Wind Energy Update
| June 18, 2011 | Posted by admin under Wind Energy |
Wind Energy in America
Author: Hamza Naeem
Ending of fuels and lack of energy
Over the past 100 years many new electrical appliances such as dishwashers, microwaves, and air conditioners have been invented. Because of these inventions, we are using more energy than ever before. It is predicted that the fossil fuels we currently use for sources of energy will be used up within 50-200 years. When this happens, cities all over the world will need alternative sources of energy. Fortunately there are several renewable energy sources being developed and used all over the world.
It is the year 2080, and Electric City is in the midst of an energy crisis. Recent power outages have left outraged citizens without the use of computers, home entertainment centers, light, and cordless phones. Outages are blamed on the lack of fuel to run the Electric City Power Plant, which generates all electricity for the city. Up until now, coal has been the city's only source of energy. It has always been cheap and easily accessible, but supplies are dwindling quickly.
Wind energy in USA
Wind is the world's fastest growing alternative energy resource. In the United States wind turbines in twenty seven states create enough power for more than one million families. The Altamont Pass in northern California is home to the country's oldest wind farm which is also the world's largest inland installation with seven thousand turbines.
Cape Town wind energy
Several years ago, Cape Wind proposed America's first offshore wind farm on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound. Miles from the nearest shore, one hundred and thirty wind turbines that will reach a height of two hundred and sixty three feet would produce up to four hundred and twenty megawatts of clean, renewable energy. In average winds, Cape Wind will provide three quarters of the Cape and Islands electricity needs. The wind turbines will be spaced six to nine football fields apart, allowing navigational room for shallow draft boats that pass through or fish Horseshoe Shoal. The turbines would be located in 24 square miles of Nantucket Sound. General Electric wind generators designed for offshore use would be utilized. The site was chosen because it was highly favorable for wind development (maybe the best in the East Coast). The area has strong steady winds and is close to onshore power lines while being protected from high waves. The completion for permitting is scheduled in 2008 and the project completion timeline is 2010.
In a legal sense everything three nautical miles out are under the management of the State Of Massachusetts. Beyond three miles, where the project is proposed, is managed by the Federal Government. However, to the residents of the Cape and the Islands, the project is seen as being built in their back yard.
In fact, opposition to the project has been extensive and public opinion polls on Cape Cod have consistently shown the population evenly divided on Cape Wind. There are several reasons for the extent of the opposition to the project. The tourist trade on the Cape accounts for about nineteen thousand jobs and if the sight of the wind turbines hurts tourism on the Cape, jobs would be lost and the economy and property values would become depressed. While the initial environmental draft study said damage to wildlife in the area would not be significant, many people remain concerned about the effect of wind turbines on the marine environment of the area. Concern for birds flying into the turbines is also an issue. Some would argue that the solution is not wind power, but other alternatives like hydrogen and those solutions to energy problems will be found in solar power or fuel cells, not in wind power.
If you are an environmentalist and you live on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket, the proposed offshore wind farm presents a real dilemma for you. The project would provide clean energy but would invade a pristine, natural ocean area. It could be viewed as a way to reduce air pollution or a problem for marine and avian species. It can be viewed as a way to replace our dependency on foreign oil or another government financed equivalent to the Big Dig. It can be viewed as a progressive solution to problems in our environment or a way for greedy developers to spoil the Cape Cod area further.
The project of wind turbines on Nantucket Sound is unique in that it's an argument of environmentalist against environmentalist. There is no pure "green" solution to the issue. You can see wind turbines as a progressive solution to the energy issues of our generation. However, wind turbines can also be seen an ugly invasion by man into an ocean where he does not belong with the potential to create havoc (in ways we do not yet understand) to marine and avian species.
These are the complex economic and environmental issues for the residents of Cape Cod and the Islands to consider concerning the Cape Wind proposal of America's first offshore wind farm on Nantucket Sound.
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dell is naive. China is as much economically motivated as any other country.
But if the US does not establish a position in these technologies, it will be repeating the mistake the US automakers made a generation ago, when they failed to invest in economy vehicles.
The US also needs a sensible nuclear policy, which implies spent fuel reprocessing. Carter got this one wrong, and every succeeding President has repeated the mistake.
How can I solicit a small investment (maybe less than $20,000) in an idea that is absolutely worth billions?
I thought about creating a website as a home base for updates and other information, but I don’t know what lines I may be crossing into – as far as selling stock or the like – or if it’s legal, at all, just to ask for financial help to get a money making project off the ground.
Wind Energy, Innovative Engineering Idea, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Angel Money Investment, New Patent Investment
Everyone has a billion dollar idea, very few become billionaires. No matter what, you will need to develop a business plan and then try and solicit the many angel investor sites out there. The easiest way to get that start-up without jumping through SEC hoops and such? Friends and family. Can’t get 20k from a family memeber or friends? Get $500 from 40 of them!
simple solution to world problems,?
Limit population growth, to a negative figure,world wide, i.e. only allow two children from a marriage union,, this would create a neutral population growth, attrition would create a negative growth rate, require all new construction to produce as much energy as they consume,, thin film solar,, wind,etc., update all existing structures to reduce energy consumption, We have to eliminate our reliance on foreign oil, we have to quit putting chemicals into our soil, perhaps nuclear.power aint all bad.
The world’s problems aren’t my problems.
They’re problems created by the people in charge.
I just end up paying for them and it’s sticks in my throat.
Happy new year though.
What has 0bama done to improve for energy?
Is he building wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear plants? Are we updating our power grid at all?
What has 0bama done to improve energy? I dont know where that “for”came from
I agree with Skunk ape, no smart grid. But I am for improving the power grid that blacked out 1/2 of the US. Update whats broke
He toured a windmill factory and waxed philosophical about how windmill production and weatherstripping our houses could create enough jobs to completely eliminate all unemployment.
Well, or at least go a long way in that direction.
OK, maybe create a million jobs or so.
Hundreds of thousands?
Would you believe hundreds?
Now we’re talking….
Which will be more important in the future, Gas or food? Which will ultimately be more expensive?
Surge in biofuel production pushes up food prices
By Javier Blas and Jenny Wiggins in London
Published: July 16 2007 03:00 | Last updated: July 16 2007 03:00
A surge in the production of biofuels derived from corn, wheat and soyabeans is helping to push up food prices so sharply that the World Food Programme, the United Nations agency in charge of fighting famine, is finding it difficult to feed as many hungry people as it has in the past.
Josette Sheeran, WFP’s executive director, said in an interview with the Financial Times that rising food prices were “already having an impact on WFP operations”, and added: “There is a realisation we are facing a new level of challenge.”
Food commodity prices are surging because of a number of factors including rising demand from China and bad weather, but the potential consequences of the rising demand for biofuels have caught the attention of those in the business of feeding the world.
Mark Spelman, head of Accenture’s global energy practice, said the biofuel industry was at risk of creating a public backlash similar to wind-power generation, as food inflation continues.
“Wind power was a very popular renewable source of energy until a wind farm was planned in someone’s backyard,” he said.
Still, Paul O’Brien, overseas director for the humanitarian organisation Concern Worldwide, said higher food prices could benefit farmers in emerging markets if food aid programmes found it cheaper to spend cash donations in the countries they distribute food in, rather than in the US and Europe.
“What we would encourage is [food aid agencies] to look more locally . . . and for donors to give money to the WFP,” Mr O’Brien said.
Some 77 per cent of the WFP’s food purchases are made in developing countries.
Last year it spent $460m (€334m, £226m) in such countries, making the largest cash purchases in Uganda, Ethiopia and Pakistan. The United Nations organisation feeds some 90m people annually.
Ms Sheeran also said that her organisation and others were trying to make it easier for poorer farmers to benefit from rising demand for food, either by helping African farmers become more efficient and tapping new markets or by helping small farmers in Latin America benefit from the rising demand for biofuels.
“In a world of growing population, the African farmer will be needed,” she said.
The rise in food prices has also underlined the difficulties the WFP and other food aid programmes face when determining which type of donations they receive are more effective – cash or commodities.
About half of the donations the WFP receives are now made in cash, the rest in commodities. When the organisation started, it benefited mainly from surplus food donated by wealthy nations including the US. It now receives cash from many countries, and often, as is the case with the US, must spend that money on products grown in the donor country.
Marc Cohen, research fellow at the US’s International Food Policy Research Institute, said that the rise in food prices had reawakened questions over the best way to distribute food aid.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Food is a need and gas is a want. Therefore gas is subject to better rationing since people will self ration on gas. Electricty is where the future of fuel is and not in the nonsense of biofuel. It’s a current distraction to make people think that it’s the answer but the current morons in government can’t begin to tie their own shoes much less solve an energy crisis. Rest assured there will be plenty of food in the future.
Look at the CPI core rate it’s the CPI minus energy and food both of which are very volatile. But in the end my comment on food should sum it up.