I'm from west Texas. There are wind "farm" where they have literally hundreds of these turbines strung out across the land. They stick up in the air a long way. So when thunderstorms go thru there, I'm sure they get hit by lighting all the time.
Wind power is a nice additive for our energy needs. But no way can it generate enough power for all of our needs. And as history has shown from the deep freeze a couple of years ago, wind power isn't that dependable. Even in west Texas, you can go thru periods of just no wind.
This made me think… I live in mountains and where 2 interstates intersect (I know that’s not uncommon). I used to see big trucks EVERY SINGLE WEEK lugging windmill blades somewhere. I think I’ve read the blades need to be replaced every so often. Since COVID I don’t think I’ve seen a single truck carrying a blade.
I don't know about the future of power generation, but there a lot of windmills out in the rural areas of the midwest and west , and they are often used to pump water for agriculture irrigation
Was actually researching wind power this week. One source said average windmills had a 25 year projected life with an average 6 to 7 year break even period. This took into account the supporting infrastructure etc. Expect most are not going to last that long or perform that well. Gas powered power plants have a 50 plus yeas life with very dependable efficient output. Also, scrubbers work well to limit co2 emissions.
I know a guy (not well) that services these windmills. He worked for one company but left for another. Reason: the one company had stairs in each elevator he had to climb, the other company had elevators in their windmills.
^ not well explains why he would prefer an elevator LOL
When I started working in construction, I worked as a rigger running tower cranes, the cranes would climb a the building went uo, sucked in the morning climbing those ladders to get into the cab, I'd stay up there all day bathroom break was a bucket, and lunch was brought up on the buckhoist..
The first windmills I saw were in the 70s when Jimmy Carter incentivized windmills with tax breaks for those that installed them. They were in a very windy area called the Altamont Pass, the place where the famous Altamont Rolling Stones concert was. Once the tax breaks were taken away, these windmills fell into disrepair after a decade or so. There are still some active ones in the area but most are non-functional. The wind didn't go away. Just the tax breaks.
The other place I've seen them for a long time is just outside of Palm Springs. I don't think the site and sound of these windmills make them attractive to anyone so you get a lot of NIMBY (Not in my back yard).
It takes a lot of energy to build those things and they don’t have infinite lifespans. I believe around like 20 years without looking. It’s not the answer Nuclear is the answer if we can get past the hysteria around the word.
Neither wind nor solar are reliable enough to be the long-term answer. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, there's no generation. Our battery storage technology is not nearly advanced enough to help fill the gap. They also require vast amounts of open space to even make a dent and we don't have nearly enough transmission capacity to move ample power from remote locations to densely populated urban areas.
Other countries are finally starting to realize the futility of heavy reliance on wind and solar and are starting to pivot towards nuclear. While it comes with its own problems, it beats the heck out of rolling blackouts and obscene utility bills that places too reliant on renewables are dealing with.
Some places do make good use of wind power, like in the SF Bay Area.
In my opinion, if you came to do it on a large enough scale, that would also cause ecological change. But it is still worth while in the places conducive to it, low transmission distances.
SJG
The Pretenders - My City Was Gone - Chicago School of Rock youtube.com
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last commentI'm from west Texas. There are wind "farm" where they have literally hundreds of these turbines strung out across the land. They stick up in the air a long way. So when thunderstorms go thru there, I'm sure they get hit by lighting all the time.
Wind power is a nice additive for our energy needs. But no way can it generate enough power for all of our needs. And as history has shown from the deep freeze a couple of years ago, wind power isn't that dependable. Even in west Texas, you can go thru periods of just no wind.
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This made me think… I live in mountains and where 2 interstates intersect (I know that’s not uncommon). I used to see big trucks EVERY SINGLE WEEK lugging windmill blades somewhere. I think I’ve read the blades need to be replaced every so often. Since COVID I don’t think I’ve seen a single truck carrying a blade.
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I don't know about the future of power generation, but there a lot of windmills out in the rural areas of the midwest and west , and they are often used to pump water for agriculture irrigation
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Was actually researching wind power this week. One source said average windmills had a 25 year projected life with an average 6 to 7 year break even period. This took into account the supporting infrastructure etc. Expect most are not going to last that long or perform that well. Gas powered power plants have a 50 plus yeas life with very dependable efficient output. Also, scrubbers work well to limit co2 emissions.
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I know a guy (not well) that services these windmills. He worked for one company but left for another. Reason: the one company had stairs in each elevator he had to climb, the other company had elevators in their windmills.
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^ not well explains why he would prefer an elevator LOL
When I started working in construction, I worked as a rigger running tower cranes, the cranes would climb a the building went uo, sucked in the morning climbing those ladders to get into the cab, I'd stay up there all day bathroom break was a bucket, and lunch was brought up on the buckhoist..
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The first windmills I saw were in the 70s when Jimmy Carter incentivized windmills with tax breaks for those that installed them. They were in a very windy area called the Altamont Pass, the place where the famous Altamont Rolling Stones concert was. Once the tax breaks were taken away, these windmills fell into disrepair after a decade or so. There are still some active ones in the area but most are non-functional. The wind didn't go away. Just the tax breaks.
The other place I've seen them for a long time is just outside of Palm Springs. I don't think the site and sound of these windmills make them attractive to anyone so you get a lot of NIMBY (Not in my back yard).
Log in to vote
It takes a lot of energy to build those things and they don’t have infinite lifespans. I believe around like 20 years without looking. It’s not the answer Nuclear is the answer if we can get past the hysteria around the word.
Log in to vote
Neither wind nor solar are reliable enough to be the long-term answer. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, there's no generation. Our battery storage technology is not nearly advanced enough to help fill the gap. They also require vast amounts of open space to even make a dent and we don't have nearly enough transmission capacity to move ample power from remote locations to densely populated urban areas.
Other countries are finally starting to realize the futility of heavy reliance on wind and solar and are starting to pivot towards nuclear. While it comes with its own problems, it beats the heck out of rolling blackouts and obscene utility bills that places too reliant on renewables are dealing with.
Log in to vote
Some places do make good use of wind power, like in the SF Bay Area.
In my opinion, if you came to do it on a large enough scale, that would also cause ecological change. But it is still worth while in the places conducive to it, low transmission distances.
SJG
The Pretenders - My City Was Gone - Chicago School of Rock
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