It came as a bit of a shock to me to see that wind energy was now providing 9 percent of America’s energy while hydroelectric (dams) had dropped to 4 percent. This information was provided by Dr. John Robson’s Climate Discussion Nexus latest video.
So, let’s do the math. The wind energy facilities are fairly new, cost trillions of dollars (mostly taxpayer dollars), and have a serviceable life of 25 years. Then we have to dispose of the turbine blades and start over. Maybe we can overhaul the big generators sitting on top of those giant towers. I dunno.
Now the hydroelectric dams have been providing 24/7 power to us for 75 to 100 years. We haven’t added any new ones lately. I guess we have achieved complete mastery of our rivers now. No floods or water shortages anywhere apparently.
My old school math says that wind energy is costing more while lowering reliability. So, let’s replace nuclear power plants with more wind farms and be as stupid as the voters in California or even some of those in Texas. Not the real Texans of course. Just the ones who moved from California to Austin. Real Texans are smarter than that. But even they make mistakes. They just don’t repeat them.
Texas has wind farms and gas turbine powered power plants, theoretically working together. But gas turbines need natural gas and that requires pipelines that are operating without difficulty. There is no on-site fuel storage. Coal-fired plants have an advantage in that regard. So, when the gas pipelines had problems and the wind turbines froze up, many Texans suffered. One simple solution would be to build the gas plants near the gas fields, use the pipeline right-of-way for new high voltage distribution lines, and let the energy companies operate the power plants. They have plenty of experience in doing just that.
And while we’re at it, maybe build a few refineries and nuclear plants. Maybe even encourage Pennsylvania to start fracking for more natural gas to make steel and even send some of that gas to Ohio for their big, new Intel plant so we can can make our own chips (in case China takes over Taiwan).
Just saying.