Is Backyard Wind Power Worth It?

eldavojohn wonders: "In the October IEEE Spectrum magazine, I read an article on backyard windmills and their growing feasibility. With the lowest model's price tag, it's about $9,000 and lasts for around 100,000 kilowatt-hours (20 year life), which results in 9 cents per kilowatt-hour. Now, the article mentions that if the market takes off, that price will drop. However, I was wondering what price range the windmills would have to fall to (or the energy rates have to rise to) before I could consider this? Well, the price of the windmills in the article are out of my price range right now. I don't imagine many Americans have $8k-$11k laying around and the current month's rates for energy in my neighborhood are 2.2 cents/kWh for the first 800 kWh and 1.2 cents/kWh after. I was wondering what are your thoughts on being an early adopter of wind energy? Do you think that if enough people bought these windmills, the price per kWh could compete with the local power grid's? Will it ever?"

Comments

Re:But without an association

[TroyM]

I live in an area of the country (the south) where part of the culture is parking your truck in the yard and having a few appliances on the front porch or the yard. But lately we've had a bunch on Yankees move in and start creating HOAs in the new neighborhood, trying to destroy our local culture. Everything has to be painted beige and the HOAs have mailbox police to make sure every mailbox looks exactly the same.

Re:But without an association

[bcattwoo]

Cary, NC?

Re:Not the way you described it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Thank you so much for your 'on-the-fence" attitude. It's the lack of passion for renewables that keeps them out of reach for the majorities. Your lack of passion isn't surprising. Let me guess, you are a single, late 20's male, with either, lttle n the way of responsiblties, or none at all. This s the demographc that can do the most good, however, it is also the demographc that is the most apathetic. Thanks for being a trackable statistic.

Compared to your original bullshit-laden post I think his is a reasonably moderate point of view. You on the other hand suffer from the chicken little complex and have little, if any, background in economics and engineering.

So instead of slamming someone's point of view, you should have stayed with your inital idea to say nothng.

Why? You spouted your worthless opinion so he is entitled to his.

You're an oxygen thief.

Re:Is it also worth the drama?

[Anonymous Coward]

That would be like 5 people?

Re:They need to make more "noise"

[Anonymous Coward]

Global Warming? Shit, if everyone adopts this, we will slow the wind speed down all around the earth and then what would happen! Every wind mills slows down wind! Stop the Wind Slower Downs!!!!! (I can see it now)

Supply and Demand

[iansmith]

If a LOT of people bought windmills, the cost of oil would go DOWN because the demand dropped. So go ahead and buy one, it will make my electricity cheaper. :-)

Re:Solar panels

[teledyne]

I don't know about you, but my neighbors would have a heart attack if they saw a 50-foot tall spinning torch in my backyard.

Unless of course I attached an American flag to it.

Re:Is it also worth the drama?

[serialdogma]

Biscuits, penfold; they are called biscuits.