--- Erik Reuter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Deborah Harrell wrote: > > > Wind Power : A commentary from Bill Hammack's > public radio program > > > New turbines are so efficient that wind energy > costs about the same as > > coal, natural gas or nuclear. > > This statement is oversimplifying the issue to a > huge degree. I've gone > into detail on the issues involved in calculating > costs in previous > posts, so I won't repeat it here... <snip>
Yes; as a non-mathemetician, I have a really hard time trying to follow the equations you guys toss around, so when I find an article that pretty much comes to the same conclusions but says it in words/images which I can grasp immediately, I post it for the other non-numbers folk I assume are out there...(hey, I can't be the only one!) :) > > It's this: You have to build the wind mills where > there is wind...<snip> > > Ah, he does mention some problems, good. Also, some > of the best areas, > those areas that are used in the calculation of the > cost of wind power, > have already been harnessed for wind in the US...the >costly requirement of energy storage needed for > wind-power. > > > In addition, wind power differs from fossil and > nuclear fuels in a > > critical way: It can supply steady electricity, > but not a burst of electricity. > > What a misleading way of putting it. What he should > of said is that wind > power provides "intermittent" or "unpredictable" or > "not-on-demand" > or "low-quality" power. In contrast, fossil fuels > provide "steady" or > "dependable" or "on-demand" power generation that > can be increased when needed. <grin> Again, I immediately understood: you can't tell the wind to blow on-command! (That was a visual) <snip> > Not much of a prediction, there, since that is what > we already have > NOW. Overall, a better article on the subject than > many I've seen, but > that early statement about the costs of wind and > coal being equal is extremely misleading. I think what he was trying to do was show why wind can't supply a large part of the US' energy needs, starting with what *does* work, then giving the "bad news." It's a style of educating that I have used a lot with non-medical people when talking about their problems. I like his columns b/c they explain, in non-engineering terms, many technical things - that to have a *true* knowledge of one needs to have a grounding in applied physical science - in a way that even *I* can 'feel' or intuit. Debbi who is *sure* that there are other mathmatically-challenged SF fans out there (but if not - Shhh! don't tell her! Let her enjoy her little fantasy... :} ) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
