I agree on this concept. The big energy companies started developing wind
power a very long time ago. For a while I was a meteorologist working on
this problem as an employee of a BIG energy (Oil) company back in the 1970s
and I was a "Johnnie come lately" to the project. Gradually some of the
problems (and cost overruns) of wind power are being solved, but we aren't
yet at a point where they are cost effective and reliable. Ask Florida Light
and Power who has huge wind farms out here on the high plains where there is
more wind than almost any other place in the country.
Walk before we can run...yes. But we started walking a very long time ago
when it comes to this form of renewable energy and we are not yet at the
point where we can run. The tax payer and the federal budget simply cannot
YET afford to subsidize wind generated electricity. A few more years....
Maybe... And I'll be happy to endorse shutting down other energy sources
at that time.
Just curious, what makes you think no one was working on this technology
starting a long time ago and continuing through the present? That's just
not true.
Cheers!!
Jim
On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 3:47 PM, Larry Daniels <ladaniels at
sbcglobal.net>wrote:
> I had an off-list conversation about the cost effectiveness of today's
> technology with a lister who no longer posts to the list.
>
> This is what I said to him regarding the efficiency of today's equipment:
>
> "The way I see it is we need to start walking before we can run.
> Nothing ever designed was perfect from the get-go, but we have to start
> somewhere. Cars today make cars 100 years ago look ridiculously
> inefficient
> and crude, yet we wouldn't have these cars today if we didn't start out
> with
> those cars 100 years ago. Same thing here. We need to start this ball
> rolling even if today's product isn't as good as we hope tomorrow's product
> will be."
>
> So, if we don't start working on the technology until it is perfect, we
> never will start. When we are out of oil is a hell of a time to start
> developing an alternative. Think far enough ahead to not be out of
> options.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I agree. I think there should be money invested in some technologies
> that are considered by some to be "green". I, too, do not like the
> "green at any cost" approach.
> Wind power has been used for a long time. If we can make electricity
> from wind power then we should do it. But, it needs to produce enough
> power to pay for itself.
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--
Cheers!!
Jim Johnson
Don't miss the BIG PARTY!! Midget 50th Anniversary!
Elkhart Lake, WI July 18-22, 2011
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