Wind power a costly alternative energy source
In the last few weeks there have been a few inane responses to an earlier very reasonable letter by Albert Bowers (whom I don’t know). On Sunday, Suzann Cornell put forth another viewpoint, but the difference was that she sounded like a sincere individual trying to do the right thing. That I can respond to.
She rightly said that we have energy problems and accurately concluded that we need to take meaningful steps to “protect our air and water quality” through “cleaner, healthier and affordable energy alternatives.” These are excellent sentiments, that I (and I’m sure Mr. Bowers) fully support. (I am a physicist and energy expert).
The fatal flaw in Ms. Cornell’s solution though, is that she apparently believes that any alternative source of energy is better than existing fossil fuels. She also seems to think that all alternative energy sources are roughly equal. Unfortunately, for a variety of technical, economic and environmental reasons, both of these opinions are false.
The scientific facts are that just because an energy source is “renewable” doesn’t make it better (or even good), and that there are major differences between different alternative sources.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently concluded that: “Wind power is subsidized to the tune of $23 per megawatt-hour. By contrast, normal coal receives 44 cents per megawatt-hour, natural gas 25 cents, hydroelectric 67 cents, and nuclear power $1.59.” Does wind power sound like the “affordable” she is advocating?
Wind power is one of the absolute worst alternative sources of electrical energy. It is a trivial saver of carbon dioxide, uneconomic on its own and an environmental violator.
I was glad to see that she mentioned geothermal, as that is among the best alternatives. No one in this area will likely be against a geothermal power plant, so I hope she puts some serious support behind that. She can start by changing her group from “Voters for Wind” to “Voters for Serious Energy Solutions.”
John Droz Jr.
Brantingham Lake
8 August 2008
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
