wind power

For several years now, residents of Cape Cod and all of New England have been talking about the Cape Wind project. This project calls for the construction of 130 offshore wind turbines in a shallow area between the Cape, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. The proposed plan, which is still struggling to obtain permits and approvals, could potentially supply three-quarters of the Cape and Islands' electricity needs.

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A terrific article in the NY Times this morning on capturing wind energy in the form of compressed air. One issue with wind is that it only produces energy when it is blowing. Storing the excess in batteries or using it to turn sea water into hydrogen to drive fuel cells are some alternatives.

But storing the wind in the form of compressed air that can then be released later to drive power generators when and where it's needed most is a new twist.

The Times article says:  » read more

This time last week I was in Lincoln NE removing plants from their wrong locations (my professor friend cautioned I shouldn't call it weeding). Had I stayed on, I'd be in line this morning to hear T. Boone Pickens explain his plan at a town hall meeting at the Lancaster Events Center at 10:30.

You've no doubt seen Mr. Pickens' tv ads promoting a national shift to wind power and natural gas. I'm trying to look at it as rationally as I can with all the information i can find.

Right now, I'm a walking dichotomy. » read more

The town of Rock Port, Missouri has become the first in America to derive 100% of its electricity from wind power. With the use of 75 turbines, the 1,300 residents of this small town are able to fulfill all of their electricity needs. Though Missouri has some of the best wind potential in the country, I still have to wonder why other communities are not following Rock Port's lead.

Everyone in the town seems to be thrilled with what they have accomplished. And why shouldn't they be? » read more

At the end of 2006, worldwide capacity of all wind turbines was close to 75 gigawatts, which represents around 1% of all electricity use in the world. Three quarters of that wind powered use comes from Europe. And the leaders with nearly 20% of their electricity coming from wind turbines are The Danes. Germany and Spain are placed 2nd and 3rd respectfully with about 10% of their energy being powered by the wind. » read more

It's important that we all work to encourage the development of clean technology towards producing renewable fuels, and diversifying our energy supply chain. When we deploy cleaner, renewable technologies we become more independent when it comes to energy production and less reliant on unstable regions of the world for our energy needs. There great evidence concerning the effectiveness of government programs and incentives concerning the development of renewable energy in the united States. » read more