November 20, 2021
Letters, Minnesota

Letter didn’t address reality

We are never allowed to see the real costs of turbines, land leases, transmission line conductors, horribly expensive maintenance costs, turbine lives of only 25 years, demolition and turbine pod disposal, etc., on a per kilowatt basis. | Letters | Grand Forks Herald | Nov. 20, 2021 | www.grandforksherald.com

In an April 24 letter to the Herald, UND Professor Dexter Perkins thoroughly bashed the usage of coal for generating electricity. However, he erroneously claims that solar and wind generating sources are non-polluting. Spent wind turbine blades, after only 15 years of service, are being quietly landfilled by the thousands out on the lone prairie. We are never allowed to see the real costs of turbines, land leases, transmission line conductors, horribly expensive maintenance costs, turbine lives of only 25 years, demolition and turbine pod disposal, etc., on a per kilowatt basis.

Solar panels may be great in summer, but of little value in the Northland in winter, when you need electricity, plus the short life and toxic waste disposal problem. The theoretical concept of wind and solar energy sources is inviting, but the realities are being disguised and their true costs will mean shockingly high monthly electric bills for consumers. Apparently, natural gas fired generating plants are replacing coal usage; however, natural gas is very much a fossil fuel and it is not “green energy,” as its complete combustion yields CO2 and water. What is gained? Warren Buffet was quoted as saying that wind and solar energy, if not for the large taxpayer subsidies, would not be worth his investment.

Have a physical chemist examine the thermodynamics of the ethanol, as well as the biodiesel production cycles. Years ago, they were not practical and were possible because of massive lobbying in Washington ,D.C. I’m favor of them if they could economically be produced from plant waste products, but it’s wrong to produce grains for that purpose.

Nuclear power plants produce basically zero carbon dioxide. They claim that climate shifts are human caused, yet they never mention incentives to encourage smaller family size. Electric powered autos, homes, etc., are the latest darlings by climate alarmists, yet the “pseudo environmentalists” have killed off copper/nickel mining in northeast Minnesota, and a hidden provision in the Biden $1.7 trillion “stimulus” bill, kills off a potential large copper mine in Arizona. Electrification requires vast quantities of virgin metals like copper, nickel, aluminum, etc., yet mining is prohibited? Perkins, in another letter, on Nov. 13, fails to address reality.

Bernie Uran, Northome, Minn.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/11/20/letter-didnt-address-reality/