Wind Energy And The Future
Wind Energy And The Future
Thank you, Jerome, for your work here.
I started working as an engineer in wind energy in 1978...
Back then, the technology was crude and we had a very steep learning curve. We suffered just about any kind of failure imaginable. We had new structural engineering problems because the random loads generated fatigue issues never faced before. The low speed aerodynamics were new, often operating in or near stall. Control theory advanced to manage random loads. Attacking these problems was a challenge that we enjoyed.
We dreamed of the day when wind energy would become a part of the accepted utility mix. I remember clearly when the movie "Rain Man" was released and there was a scene in which they passed the Palm Springs wind farms. I was in Massachusetts and there was a gasp in the audience.
We certainly know more now. We know the disadvantages of wind energy, which Jerome has been even handed in describing. Development of the industry over time has seen the problems become manageable. Wind energy displaces fuel from being burned and in many cases has capacity value. With the advent of plug-in hybrid vehicles or other forms of using storage, wind power will have more capacity value.
In the current environment, wind energy is just about the most economic source of new electricity generation and most people find the sight of wind turbines to be pleasing. NREL reports show that there is enough wind resource in the upper Midwest to supply a significant portion of our nation's electricity from wind. However, we lack the infrastructure to take advantage of this resource, and at present, we lack the political leadership to make this happen.
I will give four reasons why we would want to aggressively pursue wind power and all other forms of renewable electric power.
1. First of all, we need to address global warming. There are a few who believe that global warming is fiction, but like those who believe in ID, they are overwhelmed by the evidence. Global warming is real and is starting to have a direct impact on humans. Climate change is accelerating.
2. Wind power does not generate greenhouse gasses. It is true that little of our electricity is generated by oil, but much of our electricity is generated by natural gas, another commodity we depend upon from foreign countries. Wind and other forms of renewable energy will reduce this dependence. We can also reduce oil usage by moving to plug-in hybrids which use electricity as mentioned above.
3. Wind power and renewable energy in general generate local jobs. (This was already discussed in some detail by Jerome.)
4. Wind power is cost effective and the cost will not increase with the cost of natural resources. The more wind energy a utility uses, the more its customers will be insulated from the cost of oil or natural gas.
Our nation is at serious risk because of the irresponsible and self serving policies of the current leadership in Washington, including energy policy. We need to remove the corrupt leaders and get started to prepare for our future.
Aggressively pursuing wind and other renewable forms of energy while becoming more efficient, especially with our vehicles, will go a long way to developing a sustainable economy so we can pass on a world to the following generations that we can be proud of.
Jerry
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/5/14/214618/600