[backhoe]

There were one or two ( tag team? ) newer members who kept referring us to a website that promised all sorts of breakthroughs in wind-powered generators. Claiming they were now competitive with oil-fired steam plants.

What they didn't mention was the wind's variability and unreliable nature.... among other things.

I certainly don't oppose alternative types of power generation, I just know from 30-plus years of watching it that it's usually too costly, too unreliable, or too complicated to compete with oil, gas, hydroelectric or nuclear power on a large scale.

[Budge]

What they didn't mention was the wind's variability and unreliable nature.... among other things.

Back in the late '70s a rather wealthy fellow put up a wind generator just off 45th St. and a block off the seawall in Galveston behind his home. Nice breeze most of the time. It proved to be so ineffieicnt that it is no longer there.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Look at what a Governor of California is trying to do!

California governor seeks to boost renewable energy

SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 (Reuters) - California Gov. Gray Davis on Monday backed legislation that would force the state's investor-owned utilities to almost double the amount of power they get from renewable energy sources.

The state Senate bill, if approved, would require California's three investor-owned utilities by 2010 to get around 20 percent of the electricity they supply to their customers from renewable sources such as the wind and sun.

Such renewable energy sources currently provide about 12 percent of the state's power.

Go here to read more about the happenings from the Western State of California.

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

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