Slashdot Mirror
Green Energy Almost Cost-Competitive with Fossil Fuels
js7a writes "As reported in the Houston Chronicle, the sharply rising cost of natural gas and other fossil fuels has caused the cost of renewable energy to finally reach the price of nonrenewables. However, wind still has some catching up to do: 'a 10 percent wind- and 90 percent water-generated mix is about $9 per month less expensive than the 100 percent wind plan.' As more wind generation and grid transmission capacity is built, wind will eventually become more competitive than hydroelectric, but hydro and other sources will be required to balance grid demand in calm areas. Slashdot has been following this trend."
Until they hit the windmills...
I have a modest proposal that should help increase the effectiveness of wind power.
The current primary obstacle is that there are many days when the weather is calm and there is less wind. My suggestion is, on those days simply CREATE the wind.
First, it is known that as heat rises, it generates a low pressure area that cool air must fill. This can be demonstrated by noticing how some dust and smoke is pulled into a campfire at the base.
Second, our nation is full of unwanted trash storage sites that consume vast acreage and are generally unpleasant to be near.
My suggestion: If we were to light the various garbage dumps on fire on those inconveniently calm days, the massive flames would generate an equally massive low pressure area. As the flames climbed hundreds of feet into the air, the temporary vacuum would be filled by surrounding air. The fires would grow in size quickly, and soon air from across the county would be moving inwards towards the fire to help oxidize this high temperature reaction.
As the air rushes to fill the spaces, the thousands of still windmills across the cities would begin to spin again, providing a continued source of pollution free wind power.
As an added bonus, each dump would eventually be consumed and could be used to build schools, hospitals, and baby milk factories.
It's a win win situation, both for a green future AND for getting rid of trash!
And which power technology is 100% 'green'?
Solar: Nope, those solar panels provide additional shade and will disrupt the desert for which the are most suited.
Fusion: Not there yet and Will the human end up talking like Donald Duck in 1000 years from all the helium produced?
Hydrogen: You have to make hydrogen from something...
Though I'm loath to inject levity into this conversation, I'm reminded of Morbo, the evil alien newscaster in Futurama:
(due to robot emissions-induced global warming, tortoises are migrating north into Holland)
Morbo (paraphrased): "Morbo wishes luck to the brave turtles."
Co-anchor: "Maybe those windmills will keep them cool!"
Morbo (to co-anchor, enraged): "WINDMILLS DO NOT WORK THAT WAY!"
Morbo (to camera, still enraged): "GOOD NIGHT!"
Honor Among Slackers. A veri
You're new here, aren't you? :)
Well... it depends on the kind of wind you're talking about.
--- Ban humanity.
this isn't a problem - it's a solution.
Get ready for "Tyson Free Range Pheasant"
Our naturally windy environment is being destroyed by people selfishly extracting wind energy from our atmosphere! Wind is a natural force that moves clouds around and keeps our weather going. Everyone knows that windmills extract this much-needed power from our air. If we extract all the wind energy from our atmosphere, imagine the horrible consequences! Clouds would stop moving causing torrential rain on only one spot while causing severe droughts across the street! Countless yachts would be forced to use fossil fuels instead of sailing! And the multi-million dollar wind surfing and kite flying industries would be devastated! Please, stop harvesting wind energy from our atmosphere!
Disconnect your television. Do your own research. Draw your own conclusions. They're probably lying. Don't be a sheep.
Never mind the birds... All those windmills interfere with natural air currents. Air currents, in turn are what moves weather patterns like hurricanes. Too many windmills, therefore, will slow air masses to a standstill, creating unprecedented ecological disasters. Specifically, consider the recent hurricanes that impacted the south eastern US. Without wind to eventually blow them out to sea, they'd still be floating over Florida, wreaking havoc.
Just say NO to wind-farms! Do it for Florida!
The REAL jabber has the user id: 13196
What you do today will cost you a day of your life
It's the infinite energy source we've all been waiting for.
-- "Makes Little Debbie look like a pile of puke!" - Moe Szyslak
It will be quite funny when Texas is selling wind generated electricity to California and California citizens complain about high prices.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
God spoke to me.
Funnily enough in the last 5 years I have not seen a single bird hit any of my windows.
How about your hood scoop?
"We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"