Wind power
By Mark Knowles
Is wind power a practical alternative source of energy? Common sense would say yes, windmills and wind turbines must be more practical, because they use a freely available, renewable source of power, but there are an enormous amount of arguments coming out against the use of wind power. The British Government Inc has even gone as far as to say that wind power is a threat to National Security because wind farms interfere with military radars. If only they hadn’t demonstrated the fact that every single politician in the cabinet is a lying sack of shit out to squeeze as much money from the tax payers to put in their own pockets – this might have taken seriously. There are also numerous arguments against it because it is not “economically viable.”
The cynic in me (99.9%) is more inclined to think that pressure has been bought to bear by the existing energy suppliers who do not wish the status quo disturbed because they are quite happy with the amount of money they make thank you very much.
The simple fact is that energy creation should not be reduced to a matter of economics only. Some years ago, I lived in a town called Walsall in the UK. At the time, I was running a photographic processing business that produced large amounts of waste paper and plastics. I fought for years with the local council to get them to institute some sort of recycling program so that we would not have to dump this trash in the ground. They were adamant that it was not economical and refused to do anything about it. I eventually found sources outside the county and took the trouble to deliver this waste to them myself so that it could be recycled. The plastics were made into coat hangers. After a ten year absence, when I moved back briefly the first correspondence I received from this council was a letter threatening me with a £1,000 fine if I did not recycle my household waste. I felt like screaming. The simple fact was – all the landfills were now full.
It seems to me that a similar situation is going on with the possibility of using wind power instead of burning fossil fuels or nuclear power. The energy companies receive so many government subsidies that the true cost of producing energy in the “traditional” fashion is completely disguised. And will continue to be all the time the big energy and big oil companies are able to use their massive profits buying off politicians who are supposed to be acting in our best interests. We will only seriously look at wind power when we have destroyed the fossil fuel resources enough to make it “economical.”
You cannot measure the amount of damage we do to the planet simply in economic terms. I very much doubt this will change until there is enough money in wind power for the lobby to be able to start buying politicians. I must admit, if I were in charge, I would have taxed the oil and energy companies to death by now. Or been shot.
Comments
Me too. It is a little harder in Europe because of space restraints. No reason other than greed that we are still using fossil fuels.
Wind power would be a grand idea, if more could be harnassed, with less space. California looks horrid driving around, esp from Fresno to San Fran w/ nothing to look at but those windmills. It looks absolutely terrible, takes up so much land, and they are still the highest state with brown outs. More a month than the entire US per year I believe was the last quote on that. Something needs to be done, but wind is sadly not the choice. I'm a nuc. person myself but the mob freaks out about those.
Well - it is a toss up, I guess. If we want power, we have to sacrifice something, and we need to decide what the price is we are prepared to pay. Personally, I do not like nuclear power because if this is the route we take, we will eventually have to deal with the waste. At least the wind turbines use a free source of renewable energy. Admittedly, they are not attractive, but perhaps better than filling our atmosphere up with hydro carbons?
There is plenty of empty, open desert in the US that could be used with annoying too many lol
Or better yet, just flip the damn switch off when you walk out the door...lol
LOL True, very true.
Excellent article; Sounds like your government is as corrupt as the USA’s. Greed dictated all those special favors the governments have been “passing” down. Deregulation being one of them, opened up a real Pandora’s Box.
Great Article!
Very spot on in your assesment of the why's. As to the guy from California, California is an Enron state and it will never matter how many windmills or power plants. Enron will always reduce the amount of power available in order to bid the highest price per quarter hour.
The funny thing is the people of California threw out a Governor over the high price of their energy, but never threw out any of the legislators that passed the Enron Bill. Nor have they demanded anything be changed.
TMG
TMG - I am not 100% au fait with internal US politics, but I am not surprised. :)
Wind energy is a good alternative option but I feel there are two main problem in this case.
One, windmills be able to produce enough energy as per the requirement?
Two, maybe the above problem be solved by building proper windmills but what about the problem that not all places can we install windmill as a place may not be windy enough to produce enough energy.
I feel solar power could be a better option. What do you suggest?
I don't think wind power alone would provide enough, but used in conjunction with hydro electric, solar, and waves I don't see why it could not go at least part way to changing the way we think about energy generation. Sooner or later we are going to run out if fossil fuels anyway. But that means looking to the future rather than taking the quick buck now. :(
I agree with you Mark. One more solution is anti-matter. But it is a very distant thing. Lets hope people at CERN are able to conduct their experiment successfully. If they manage to produce anti-matter successfully on commercial basis, complete energy problem of the world will be solved for a very long time to come. But then as I said, it looks like a distant dream now!
Who knows. I am a little worried also about the possible dangers of anti-matter. Goodness knows we were quick enough to develop nuclear energy without any thought to safe disposal of the waste.
All the arguments against renewable sources are hollow and amount to nothing more than obstructionism.
Someone above says they don't like looking at windmills while they're out driving around! That's gall!
Perhaps their children and grandchildren will find the sterile, poisoned wasteland we're leaving them equally unattractive as they wander desperately searching for potable water and something edible.
As the use of renewable energy sources becomes inevitable, wait and see if the pet governments of the corporatocracy don't start passing legislature making it illegal for individual home and business owners to own the means of producing their own electricity.
Then not only will we continue to pay the power moguls exorbitant fees for our energy, they'll be getting it virtually for free.
That would not surprise me one little bit CWB.
My first hub is WIND energy converter...
so I see you ahve also written something different.
nice hub check out mine..
Being green isn't always economical that's true, but our biggest problem lies with our greedy need for an easy life. Unless that changes and people become willing to scale down on their luxuries, we will get fatter and less healthy, and become a more artificial society.
We're already there as far as I'm concerned, kids grow up watching trash on TV and then throw candy wrappers out of their parent's gas guzzling SUV. My TV is in the closet - just in case. I haven't taken it out for at least a year and don't miss it. I drive an old diesel Rabbit and can't wait till I have a place with the room to process veggie oil.
Unless you recognize my name from various comments on HP, you will be surprised to learn I am a conservative. I don't believe that things are that dire environmentally, but I cannot ignore the smog, the waste and the "denaturalization" of society. I have no problem looking at wind turbines, but we need to keep looking for better solutions as these windmills kill a lot of birds and are extremely expensive. Good article, find myself in agreement with you here.
What most people don't realize is if you placed wind turbines in specific locations you'd have over half of your country taken care of.
How many power plants run just to feed the whole nation?
Not many.
@ Ixxy - what most people don't seem to realize is that we need to change out consumption habits. And whether you like it or not - eventually the fossil fuels used to power "power plants" must run out?
Or do you think not?
Well, fossil fuels are not the best way to begin with.
And yes, we need to change our consumption habits. However, if it becomes rule and common place that all housing has solar paneling and wind turbines, you've just now taken care of the consumption issue.
But...consumption is indeed out of control in many houses.
"As the use of renewable energy sources becomes inevitable, wait and see if the pet governments of the corporatocracy don't start passing legislature"
If it's indeed inevitable, just sit back and enjoy it.
Jewels 2 years ago
Would love to see the day I can go off the grid as far as power is concerned. In Australia of course solar is more sensible but there are a few windfarms going up. The government has outsourced electricity and it's now a cut throat business along with telecommunications. It's all profit orientated and it makes me angry that we have to sell our souls for decent prices.