.

Those small really fast turbines are now effectivelly obsolete on a commercial scale for lots of reasons. Noise, Birds, cost being the main ones. For small individual use they are the way to go though. My first test turbine was like looking at a blender when it got really going. Zero dead birds but I've since gone with a larger and slower blade in an effort to increase torque and low wind start up.

[fishhead]

I like the idea of wind farms but would locate them in areas that are already developed. That way they are closer to need and don't impact areas that are still wild.

A few years ago people were up in arms about cell towers and wanted to locate them on undeveloped "wasteland". I never understood that concept that just because land isn't developed and sliced and diced into postage stamp parcels that it was wasteland. In an ironic twist I'll bet that some of the people were using cell phones to organize against the cell towers.

[Terrabus]

I've always thought wind towers made the population look smart and hip, like they knew how to make a buck with what they had instead of getting too reliant on some other investment. It's too bad I live in town, because I'd volunteer to put a giant one in my yard. I love wind towers and I love the idea of free energy without the threat of radioactive junk. Last year, the local nuke plant announced they had an "accident" and some radioactive water was found on the land. I don't care how small, how insignificant science tells me it is or how far away it is from me, it's radioactive crap in the ground and I'm standing close enough for my health to be jeopardized.

Coals costs too much to dig and smells funny when burned. I have allergies. Oil and natureal gas have problems, too. Too much digging, too expensive to set up and too many over-paid unions involved. Wind is free and cheap. Sure, the turbines are a bit ugly, so what? Nobody bitches about power lines. In my area, there are so many people who are dead-set against wind turbines that it might kill the deal, but nobody has a better solution.

[Rory]

Originally Posted by Rockin'B

We have wind farms in No Il. I love the idea, but can't understand why large wind farms aren't built in Western Nebraska or Eastern Wyoming. The wind never stops blowing there.

They are beginning to in north central Nebraska south of Ainsworth I'm told. Other towns do it for their own use and sell the extra to other places. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has one by the casino on the SD/NE border for their use and they ship extra to Rapid City or just turn it off.

I understand that in some places it's awful windy however it's too gusty and turbulent for wind generators and that's why they pass those places over. Maybe the technology needs a little more time, and maybe the nation isn't "desperate" enough yet to make it work. Not enough green energy incentive yet. I think it's coming, though.

[Dave S.]

The incentives for green energy aren't far off, summer, and air-conditioning season are just around the corner. What will it take to make people realise there is a very fine line between the utilities being able to supply the demand and not? Electricity rationing and random blackouts aren't too far off, I betcha.


Dave