Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A Change For The Better

Wind power, electricity generated by capturing the wind's energy with modern wind turbines, is one of the lowest-cost, renewable electricity alternatives currently available. Wind power is a clean, domestic electricity resource that has seen a tremendous amount of growth and technology improvement over the past several years.

Utility-scale wind farms can provide rural areas with significant investment and offer farmers new sources of revenue by opening their land to new energy development, while at the same time allowing present farming activities to continue virtually unchanged.

NextEra Energy Resources (traded on the New York Stock Exchange - Symbol: NEE), has proposed a wind energy project in Marshall and Fulton Counties.  NextEra is the largest wind generator in North America with 85 facilities currently in operation.  The proposed project will produce clean, affordable energy for the region while placing no demands on local schools and other services.  Wind farms are also compatible with existing land use, preserving rural nature and agricultural use. Fossil fuels on the other hand are dirty, dangerous, finite, and leave irreparable damage to the landscape.

The electricity consumed in Marshall County currently comes from the following sources: 72.9% coal, 22.3 nuclear, 2.9 gas, 0.3 oil, 0.6 hydro, 0.5 non-hydro renewable.  Rising demand, volatile prices and national security concerns have created a need for a more diverse energy supply.  Fortunately, we have the technologies right now to begin our transition to an energy system powered by clean, renewable energy sources.  Wind plays a major role in the increasing demand for electricity.  It’s abundant and has the potential to provide nearly 10 times the country’s existing power needs.  Wind power fosters rural economic development, and energy price stability (by sidestepping fossil-fuel price volatility).  The transition to renewable energy, coupled with improved energy efficiency, will create new jobs, decrease our exposure to toxic pollutants like mercury, and help to stabilize changes in the climate.

The US Department of Energy estimates that wind alone can power 20 percent of the US grid within 10 years.  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that with the right policies in place, renewable energy can supply up to 43% of energy in 2030 and 77% by 2050. Together with improved energy efficiency, we could be well on our way to a zero carbon world.

The U.S. is making progress, but there’s much work left to do.  In 2010, renewable energy accounted for just 10.9% of our energy production, but that was an increase of 5.6% over 2009.  In the same period, China increased renewable energy by 13% over the previous year and is leading the world in the installation of wind turbines. Wind is homegrown, free, clean, and abundant, it’s time to cash in on this energy source.

4 comments:

  1. A couple of questions:
    Could NextEra's proposal be posted on this site so that all the facts are clear? Maps? Location?
    WIll the residents benefit from the energy created from these wind farms or will it be sent out of state?
    Having a house even within a mile of the turbines seems too close....is the required setback really only 1400 ft? Do property owners have any say re setback?

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  2. We hope to post a map showing the area of the proposed wind farm in the near future. Please read the other post titled "Aesthetics and Other Issues", I believe it addresses most of your questions. There's a shortcut to the post in the right hand margin.

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  3. I look forward to seeing a map.
    And yes, I read the side posts. Very informational but just want to make sure of the facts as they relate to the Marshall Co. wind farm proposal.
    Although the studies say it's not harmless, watching the videos and reading the blog from the dekalb folks, does make having a turbine in your back yard seem highly undesirable. I am a supporter of turbines but only if they are WELL away from people and livestock. 1400 ft is not far enough.
    To address the other issue, here is an excerpt from the opposition's blog....can you confirm that it's not true?
    "Electric rates in our local area will go down. No! NextEra has stated that our local electric rates will increase.
    The energy generated will be used locally. No! A NextEra representative said that the wind energy from this particular farm will not be used locally and may be sold out of state."
    This is why it would be very helpful if the proposal could be posted.

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  4. Sorry, your last comment didn't appear right away as blogger put it in the spam folder (I fixed it).

    FYI, we should have a map that I will post around the 26th of this month. The NextEra project manager is going to be on the WTCA What's Your Opinion show, and he is also speaking to the Rotary Club that day. I'm planning to obtain a map then.

    I've read the Dekalb blog and watched the videos. The "sound" video is nothing like I've ever observed when I've been around turbines first hand. I think it best to see them for yourself rather than relying on something that has the potential to be manipulated. In reality wind turbines (which get better all the time) produce about 45db of noise (similar to a household refrigerator). I don't know about you, but I could never hear a refrigerator from more than a quarter mile away.

    As far as the opposition's blog and the claims that a NextEra rep said rates would go up and the electricity would not be used locally. I believe those accusations to be false, and I would like to see them name this mystery rep.

    Thanks again for your comments, I think it does help to "clear the air."

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