| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind turbines can end up being costly
Credit: www.postcrescent.com 14 November 2011 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
I’m writing in response to Duke Behnke’s Oct. 30 column on Kaukauna High School’s wind turbines. Often when wind turbine or solar energy projects are reported, the cost is given but rarely any information on economic payback or recovery of cost. In this case, the two turbines cost $150,000 and generate 24,000 kilowatt hours of power. We don’t know the regular cost of power to the school. If it’s in the likely range of 10 cents per kilowatt hour, it will take 62 years to recover the cost, without including cost of interest and maintenance.
This money from utility rates used locally or federal tax money used nationwide should cause us to consider the costs, not just “green energy.” The really big and unsuccessful federal grants we hear about are most disturbing.
Some will say we must do this to develop the industry and reduce costs over time. However, there have been square miles of windmills and a considerate number of solar projects in California for years, so the early costs have been somewhat reduced.
We also must remember that wind and sunlight are available only part time.
Some will say we must reduce our dependence on gas and oil. If the reports are accurate on the reserves of both, especially recent gas discoveries, this is a poor time for “green.”
Duane R. Gabel,
Appleton
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=15489 ]
