| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
A hasty decision
Credit: Sun Journal, www.sunjournal.com 13 August 2010 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
This is in response to Naomi Schalit’s fascinating article on wind farms (Aug. 9).
Gov. John Baldacci’s written response to her inquiries offering his reasons for supporting the wholesale introduction of wind farms to high-ground scenic regions of Maine neglects multiple important factors going to the economics of these projects:
* The highly inefficient methods for transmission of electricity generated by wind power over the long distances required from remote locations;
* The failure of high-ground wind power to supply consistent and peak-demand streams of power, which makes this form of wind power hard to integrate into the power grid;
* The failure to provide any reserve funds for removal of the very large pieces of equipment that constitute these farms after the likely early obsolescence of existing technology;
* The expense and environmental impact of new roads and reinforced bridges necessary to accommodate the equipment’s installation; and
* The ambient noise levels generated in otherwise quiet environments.
In their haste to adopt the “in” technology, the governor and his Wind Power Task Force neglected these factors, as the article’s numerous quotes from those now having second thoughts dramatically illustrate. They did so to the detriment of this state and its residents. even as they created opportunities for private commercial gain with tax and other incentives.
By contrast, offshore, ocean-sited wind farms, such as those being actively designed and developed by the University of Maine’s Department of Engineering, offer the potential for much higher efficiency in wind-power generation, transmission and grid utilization.
Stephen Hudspeth, Andover
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=41060 ]
