Wind Power Becoming Cheaper Than Conventional Power

[IChing]

A newly published report from the Earth Policy Institute says that wind energy power is now cheaper than conventional sources in at least two areas: Austin, Texas and Colorado. The report also says that this trend is will likely be seen in other parts of the U.S. It was during the fall of 2005 that climbing natural gas prices pulled conventional electricity costs above those of wind-generated electricity. Austin Energy, the publicly owned utility in Austin, Texas, buys wind-generated electricity under 10-year, fixed-price contracts and passes this stable price on to its GreenChoice subscribers.

This fixed-price energy product is quite attractive to Austin’s 388 corporate GreenChoice customers, including Advanced Micro Devices, Dell, IBM, Samsung, and 3M. Advanced Micro Devices expects to save $4 million over the next decade through this arrangement. School districts are also signing up. Round Rock School District, for example,>>>>>snip


http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/wind_power_is_b.php

the full report can be read here: http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2006/Update52.htm

[aden_nak]

1. I could never understand what the energy industry has against wind power.

Seriously, it should be a match made in heaven for a powerful, greedy corperation. Think about it. You don't have to dig, you don't have to drill, you don't have to do any dangerous work that would involve expensive insurance premiums and so forth. You get the turbines, you put them out in the middle of cheap land with no desirable resources, and then they make electricity for you. All they have to do is sit there. It's free energy that you can then turn around and charge people for. Why they didn't invest more R&D money into wind power before now baffles me to this day.

[phantom power]

2. Yeah, but try to get permission to put them where you want.

The NIMBY crowd seems to fight wind-farms with the same intensity as it fights nuclear plants, just for different reasons.

[aden_nak]

3. I've yet to see a lobby that cound stand up to the Energy Industry.

Whether that's in political clout or in just sheer vote-buying dollars. If they really wanted to invest in proper wind power, they could make that all go away with the right grafts (yeah, I said it). Though admittedly, I hadn't thought of the NIMBY backlash, so that's a good point.

[phantom power]

4. Historically, the economics just didn't favor it. Now it's different.

Where we get our energy is going to change, simply because it has to. Our traditional supplies are running out. And killing us via climate change. As you say, at some point the Big Boys are going to get behind something. Or multiple somethings. And then it's easy for me to believe that the railroading shall commence. My big fear is that they will get behind coal and/or oil shale, which will continue to kill us.

[JohnWxy]

6. VOTE-BUYING $S = POLITICAL CLOUT AS LONG AS THERE IS A REPUBLICAN PARTY

REPUBLICAN PRAYER: "SHOW ME THE MONEY!"

[MADem]

5. They are afraid people will get their own units, that are small, quiet

and can be put damn near anywhere (remember how huge satellite dishes were, once upon a time? Now you can get anything on a small pizza!). If people could put a solar film on their windows and a wee windgenerator on the roof, their profits go away.

It's all about the money, so their theme is "LEARN TO LOVE COAL AND NUKE POWER! Or ELSE!"

[newscott]

8. I think this may be the crux of it.

There would have to be personal use taxes or some such on all the little guys who manage to either invent or find their own power supplies! Maybe the Japanese can miniaturize it for us! They would have the most need for small wind generators, unless they go off shore with them.

[Javaman]

12. Global warming or How I have come to love peek oil. ;) nt

[Odin2005]

11. NIMBYism

People don't wan thier views "spoiled" by the windmills.

[newscott]

7. I'm intrigued by the whole wind-power thing

My town's gas/electric supply is municipally owned. If we could build our own wind farm, we've got the second largest plot of townland in the state of MA, we could become self-sufficient and even make money in the bargain!

How sweet would that be.

Of course, I live in a Republican town, so it won't happen.

[IChing]

9. I am formulating a energy and transportation policy for a candidate

a democratic candidate, running for county commissioner in my area.
I have good ties to Denmark, a forefront leader in wind energy. I am hoping we can beat
the republican incumbent, which i think we can. He is gonna be still stuck in the 70's of the last century with his views
on energy and transportation. This is Santa Barbara county and the area where I live, the wind blows almost all the damn time.
Right now, the split is 4rep vs 3dem.

The farms could be the suppository for a co-op wind program which would save the farms from trac housing, that no one can afford.
fuel the electric/hybrid buses, the water for the farmers and the schools, a win, win situation.

One large wind generator would be placed on a field, not a wind farm but a new type of farmer co-op
They would be separated 1/4 to 1/2 mile apart.

My forefathers were farmers and the cooperative was a way that they survived.

[Dead_Parrot]

10. Make sure you address what happens

when the wind isn't blowing, as well - I'm guessing you can't hook into Norway's excess hydro!
At the moment you can just buy off the grid, but that's not a long term solution (not an enviromentally sound one, anyway) - you might want to look at pumped hydro since you've got the terrain for it.

Good luck!

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

13. Sell the excess power to the grid

Use the money to buy power when needed.

When enough non-traditional sources are connected to the grid, you'll be buying green power, whether it's solar electricity from Nevada or wind electricty from Colorado.