LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME



[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]

Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

Get weekly updates
RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Stripe

Donate via Paypal

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

News Watch Home

Letter: Blowin’ in the wind 

Credit:  Calgary Herald | June 16, 2014 | www.calgaryherald.com ~~

Re: “Rising bills feared amid shift from coal,” June 6. This article makes a gross error in stating that Alberta gets nine per cent of our electric power from wind: “The report forecasts growth in wind power, which currently generates about nine per cent of supply, and suggests it could potentially produce 36,000 MW of electricity.”

According to Alberta Energy, it is our wind generating capacity that is nine per cent (actually 7.95 per cent in 2012), not our actual power generation from wind, which is only 3.62 per cent of our 72,900 GWh power generation in 2012.

This means Albertans are paying a premium for generating capacity that is not even used. Conventional coal and natural gasfired power generation capacity duplicates this wind power generation capacity as they must be available as a standby precaution.

Wind power is notoriously variable. A portion of the wind power generated is duplicated by conventionally powered turbines spinning and burning fuel, but not providing power, known as “spinning reserves,” so it can be called upon on short notice when the wind fails.

If the 36,000 MW of potential wind power generating capacity mentioned in this article came to be, it means Albertans would have to fund another 36,000 MW of coal and natural gas-fired power generation for standby when the wind does not blow and this power is not generated.

At a minimum cost of $1.3 million per MW of installed wind power generating capacity, this 36,000 MW capacity would cost Albertans $46.8 billion, not including costs for backup generators.

Ken Gregory

Calgary

Source:  Calgary Herald | June 16, 2014 | www.calgaryherald.com

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 Contributions
   Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)
Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI M TG TS G Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook Wind Watch on Linked In

Wind Watch on Mastodon Wind Watch on Truth Social

Wind Watch on Gab Wind Watch on Bluesky