Wind Farms

[Okie]

I dont know why I just recalled but some time ago I got a letter from my electric company informing me that now I could buy part or all of my electric power from a wind farm. The percent I could choose to buy from the wind farm would cost about double what I pay now. I pay about $135.00 USD every month. I am on averaging. I hear the senators taling about alternative energy and I am for clean power but it strikes me that the government should get in on the act and not be up to local power companies. I think most people whould not choose to pay double for power if they did not have to knowing that others would buy power from burning coal or gas and buying it cheaper. It seems to me the federal should make the energy companies add the cost of all power they make and average it. Maybe make them use wind for a certain percent. At least if all customers have to pay the same it would be better. As it is each state has companies that produce power and even here there is rural power companies and there is city power grids. Seems it all should be coordinated.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by Okie

I dont know why I just recalled but some time ago I got a letter from my electric company informing me that now I could buy part or all of my electric power from a wind farm. The percent I could choose to buy from the wind farm would cost about double what I pay now. I pay about $135.00 USD every month. I am on averaging. I hear the senators taling about alternative energy and I am for clean power but it strikes me that the government should get in on the act and not be up to local power companies. I think most people whould not choose to pay double for power if they did not have to knowing that others would buy power from burning coal or gas and buying it cheaper. It seems to me the federal should make the energy companies add the cost of all power they make and average it. Maybe make them use wind for a certain percent. At least if all customers have to pay the same it would be better. As it is each state has companies that produce power and even here there is rural power companies and there is city power grids. Seems it all should be coordinated.

That is a lot of electric to use! I don't particularly agree with wind generation of
electricity - can't you reduce usage?

[booradley]

do you mind me asking why you don't particularly agree with wind generation for electricity, Bill? Do you know something I don't?
I'm keen on renewable energy and I'd quite happily have a wind turbine in my garden if I could...I am a bit of a skinflint though

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by booradley

do you mind me asking why you don't particularly agree with wind generation for electricity, Bill? Do you know something I don't?
I'm keen on renewable energy and I'd quite happily have a wind turbine in my garden if I could...I am a bit of a skinflint though yh_tong2

Sorry, I'm not totally against it, a wind turbine in the garden would be a Good
Thing IMO. I am against the large wind farms that are springing up all over the
UK and a) blighting the landscape and b) producing heavily-subsidised electric
that doesn't have particularly "green" credentials. B&Q are apparently selling
"windmills" for power generation. Once economies of scale are bought into play
the price should drop.

Have you noticed the proliferation of solar celled traffic equipment, and so on?
That seems like a small step in the right direction, too.

[suncrafter]

Originally Posted by Bill Sikes

Have you noticed the proliferation of solar celled traffic equipment, and so on?
That seems like a small step in the right direction, too.

I've noticed that. I wonder if that is cheaper - power wise or cheaper - labor wise. Or maybe both?

[Elvira]

I actually think that the wind farms are a lesser blot on the landscape than the nasty polluting, black smoke producing energy plants!

In fact, when we drive down to Cornwall, I love the majestic sight of the silent wind turbines!

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by Elvira

I actually think that the wind farms are a lesser blot on the landscape than the nasty polluting, black smoke producing energy plants!

In fact, when we drive down to Cornwall, I love the majestic sight of the silent wind turbines!

Hm. To make the same energy as a conventional power station (what black
smoke?) would need somewhere between about 60 and 160 wind farms,
all operating at peak output all the time (which is clearly not possible!).
That IMO is around 60 to 160 too many! They're scarcely majestic, nor
silent, and I really do not want any more of Cornwall, or anywhere else,
blighted with these things, let alone entirely covered with them!

[Elvira]

Originally Posted by Bill Sikes

They're scarcely majestic, nor
silent, and I really do not want any more of Cornwall, or anywhere else,
blighted with these things, let alone entirely covered with them!

As an Arts graduate, I guess my mindset is a little different from yours. I clearly see beauty and majesty where you do not.

In your statement above, you imply that I am wrong, whereas in reality, very simply, our opinions differ.

As for not wanting any more of them around, I think that you may be disappointed. But perhaps you could assuage your displeasure by recognising that others may see beauty in them, and want to protect the environment in the longer term.

[spot]

Originally Posted by Elvira

I actually think that the wind farms are a lesser blot on the landscape than the nasty polluting, black smoke producing energy plants!

In fact, when we drive down to Cornwall, I love the majestic sight of the silent wind turbines!

Where on earth do you find "black smoke producing energy plants" in the UK?

Every wind turbine I ever stood within two hundred yards of made a startling amount of noise if it was operating. They're silent only when they don't turn.

[Elvira]

Originally Posted by spot

Where on earth do you find "black smoke producing energy plants" in the UK?

Every wind turbine I ever stood within two hundred yards of made a startling amount of noise if it was operating. They're silent only when they don't turn.

OK - if we're all determined to be pedants, I'm happy to play along. Oil is a source of energy, is it not? In which case, I would say that you could find a plant that has produced black smoke in hemel hempstead! and furthermore

I've been pretty close to a wind turbine or 40 in Cornwall, and I thought they were fairly silent. (they were in operation too!) Maybe the noise of the traffic drowned it out?