Wind and solar power

[slick7]

Did anyone else see that show on public TV about wind power? It said that the state of South Dakota could provide enough wind to power this WHOLE country. I realize it would cost alot of $ to get this harnessed wind power distributed to all the states of this country. But if we can come up with billions of dollars to fight over seas, why not this? I also saw an episode of Bill Mahrer last year that had an english actor who said that all new homes in England are being outfitted with new solar panels that provide more than enough power to supply the house and the extra is sold back to the power company. If they can get enough sun in England for these solar panels, why not us? Cost is a lame excuse. Am I the only one who is concerned that all we do as a country is consume, consume, consume? Can any of our English, or Americans living in England, fellow Broncomaniacs, verify that fact for me? When I hear that 90% of our oceans fish are gone and this planet keeps getting hotter and hotter I can't help but wonder how this will affect all of those who will come after us. I don't mean to get political on everyone, I just wanted to know people's feelings on this subject. I just get so frustrated sometimes because I feel like we as a people, and our goverment could do more in this whole area. Anyone else tired of being a slave to oil companies, power companies, and the rest of the monoplies in the USA? Maybe I'm using the wrong forum to pose this question, if so then, Mods, I apoligize.

[CinnaMunMun]

Everyone wants clean fuel, so no you are not alone.

However, wind power not only can be shaky (given that winds change), it takes up more land than a normal power plant does. So I suppose cost would be a problem.

Trying not to get into politics, if we are spending billions in the war, that billions we dont have the luxury of spending here at the moment.

But the government and individual companies are pushing for clean electricity. We just had a bill asking about that in fact.

but the electricity that is put out by wind I think could be more expensive than what we currently have, due to costs of manufacturing, etc. Ill have to check on that one, but if it is true, then many customers would be hurting as many are already stuggling with current costs.

Right now one of the power plants in CO is doing something different with the coal to get more out of it. I think instead of burning it, hey are heating it and using the energy that comes off of it. I'll ask my dad about that one as he works there.

but don't worry, everyone isn't sitting on their hands, waiting for someone to do something.

[Kapaibro]

There is a wind-farm just outside of my home-town. It has 158 turbines, which only take up about a square metre each(they farm sheep in the same paddocks). It's the largest famr in the southern hemisphere and supplies enough power for 30,000 homes(just under 50% of Palmerston North's population).

It's located on the mountain ranges out of the city so doesn't affect the city skyline, and actually makes for really cool photographs.

There's also lots of these windfarms here in the south of Spain, especially around Tarifa.

[Emancipator]

Hopefully we will find some new ways to save energy and come up with some good ideas to help power our things (cars, homes, ........etc).

I think you did a good job keeping this from being political. It is more about conserving and finding better energy sources.

[slick7]

Thanks for posting everyone, I'm afraid this thread will die out just like this subject seems to. BTW I would let them fill my backyard with these wind turbines. http://www.awea.org/

[anton...]

like a bag of dried up mash i am here to tell you that you are correct!!!

im not the same or better than fresh made mash...

thus wind power is awesome!!!

realisitcally the best place to put them it to create farms out in the ocean...

no one would care and its safe...

i have also seen a docco on this and they are also looking into making these sea floatin devices that gather energy from ocean currents...

and do i care???

yes i do...

the whole world does!!!!

[slick7]

like a bag of dried up mash i am here to tell you that you are correct!!!

im not the same or better than fresh made mash...

thus wind power is awesome!!!

realisitcally the best place to put them it to create farms out in the ocean...

no one would care and its safe...

i have also seen a docco on this and they are also looking into making these sea floatin devices that gather energy from ocean currents...

and do i care???

yes i do...

the whole world does!!!!

Thanks for chiming in Anton, why the coffee drinking smiley though, are you bored with this subject?

[CinnaMunMun]

Thanks for chiming in Anton, why the coffee drinking smiley though, are you bored with this subject?

No, he just does it.

Its kind of like his calling card.

I'll try to get back on that new way they are using coal. It was really cool.

but honestly, fill Wyoming with the windmill wind power things (im having a brain fart of you didn't notice ). Its windy, barren, desert. Upkeep would be a bother, but it could be worth it.

Wyoming would then be able to sell it off! It could be a huge state funded program!

Im copyrighting this idea....

[anton...]

all you need now is to become a squllionare or a congressman...

...

and the coffee thing is like "as a matter of fact"...

i dont mean it like "im bored"

although i do sometimes...

so i dont really know what i do anymore...

but this is the one subject that i care for...

cos i want my juice baby!!!

[arapaho]

the tribes here are doing a study on the best locations to put wind towers... so knowing some of the places around here >>WYO<<< are endless in wind supply...i would expect to have some soon...but i know a couple that moved here from back east ...bought a place near bull lake...which is constantly windy...and erected a small wind turbine...they said it was about 5,000 dollars to do ...but says on most days it supplies all thier power needs...and on really windy days they make a profit by being hooked up to the power grid

[Kapaibro]

Personally I think $5,000 is a small price to pay given how long you'll have the turbine for, and in winter you'd probably make money from it. It would pay for itself within 5-10 years easy, if not sooner.

[arapaho]

Personally I think $5,000 is a small price to pay given how long you'll have the turbine for, and in winter you'd probably make money from it. It would pay for itself within 5-10 years easy, if not sooner.

accually at her location...which as i said is constantly windy...and ussually very windy.....i think she said it paid for itself in two years... she's got it in the power grid with the power company....so it records the amount of power she places in the grid and they credit her power bill for her usage...any thing over her usage she gets a check for

[Kapaibro]

accually at her location...which as i said is constantly windy...and ussually very windy.....i think she said it paid for itself in two years... she's got it in the power grid with the power company....so it records the amount of power she places in the grid and they credit her power bill for her usage...any thing over her usage she gets a check for

Getting money FROM the power company?

Sounds like science fiction doesn't it!


Y'see, wind is your friend!

[Bronco_f1]

did write a paper about this. The topic is so interesting that I like talking about it. It is also true that windpower would be cheaper, I don't remember the price comparison, but it was much cheaper.

Well, I will give you a couple of reasons why this isn't happening, even though most people (including me) would like it to happen.

Well, first is the transaction costs. All those energy plants that companies built during the years would not be used to their full potential, and they would have to spend more money on those wind energy systems. It would require a lot of windmills to build for all the US. Im not sure how many, but I would guess it would be a large 6 figure number of units.

Also, since the cost of bringing this energy to houses would be lower, the companies would lose profit (that's why many of them refuse to do it, because it would not only cost them to build the system, but they would probably earn less income). Now, if you would own a company, we would all try to get the most profit, people tend to accuse the companies as selfish, but honestly, why would someone want to stop making profit and instead lose money in their business after working so hard to get there. I doubt any human being would, even the ones who say they would.

Also, these forms of energy are not as effective yet. Honestly, I like solar energy systems, because they cost more to build than the payoff you would get, and to build those solar energy panels you waste a lot of energy. I would only use wind energy, which may be more effective in the future. Companies are regulated to make this transition and have a percentage of the energy they sell to be wind or solar energy. It will take a lot of years for this transition, but it should happen in the future

[BroncoFanCam]

This might sopund really really stupid...

But many electrical things require "capacitors" (little devices that save up, and store energy), from car stereos (although very small scale) to electrical sub-stations etc.

In high-$$$ car stereos, it goes like this...

1: Capacitor is wired in line with the power to an amp.
2: As the vehicle is running it is charging this capacitor with extra energy, which it stores up.
3: Normally (without a capacitor) when a long, loud bass note is played, there is large draw on the sytem that can cause things like headlights to dim.
4: When this large draw occurs teh capacitor chimes in, with it's stored energy and supplies the needed power to keep the electrical system from sustaining a slump in power.

I am wondering why it isn't possible, or why no one seems to be developing some sort of giant scale capacitor/super-conductor that can store the electricity from a lightning storm.

Yes, storms are unpredictable (as to their location) but there are undoubtedly some areas that get hit harder/more frequently than others. And the potential from just a single lightning strike is extrordinary.

With the usage of this, hydro-electricity, solar panels, and wind generators, we could practically have a never ending supply of electricty direct from nature.

There has to be a way to do this... there HAS to be...

I am also curious about some kind of hydro-plant that could opperate from the shift in ocean tides. They can be quite aggressive in certain areas, and simply allowing water in (at high tide) and restricting it's movement through a generator (at low tide), maybe that's another resource we could use???