Great article and chart, although I must call out the questionable info in their “negatives” section. I am tired of giving “equal time” to pros and cons, is if that is “journalism”. Thus, we get comparisons that do not have EQUAL WEIGHT, and ignore that it is the journalist’s job to show the balance to the weight of these arguments.
-First, there is actually evidence showing property values static or even increasing with a wind turbine in view.
-They clarify the bird issue (thank you).
-They murk the waters stating coal is cheaper, but if you’re paying attention, coal is only cheaper because the real costs are not factored in to the price of the coal. It’s as if dirty energy, pollution, and the external costs of those aren’t happening.(refer to previous article Why Wind.)
Other than that small digression, which I just couldn’t let go without comment; it’s very cool, an excellent visual chart, so all is forgiven.
“You mean not even getting into the bigger picture issues like: why change, why renewable energy, why stop polluting, why stop causing climate change and a hundred other ‘whys’?” I ask myself.
Well, let’s look at some readily checkable facts when we ask, “Why wind”?
You, as a responsible consumer (or not), can choose to buy products for numerous reasons versus another product. Now, you may also choose an item that has added value, because it was made with clean, renewable wind power.
I’d like to congratulate Jim Gordon and all at Cape Wind on the finally, “final” construction and operations plan approval, which came through this spring. Just the latest legal win, this time at the EPA, over their small number of opponents who have dragged this project out for 10 years now against all good reason through extremely well-funded, well-connected and highly organized groups.
I applaud their diligence and conviction to see this through, in spite of any and all obstacles put in their way.
In a statement from Cape Wind’s Director of Communications, Mark Rodgers, “This latest decision by the agency responsible for protecting our air and water is yet another example of how, over the past decade, the coal- and oil-funded opposition group has clogged the court system with frivolous appeals. Cape Wind has won every lawsuit and challenge brought by this self-serving special interest group.”
I also would like to congratulate them on their PPA and extremely fair rate for their renewable energy that they negotiated for all parties involved, including the sliding scale that may further save residents if the project can attain further grants and incentives. Massachusetts residents will not only have a stabilized energy flow and cost, this will significantly reduce the carbon dioxide and other pollutants that would otherwise be sent airborne by fossil-fuel burning plants for local residents to breathe.
I hope Mr Gordon and his compatriots can finally move forward.
Happy Independence Day.
I would like to think that one day we may celebrate Energy Independence Day as well. How can a country so strong, resilient and filled with ingenuity not be doing more towards this very attainable goal? It is a matter of national, financial and environmental security.
Well, basically, it’s really windy where I live. That’s great in July and August, when my town is 10-15 degrees cooler than the “mainland”. The other 9-10 months of the year, it makes it quite a bit more uncomfortably cooler here than elsewhere. Best I can tell, that means I get 3 good months, 9 less-than-desirable months. This imbalance has weighed on my thoughts, especially in the winter months, if and when I could hear myself think over the loud bluster; the virtually continuous 20-30 mile-per-hour squall that blows from Columbus Day straight through until Memorial Day, when it then moderates to what is known as a just a “fresh breeze” at about 15-20 MPH, then the cycle repeats; the cycle and its phases a continuous reminder in those thoughts.
As I’ve grown older and less resistant to the cool weather, I kept (keep?) thinking: if I could just capture all that wind to do my bidding, I would feel like I’ve fought back against the sheer slap to the face it can be on particularly “brisk” days; maybe making it worthwhile to put up with; its untamed nature tamed by the mastery of my very impressive hand.
All joking aside, I had spent many waking (and sleeping) hours dreaming up wind power systems.
Understand: this book is the equivalent of the bible, when it comes to wind energy. I was engrossed in it and devoured it quickly. When finished, I eagerly re-read it. I probably refer to it several times a week, or more.
Now crushed by my new understanding that my “unbelievable” designs really were, and had been proven not viable, I went through all the phases of grief. Pulling myself together, I moved on to the concept of having my own modern version of the familiar wind turbine, to both offset my use and maybe generate some extra for cash, the book unfortunately also dashed these dreams on numerous fronts: siting, zoning, grid interconnection and how impossible it might be to actually be paid for my power generation.
Really, a fantastic, truly enlightening book; I hold no grudge. I know to embrace the messenger. Great is great-my dreams aside. New dreams have arisen, this time more reality-based, thanks to Mr Gipe’s in-depth explanations and examples.
Wind Energy Basics by Paul Gipe
If you cannot make it through Wind Power and its considerable bulk, descriptions, explanations and in-depth information; all of which is highly understandable for the average person, there is another alternative:
Wind Energy Basics (2009 edition) By Paul Gipe, which is an extremely condensed version PLUS has invaluable additional information, including completely necessary, exclusive chapters about Community Wind and more. In his summary chapter, he shows how much of our electricity could easily be coming from wind (we could have had 40% of our entire country’s electricity from free wind energy right nowfor the low, low price of the Iraq War thru only 2008!); how advancing every household a wind turbine credit would actually double back it’s investment, and also how such a large percentage of wind power usage could be attained; logistically, financially, and what it would mean economically for our country. We have what we need right now to make it happen, except real leadership.
So, what will make it happen?
It would seem everyday people, like you and I, DECIDING to do something about it, and then following through and acting on that decision is what it is going to take. It’s pretty obvious the people that seem to be entrusted by the public with making this happen, ARE NOT.
The system currently in place IS NOT working. Sadly, even the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has set their sights VERY LOW at wind energy only being 20% of this country’s usage by 2030. 20% in 20+years, from the group that is supposed to be leading the charge? I much prefer Mr. Gipe’s vision of 40%, including his prescription for how it can happen; that it is not just wishful thinking.
Don’t take my word, read these books. Spread the word. Ask your local bookstore to carry them. Give them as gifts. Request them at your library.
Since then, I have still been imagining what can be, educating myself, trying to move these thoughts forward into something tangible, real, meaningful; and will continue along this path wherever it leads.
You can also check out Paul Gipe’s website: Wind-Works
Introductions: I am George Povall. Student of life with particular interests in Building, Architecture, Engineering, Writing, Music, and most passionately: Renewable Energy, especially Wind Energy.
To this point, I have sat idly by, while seemingly nothing is happening to further our country -and barring a few glowing examples like Denmark, Germany, Sweden and a select few others, the world at large- down the path towards renewable energy and energy independence, both financially and in terms of freedom. When you can really grasp the economic, environmental and social implications of that plus cleaner air, land and water; with no further contribution to climate change, it causes me a feeling of absolute disgust that we are not doing more when the solutions are well at hand.
I have realized there is no way I will be able to look into the eyes of younger family members, my son, my godchildren or anyone else in the future, and just shrug that it was too hard to change myself and even harder to change other people, much less people who make their fortunes off of nothing changing. At the very least, I will know, and have proof that I did what was right, under rights I still seemingly had in a democracy to help usher in the change we need. Yes, I do know that doing that will be VERY difficult, but that in doing so I may blaze a trail that others may follow.
I, hereby, as of today eschew my hitherto-private persona to become an agent of change; to stand up for what is right for people, for our democracy and for the environment; to claim my place in a leadership role, filling what seems to me a gaping vacuum of leadership: to bring about expansion of renewable energy on a scale as to make a real difference.
The technology is ready. I am ready. It is economically feasible now, and that’s at today’s electric prices, which are sure to rise with the cost of diesel fuel and natural gas, unless we want to choke on more coal emissions. The pros so incredibly outweigh the cons. I will get to that in further posts. Although that pros/cons list may be beaten to death by other, more eloquent sources, I will bring what I can to this front and reiterate what is important.
I hope with this forum to motivate and educate those who are not aware of the issues and to organize like-minded individuals to gain results on these fronts.
Because it is so immense, so difficult; in a Zen-like way it is actually very easy:
It’s just a matter of DECIDING TO ACT.
