Comments on: Spanish Wind Farm Generates Too Much Energy

By: Mike West

Mike West — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:28:24 +0000

Abbie, 30% of all wind energy in the world is generated in California, mostly in three locations of which Palm Springs is one. I’ve driven by that wind farm many times and it’s always impressive.

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By: Jim Schwietert

Jim Schwietert — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:47:58 +0000

Windfarm development is gradually taking off in the West. The biggest that I’ve personally seen is the Smokey Hills Project in Kansas constructed by an Itallian Company named Enel. This project consists of 155 turbines which stretch for several miles next to I-70 a few miles West of Salinas. Peak production is 250 megawatts, enough to power 85,000 American homes and, equally importantly, avoid the release of 750,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.

An obvious downside of wind energy is the lack of 24/7 reliability. A recent issue of Discover magazine details plans to develop a “smart grid” to better handle wind energy.

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By: Carlo

Carlo — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:30:58 +0000

Thanks for clarifying that Julie…I was wondering myself!

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By: Jared Krauss

Jared Krauss — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:11:26 +0000

I know that they are using a LOT of wind turbines in North and North-Eastern Iowa. It’s flatter up there and more open. It’s just corn fields and wind turbines. Makes for a lot of open space for the wind to pick up pace, energy. The problem right now is finding an efficient way to store the excess energy produced by the wind turbines, because if the grid can’t handle, it is usually wasted, unless there is somewhere else for it to be stored. That’s the issue we, in Iowa, face right now.

Definitely a good alternative source, with the possibility of becoming a major source of energy in the States.

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By: Hal Amen

Hal Amen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:02:40 +0000

Some seriously *massive* farms in West Texas. I haven’t been on I-10 in a while but I hear it looks pretty spooky (in a good way).

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By: Julie Schwietert

Julie Schwietert — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:11:44 +0000

Abbie-

I’ve seen those wind turbines– I don’t know for sure, but that may be the single largest wind farm in the US.

I should clarify a point in the article, too. Why does the title say that the wind farm generates too much energy and then, in the article, says it meets more than 50% of Spain’s needs? The reason is that the wind-generated energy produces more than the energy grid itself can handle, so the excess is diverted to hydroelectric plants.

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By: Abbie

Abbie — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:59:55 +0000

There are some windmills out in Palm Springs (CA), too, and I’m wondering how much energy they produce? Imagine if we could harness some of the wind energy to power even part of our big cities…

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