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| By: Jace_Bauer |
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| RE: Wind Turbines |
| 7/2/2008 2:43 PM |
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Nick recently posted a blog on wind turbines and the debate that can often ensue when communities attempt to harness their own energy. I am going to post my comments to his blog here as well to get the discussion started off. "I've read in a few places that wind turbines cause somewhere on the order of tens of thousands of bird deaths each year, while feral cats kill on the order of hundreds of millions of birds a year. I think that bird lovers ought to focus first on the issue of animal control across the US before worrying about a much less destructive activity that has at least one positive benefit: fewer greenhouse gas emissions. On a side note, I also find myself happy to see wind turbines. It's really kind of cool that we can get electricity from the wind and not have to put chemicals into the air." I am perfecting willing to see lots of wind turbines in sky if it means cheaper electricity and a cleaner atmosphere. As Nick asked, what do you think? |
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7/17/2008 4:05 PM |
Check out Deke's blog on how he helps disseminate wind information as a state climatologist. It is very cool. And speaking of new plans for wind energy, I came across what is being called "The Pickens Plan" to reduce the United States' dependency on foreign oil by using more wind power. Do you think the plan can work? |
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11/24/2008 7:54 PM |
Many of our recent blogs have focused on the impacts of wind turbines on the economy and businesses. StormExchange has recently discussed Wal-Mart's pledge to buy more electricity derived from wind energy. As noted above, Nick mentioned some of the controversies surrounding wind power, however from what I can tell this looks like a pretty interesting plan. I have noticed in some Wal-Mart stores I have visited the lights in their freezers were controlled by motion sensors. If nobody was near a particular freezer, the lights were shut off and the power saved. If a person walked up to the freezer, the lights automatically come back on. I think it is exciting to see these projects aimed at using less energy. Another StormExchange blog has reported on the local impact to the economy that wind farm projects can have. I know personally that many farmers in northern Indiana are excited to see some extra income from the wind mills they have agreed to place on their property. The new projects create maintenance and transportation work that can benefit the economy.
What do you think about wind energy? Can a "green revolution" help create jobs and turn the economy around? Could attempts to mitigate climate change actually increase economic activity? Tell us what you think! |
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11/25/2008 5:56 AM |
Having written stories that explore both sides of the ongoing wind turbine debate, I believe it's important to consider the economic (and ecological) impact of wind power from both perspectives. In this recent story, we look at the ways in which wind power is indirectly revitalizing local economies. There are, as you've already pointed out, several ecological concerns the growing wind industry presents. For instance, Storm published a story in which Canadian wind turbines were killing migratory bat populations without so much as leaving a scratch on them. Both sides of the argument are compelling and I hope these offerings spur further discussion. Thanks again for inviting Storm to the discussion. |
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12/3/2008 2:07 PM |
Consider this news story a check under the wind industry's column. Vestas, the world's largest wind turbine producer, has selected Portland, Oregon for its North American headquarters. Their planned $25 million HQ will sustain 1,200 jobs for the local community, many of which are considered white-collar jobs. Just some food for thought: |
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12/25/2008 6:45 PM |
I found an article a few days about the first "underwater wind turbine" being installed in the Mississippi River in Minnesota. The turbine creates power from the water that moves through it, similar to a traditional wind turbine. They are believed to cause much less environmental impact than traditional dams, perhaps making them ideal for populated areas near rivers that could not accommodate a dam. I think this is a very creative "green" solution and one that will be interesting to continue to watch in the years to come. Check out the article and Happy Holidays! |
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9/22/2009 8:19 AM |
A famous broadcaster in the UK, David Dimbleby, recently installed a wind turbine in his garden, and received a lot of criticism from his neighbours. They said that it would be bad news for bats and birds. What they didn't realise was that Dimbley was a former president of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. ;-)
When questioned, he brushed off these comments with ease - saying they were so small as to be negligable. Here's some more info on this story: http://domesticwindturbines.weebly.com/ For more info on domestic wind turbines, there's lots of info on my blog: Domestic Wind Turbines Blog |
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