Stick a fork in wind
Sioux City Journal | siouxcityjournal.com
The Journal editorial board’s view that Congress should renew the federal wind energy production tax credit fails to consider some unfortunate realities about wind. The wind only blows with enough velocity to produce electricity 30 to 40 percent of the time, requiring backup generators for every possible watt of electricity produced by wind turbines, which means no fossil-fuel generating plants will ever be completely shut down.
Wind energy will never compete in a free energy market regardless of government subsidies. Why prolong wasteful government spending?
The Journal proposes a “gradual and fair” reduction of credits. Why? Attempts to “harness the wind” have been around since the 1950s when miles of windmills dotted the California landscape. None are now operational despite the advances of technology vastly improving the efficiency of turbines.
Unless science conceives of a method to make the wind blow 30 mph 24/7, wind needs a fork stuck in it. – Jerry Crew, Webb, Iowa
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/12/21/stick-a-fork-in-wind/