Wind Power

[Barry]

Batter up, "poof!"

Can't see this happening. A jet engine, yeah, but not these big blades at the speed they turn. I would find it extremely difficult for these blades to kill any bird smaller than a duck or goose.

[Barry]

wind farms being located in that community.

The turbines I posted a picture of are nowhere near a community. They're out in the middle of farm land. As to the noise, I have no idea as the noise inside the truck from the windows being open made it hard to even hear the radio.

[WLC]

At 165MPH wingtip speeds?

It's not just the speed, it's the energy (like baseball).

WLC stands for 'Wildlife Conservation'. I just finished building wood duck nest boxes for crying out loud.

The funny thing is this: I think that those folks (the little guy) have a shot at winning in court. If the zoning variance and environmental impact studies were flawed in any way, 'poof'.

Conservationists have known for decades about all of the problems that our appetite for energy can cause. They all seemed like a good idea at the time.

How about we find a way that doesn't kill or displace any wildlife, and doesn't divide communities and make people crazy?

I like rooftop solar and low grade geothermal myself.

[WLC]

Perhaps those turbines weren't near people, but it's part of a larger infrastructure project.

I'd say that we are going to read more and more about this whole issue.

[WLC]

Just google satellited the turbine farm.

It's rural, but there are houses/farms very close to the turbines.

I can see why they would be upset.

There's also the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the Des Plaines State Conservation Area, Des Plains Dolomite Prairie Land and Water Reserve, Gooselake Prairie, Heidecke Sate Fish and Wildlife Area, and the McKinley Woods County Forest Preserve 20-25 miles to the northwest of the wind turbine farm.

Gee, do you think any migratory birds might be heading up thataways?

PS- I wouldn't want to leave out the Kankakee River State Park.

Oops! Looks like there are some serious wetlands over in the Mazonia State Fish and WIldlife area nearby as well.

[Barry]

I can see why they would be upset.

Did you ask them if they were upset? I wouldn't know.

There's also the Midewin National . . . .

You've made your position quite clear already. Repeating it over and over doesn't make it more right, or wrong. I have my own thoughts on wind turbines that I've shared in another thread. I simply wanted Bruce to see the picture of some local turbines as I know he has a great interest in them.

[WLC]

I only know about the 'upset' from some articles I googled up on the topic.

Thanks for the photos and location.

It really was interesting to see how big some of those windfarms can get.

[Countryboy]

If you want a noisy turbine, an Air-X is notorious for ruining the concept of quiet windpower.

If everyone would put up their own grid-tied windturbine, we could eliminate the need for large turbines.

I'd rather see a large wind turbine than a coal-fired plant, or a nuclear plant. I even like large wind turbines over large hydroelectric, as hydro has major effects on fish spawning. (I do like run of the river small hydro.)

Solar panels are simply not cost effective. I bought 1000w of solar panels a couple years ago, and it will take me 25 years to pay them off at electric prices at time of purchase. (I know, I am buying tomorrow's electric at today's prices.)

www.otherpower.com has a lot of really good info on wind power.

[Sundance]

If you want a noisy turbine, an Air-X is notorious for ruining the concept of quiet windpower.

You got that right CB...... man they are noisy.

If everyone would put up their own grid-tied windturbine, we could eliminate the need for large turbines.

I have been pushing this idea at Sen Dorgan and Conrad
for years. Finance farmsteads to put up micro towers
at zero or low interest.

Here's a design that I've drooled over for quite some
time. You can often find these Nord gear reduction motors
for cheap on ebay. This is an inexpensive grid tied system
and now they are making a 10 KW unit.

http://www.prairieturbines.com/

[BeeCurious]

Sundance,

Are any blades being built in the U.S.?

I've seen small ships from Europe off-loading blades in Albany NY.

[Sundance]

Sundance,

Are any blades being built in the U.S.?

If you check out the link for the Breezy 5.5 KW or
10 KW you'll see not only are the blades made in
the USA......... you can be the one to make them.

Each blade (4 total) is made of 4 each 2 x 4 x 10's
laminated and planed with a Bosch 1594 planer.
Cheap, and effective. No variable pitch required with
this design. And because it's an inductive design, no
expensive inverter is required. Tie it to the grid and
go.

[WLC]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...-bee-wings.php

Here is a link to an article on 'bumblebee' wind turbines.

[WLC]

Apparently, this company's wind turbine killed a bunch of bees at a greek monastary. They painted the turbine blades from white to red to fix the problem.

http://www.fortiswindenergy.com/wind...es-wind-energy

[alpha6]

You telling me a bird can't dodge these blades?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQxp6QTjgJg

[WLC]

Apparently this bird didn't get the memo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe85OaacwB8

[dcross]

The house I grew up in. When I'm out there helping on the farm, I honestly don't even notice them. The corn fields in summer make more noise.

[Countryboy]

I have been pushing this idea at Sen Dorgan and Conrad
for years. Finance farmsteads to put up micro towers
at zero or low interest.

I think Jacobs testified before Congress about his turbines. They are STILL the Cadillac of wind turbines, and made 60-80 years ago to boot.

The National Rural Electrification project killed homeowners producing their own electric. Too cheap and too easy.

[Sundance]

I think Jacobs testified before Congress about his turbines. They are STILL the Cadillac of wind turbines, and made 60-80 years ago to boot.

Nice units but they are DC and I just really want
to steer clear of the battery issue. Check out the
Breezy 5.5 link. Cheap, and pretty easy. And on
average pumps out 1000 kw per month. I am
going to put up the Breezy 10 kw which will do
twice that.

[Barry]

Apparently this bird didn't get the memo.

Looks like a lot of other memos never got delivered as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnCZmIDOenE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T565zcSdAzE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQc0vWbxps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5XAYPY34ZE&NR=1

[Sundance]

We dial up folks just scratch our heads and
wonder what's them there you-tube thingys
show.