Noticed during the Indy car race Toronto had a wind generator. At Nuremberg F-1 race the same day they also had a wind farm in the background. Maybe there’s a clue there on the direction to go?
We actually have a feasible solution to our energy problem. I heard T Boone Pickens (an oil man) present hard data as to costs, reliability, consistency and efficiency. Far, far and away our very best option is nuclear. But that scares many and so we end up with coal, sun, wind and the Arabs. Look at the Japanese and the French experience with nuclear power.
Wow, Nandy, capital letters and an ad hominem attack. You must be feeling extra insecure this time.
Pity I frequently drive by a huge windmill farm in California, built in a mountain pass where the wind blows almost constantly, and the windmills have been turning for years. So with that, and the fact that you’ve already shown you know nothing about science, you’ll excuse me for not giving any credence to your opinion on this subject.
Chornobyl, abandoned city, N Ukraine, near the Belarus border, on the Pripyat River. Ten miles (16 km) to the north, in the town of Pripyat, is the Chernobyl nuclear power station, site of the worst nuclear reactor disaster in history. Not fiction.
Anthony 2816 - I live near several wind farms and I own stock in Zoltek (www.zoltek.com) the largest carbon fiber manufacture on the planet. I think they are the great idea and I think they are quite beautiful (and silent) when in operation. Unlike some who put up the “not in my backyard” hurdles when one of these projects are proposed. Our laws need to be updated to help streamline these projects and keep the ” it might hurt a bird” complaints out of our court systems. Until that happens wind power will be too little - too late.
I do agree with ANandy though they are not a reliable source of power though they are a way to supplement our existing needs. The best thing about them is that once the initial cost is covered the energy they produce is FREE ! ! !
I generally support nuclear plants, but let’s not put all the eggs in one basket. Wind power is a course worth pursuing - advancing the technology may make it more effective as well.
One of the major problems with both wind power and large scale solar farms is energy transmission and load management. The variability issue that crops up with wind causes problems in our current transmission system which was designed for quick dial up and dial down to account for differences in usage. Our power grid is old and creaky. Smart Grid technology is being promoted to solve many of our current problems. The trouble is getting people to invest in it. The scarecrow commercials were an interesting idea but left most of the uninformed public scratching their heads and going, “What was that about?”
As for nuclear power, I am definitely for it. Plants can be run safely. Ask France. The close call at 6 mile wasn’t viewed as a safety success. Instead, worst case scenarios were trumpeted all over the place. It put the issue of nuclear power on hold in the U.S. until recently. Fennec, I agree that disposal is a problem but we have to do something or we may be leaving future generations with something worse. I expect our capability to handle nuclear waste will increase. Unfortunately, I don’t think the government is interested in looking long term at neclear waste management right now. They haven’t killed the Yucca mountain prject officially but they crippled the funding.
Energy must come from a variety of sources. Newer reactor designs are “safer” than the junk operating in the U.S. today, but there are still problems. Hydro has benefits, and huge environmental costs its “fans” try to ignore. Coal and petroleum are NOT CLEAN, and never really will be, totally. The real secret remains higher efficiency leading to conservation, and smarter ways to use energy, not just producing ever increasing amounts to meet “need”.
I think we can all agree that we are in this for the long haul. As long as energy prices stay high business will have the incentive to invest in alternate power. This will not be an overnight cure but an evolutionary process that will occur over the next 50 years as our technology improves. As individuals we need to put our money and our votes where our mouths are. This will help reduce the obstacles and speed energy independence.
nomad2112 almost 15 years ago
Sorry, hot air won’t make it go. What he really needs is a clue.
Dtroutma almost 15 years ago
Noticed during the Indy car race Toronto had a wind generator. At Nuremberg F-1 race the same day they also had a wind farm in the background. Maybe there’s a clue there on the direction to go?
riley05 almost 15 years ago
People like Oldlegodad, Nandy and Nomad obviously decompensate when confronted with the idea of getting energy from wind.
The question that must be asked: WHY? What do they have to lose?
4uk4ata almost 15 years ago
The question to ask is, who pinched the tires?
GNWachs almost 15 years ago
We actually have a feasible solution to our energy problem. I heard T Boone Pickens (an oil man) present hard data as to costs, reliability, consistency and efficiency. Far, far and away our very best option is nuclear. But that scares many and so we end up with coal, sun, wind and the Arabs. Look at the Japanese and the French experience with nuclear power.
riley05 almost 15 years ago
Wow, Nandy, capital letters and an ad hominem attack. You must be feeling extra insecure this time.
Pity I frequently drive by a huge windmill farm in California, built in a mountain pass where the wind blows almost constantly, and the windmills have been turning for years. So with that, and the fact that you’ve already shown you know nothing about science, you’ll excuse me for not giving any credence to your opinion on this subject.
bosexabax almost 15 years ago
Chornobyl, abandoned city, N Ukraine, near the Belarus border, on the Pripyat River. Ten miles (16 km) to the north, in the town of Pripyat, is the Chernobyl nuclear power station, site of the worst nuclear reactor disaster in history. Not fiction.
nomad2112 almost 15 years ago
Anthony 2816 - I live near several wind farms and I own stock in Zoltek (www.zoltek.com) the largest carbon fiber manufacture on the planet. I think they are the great idea and I think they are quite beautiful (and silent) when in operation. Unlike some who put up the “not in my backyard” hurdles when one of these projects are proposed. Our laws need to be updated to help streamline these projects and keep the ” it might hurt a bird” complaints out of our court systems. Until that happens wind power will be too little - too late.
I do agree with ANandy though they are not a reliable source of power though they are a way to supplement our existing needs. The best thing about them is that once the initial cost is covered the energy they produce is FREE ! ! !
bosexabax almost 15 years ago
I have no problem with nuclear power. But it is a dangerous technology and must be treated as such. As I remmber Six-mile Island was a near disaster.
riley05 almost 15 years ago
Zoltek, huh, Nomad?
Sounds like a wise investment, at least based on their line of business.
The bird problem is apparently being addressed by slower, larger turbines.
4uk4ata almost 15 years ago
I generally support nuclear plants, but let’s not put all the eggs in one basket. Wind power is a course worth pursuing - advancing the technology may make it more effective as well.
Gladius almost 15 years ago
One of the major problems with both wind power and large scale solar farms is energy transmission and load management. The variability issue that crops up with wind causes problems in our current transmission system which was designed for quick dial up and dial down to account for differences in usage. Our power grid is old and creaky. Smart Grid technology is being promoted to solve many of our current problems. The trouble is getting people to invest in it. The scarecrow commercials were an interesting idea but left most of the uninformed public scratching their heads and going, “What was that about?”
As for nuclear power, I am definitely for it. Plants can be run safely. Ask France. The close call at 6 mile wasn’t viewed as a safety success. Instead, worst case scenarios were trumpeted all over the place. It put the issue of nuclear power on hold in the U.S. until recently. Fennec, I agree that disposal is a problem but we have to do something or we may be leaving future generations with something worse. I expect our capability to handle nuclear waste will increase. Unfortunately, I don’t think the government is interested in looking long term at neclear waste management right now. They haven’t killed the Yucca mountain prject officially but they crippled the funding.
Dtroutma almost 15 years ago
Energy must come from a variety of sources. Newer reactor designs are “safer” than the junk operating in the U.S. today, but there are still problems. Hydro has benefits, and huge environmental costs its “fans” try to ignore. Coal and petroleum are NOT CLEAN, and never really will be, totally. The real secret remains higher efficiency leading to conservation, and smarter ways to use energy, not just producing ever increasing amounts to meet “need”.
nomad2112 almost 15 years ago
I think we can all agree that we are in this for the long haul. As long as energy prices stay high business will have the incentive to invest in alternate power. This will not be an overnight cure but an evolutionary process that will occur over the next 50 years as our technology improves. As individuals we need to put our money and our votes where our mouths are. This will help reduce the obstacles and speed energy independence.