Dead Calm

The Whistler • January 9, 2009

No, not the Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman movie! The state of the wind in the Altamont pass Monday morning. What you might be able to barely make out in the photo (I apologize for not zooming in better! I was only doing ~~seventy something~~ the legal speed limit in the fast lane, and just tried for a few quick snaps!) are the hundreds of windmills visible from the highway.
Typically, this time of year, it’s not unusual to see 90% of the windmills at a stand still, while the other 10% turn slowly in the breeze. This last Monday, not a single windmill was moving. At all.
We sometimes debate the value or efficacy of wind power on this blog. Since it’s a slow news day, I thought you might like a first hand observation of the need for backup capacity for when the wind is not blowing at all!
And here I thought with a Pineapple Express passing through town, a lot of hot air would be generated in the Bay Area this week! Heh.
Cross posted at Proof Positive

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2Hotel9

Here in PA there are quite a few windgenerators to be seen from the Turnpike between Greensburg and Breezewood, and on 22 between Ebensburg and Altoona. And it is quite common to see most of them not turning, even when the wind is blowing.
bill-tb

Well you just have to layoff the juice when the windmills don't blow.

I never understood how the protectors of the scenery could support these useless bird Cuisinarts, er uh, ahh windmills. It as if the disparate liberal groups don't see what of liberal wackos do.
NoJelly

I've talked to a few folks connected with the industry, they tell me that there is much more down time than folks are led to believe.

Not enough wind

Too much wind (this happens far more often than not enough)

Wind from wrong direction, usually accompanied by too much or not enough wind.

Wind is a novelty-a political football, just like any other. As much as AlGore claims to the contrary, man cannot affect the weather to ANY degree that would change the effectiveness of an environmental power source. But the politicians making money at it or harvesting votes from advocating it to the uneducated and the refuse-to-be-educated have created the image of gigawatt per hour wind and solar industries…

Not likely. Though having a small windmill in your backyard (if you can afford one) wouldn't hurt…
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

Well you just have to layoff the juice when the windmills don't blow.

Like in the winter, when the days are shorter and you might be tempted to use either heat or lights?
At least the wind picks up in the summer, so I guess it's okay to use the A/C!
http://www.dartemis.net/blog/ sayanything-42

It's a boon! Boondoogle!
robert108

So-called "alternative energy" is really energy starvation.
jimmypop

So-called "alternative energy" is really energy starvation.

the pain must be spread equally. its only fair that everyoen suffers.
2Hotel9

You are so right, jimmy! And we should begin sharing the suffering by cutting off all people who espouse "environmentalism" from electricity and petroleum. No more plastics, no more medicines, no more computers, no more synthetic fibers, no more foods not grown within 50 miles of their residence, no more clean drinking water, no more of anything they do not produce themselves without electricity or gas.

Spread the misery to those who keep calling for the end to modern technology and energy and agriculture.

Then the other 98% of humanity can move on with our lives, as they lay in their feces filled pens until they die and we can bulldoze the disease ridden mess they great and clean it out for good.

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