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Study: Wind Generates Electricity When We Need It Least

Institute for Energy Research -- Like a bar that’s only open weekday mornings, wind subsidies only give us what we want when we need it least. Most people understand the basic limitation of wind power: you only get electricity when the wind is blowing. Any first-time kite-flier can attest to the fact that wind speed is highly variable. Because there is no cheap way to store energy for later usage, wind variability is one of the biggest reasons wind power is not more widely-embraced as an effective method of electricity generation.

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Submitted Oct 25, 2012 By: NedW

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drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,953 Points:754,120 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 27, 2012 10:13:53 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Coal, nat gas and nuclear are and need to continue to be the major sources for our energy needs. Renewables efficiency must be doubled and redoubled many times before they will be viable. In a country with a nine month GDP of 1.7% we can not afford to continue to subsidize renewables.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,272 Points:1,743,355 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 27, 2012 7:57:55 AM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse Plus turbine blades kill birds.
rjhenn Champion Author Des Moines Posts:22,457 Points:2,231,875 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Oct 27, 2012 3:33:33 AM Ignore rjhenn Report Abuse No, it's a reason to push for more decentralized wind and solar, with natural gas replacing coal.
carranco Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,027 Points:269,765 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 11:30:00 PM Ignore carranco Report Abuse That's why we need to keep coal as the primary for electricity.
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,550 Points:767,900 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 1:44:59 PM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse If this is article is news to anyone, then that person has no concept of the realities of wind powered electricity production. Add to the truths included in this article's analysis of the facts about wind power produced electricity to your contemplation on whether or not taxpayers should continue to allow subsidization, a.k.a. the wind power production credit, of the US wind power industry after the end of this calendar year.
teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,670 Points:251,135 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 10:53:12 AM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse Just don't think wind will ever be anything but a minor player in our energy needs. Certainly not worth the billions of tax dollars we subsidize it with.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,561 Points:749,995 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 10:10:15 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse Wind is a supplement, not the complete answer.
Prius_III Sophomore Author Philadelphia Posts:145 Points:51,800 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 9:11:59 AM Ignore Prius_III Report Abuse Team Obama thought that we would all be driving electric vehicles by now, charging them overnight while the windmills were spinning. Their entire vision for our energy stragey was flawed from the beginning. We can all easily see what happens when you base policies and spen billions on a set of flawed assumptions. It is time to hold this administration accountable by voting them out of office on November 6th.
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,825 Points:644,000 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 1:37:44 AM Ignore bston Report Abuse Maybe some day…
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,360 Points:676,040 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 1:14:12 AM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse interesting....
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:56:44 AM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse interesting
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,906 Points:774,220 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:49:08 AM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse you think?
NotmeuQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:5,651 Points:1,134,800 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:38:48 AM Ignore NotmeuQc Report Abuse The IER is full of hot air.
RNCII Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,484 Points:644,770 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:37:59 AM Ignore RNCII Report Abuse I knew that. Looked at adding adding a wind turbine here on the farm and went with solar for our power back up system.
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,487 Points:2,082,710 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:36:40 AM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse We don't need any wind Obamama has more than enough...
SteelPenny Champion Author Dallas Posts:30,989 Points:2,608,690 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:36:28 AM Ignore SteelPenny Report Abuse You still have to keep the real plants running 24/7.
Cellsite Champion Author Appleton Posts:1,236 Points:288,860 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:33:06 AM Ignore Cellsite Report Abuse I agree with the good Dr.
69Bonne Champion Author Gary Posts:1,160 Points:475,100 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:32:39 AM Ignore 69Bonne Report Abuse Maybe not steady, but it's a suppliment
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:29:54 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Agree.
pastorpaulcg Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,615 Points:775,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:28:49 AM Ignore pastorpaulcg Report Abuse Okay
mrreferee Champion Author Savannah Posts:1,341 Points:558,605 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:26:36 AM Ignore mrreferee Report Abuse true, but is can be sent on down the line to help when plants over generate
jdc17327 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,560 Points:198,015 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:23:44 AM Ignore jdc17327 Report Abuse we don't have to have humongous windmills to help with this problem
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,728 Points:389,925 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:23:40 AM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse More Wind Power
gocatgo Champion Author South Carolina Posts:15,669 Points:2,531,530 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:23:01 AM Ignore gocatgo Report Abuse When the wind blows you burn less oil and coal. As a retired power plant worker I know the #1 cost factor in making electricity is fuel cost. It is that simple.
Rooster922 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:3,798 Points:658,020 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:22:32 AM Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse After Lunch and most after Dinner I fart when we need it the least.
naspa Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,281 Points:354,100 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:21:48 AM Ignore naspa Report Abuse Wind turbines are the ugliest things I've seen. Most beautiful hills are polluted with them.
jcdakota Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,347 Points:361,345 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:21:48 AM Ignore jcdakota Report Abuse But the research and developement of more efficent wind turbines at lower wind speeds has made strides in making this problem more liveable.
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,364 Points:2,259,730 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:21:21 AM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Not everything in nature is absolutely convenient - we just have to deal with it
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,990 Points:1,782,360 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:21:02 AM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse Wind may not be as much as it competitors, solar, oil, natural gas, and nuclear. We have too learn from mistakes.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,559 Points:1,173,100 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:20:57 AM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse The Institute for Energy Research has a political arm, the American Energy Alliance, which is responsible for multi-million dollar television advertising campaigns that have attacked energy policy, ideas and positions of the Obama Administration that are contrary to the those held by IER. The American Energy Alliance is run by Tom Pyle, a former lobbyist for Koch Industries. In 2009 IER run a campaign on "green jobs" attacking the expansion of renewables energies. IER commissioned three studies on renewable energies and green jobs in Denmark, Germany and Spain.[4] These studies by different think tanks were than promoted by IER and other free market think tanks in the US but also used in Europe[5] and Ontario, Canada.[6] The study on Germany e.g. was translated into German and taken up by German media - without mentioning that the study was financed by IER with its close business links. The German institute that wrote the study (called Rheinisch-westfaelisches Institut fuer Wirtschaftsforschung, RWI) didn't acknowledge the funding from IER until they were challendged by investigative journalists.[7]
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,995 Points:2,528,285 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:20:11 AM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse we have alot of them here
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,309 Points:1,644,755 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:18:44 AM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse Dump the Tea Bagging racists!
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,317 Points:483,090 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:18:30 AM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmm...
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,158 Points:1,628,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:17:49 AM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse We need to harness wind from the politicians.
pricechecker08 Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,886 Points:1,702,650 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:16:56 AM Ignore pricechecker08 Report Abuse Check the thousands of windmills out west!
KnoxGasPriceSpy Champion Author Knoxville Posts:140,879 Points:921,770 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:16:19 AM Ignore KnoxGasPriceSpy Report Abuse it should be a last resort...
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,630 Points:3,496,655 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:15:42 AM Ignore DEG Report Abuse At least someone is looking into the economics of the issues with green energy.
billk44077 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,187 Points:633,505 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:15:22 AM Ignore billk44077 Report Abuse Dump Obama.
gabbygusIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:7,246 Points:1,561,825 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:14:33 AM Ignore gabbygusIN Report Abuse Interesting article
a14morfun Champion Author Ontario Posts:11,812 Points:2,078,190 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:14:19 AM Ignore a14morfun Report Abuse Can't we just tap into the Houses of Parliament (in Canada) and Representatives and the Senates in both countries? I thought that there was nothing but a constant stream of hot air coming out of there.
TheeRedRam Champion Author Hartford Posts:3,173 Points:674,585 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:13:03 AM Ignore TheeRedRam Report Abuse Hummm I thought wind was a good idea. Then have a solar back up and live next to a stream for water turbines and your all set.
drewsworld Sophomore Author Los Angeles Posts:240 Points:19,205 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:12:24 AM Ignore drewsworld Report Abuse lol
ican2step Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,691 Points:429,350 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:11:44 AM Ignore ican2step Report Abuse I like the analogy.
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:8,313 Points:1,904,930 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:08:56 AM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse mice
Glock26 Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,534 Points:634,335 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:07:43 AM Ignore Glock26 Report Abuse Glad we wasted so much money on it.
PoohMcGoo Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,072 Points:802,410 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Oct 25, 2012 11:15:19 PM Ignore PoohMcGoo Report Abuse So unless it can be saved for later, it's useless.
CCLighthouse Champion Author Hartford Posts:1,013 Points:214,980 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 25, 2012 10:52:01 PM Ignore CCLighthouse Report Abuse Wind turbines make a lot of noise and they kill many birds, many of which are eagles. Let's look for another alternative. : )
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,912 Points:650,440 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Oct 25, 2012 10:36:22 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse Great article.
CC55 Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,310 Points:1,399,760 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 25, 2012 10:30:37 PM Ignore CC55 Report Abuse This looks to be a lot of misinformation!!!
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,998 Points:1,114,340 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 25, 2012 10:15:10 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Well that blows, now we need to see a study of all the other cost of wind... Add up lawyer fees for NIMBY,TreeHuggers,dead birds,tons of acres,trans lines,maint./insp,eco study, plus more... Thats a lot of cash for something that works halfass??? I see Solar on everyones rooftop and store the electricity in used EV battries(:or unused volt battries)... No need for lawyer fees for NIMBY,TreeHuggers,dead birds,tons of acres,trans lines,maint./insp,eco study,... You can still have grid hook up for back up...