Industrial wind power is examined from a different perspective: how it fits into our 125± year historical pattern for selecting sources for electrical power. This has considerable pertinence since the power source requirements developed during this long period have not only resulted in the most successful electrical grid system in the world, but have also immeasurably contributed to the economic success of the US. From my perspective as a physicist and long time environmental activist, it is apparent that we depart from this proven path at our extreme peril
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40. Fuel Sources for US Electricity Generation in 2010
EIA Report (2011)
The next time you hear about how
wind energy will help with our dependence on oil,
remember that less than
1% of our electricity comes from oil.
70. What if Many Wind Projects
(Over a Wide Area) Are Connected Together?
Will this then result is a reliable, dispatchable
Base Load, Load Following, or Peak Load
source of electrical energy?
“Yes it will” is the claim of promoters
(based on rigged computer projections).
But what does real world experience show?
83. $0.44 $1.59 $0.25 $0.67 $23.37
Coal Nuclear Nat Gas Hydro Wind
Some Annual Federal Subsidies
of Electrical Energy Sources: per MWH
2007 US Energy Information Administration Subsidy Report: April 2008
$23.37
Carefully compare these figures to the next slide,
which showed the latest EIA data: 2013
84. $0.57 $0.60 $2.10 $1.46 $35.33
Coal Nuclear Nat Gas Hydro Wind
Some Annual Federal Subsidies
of Electrical Energy Sources: per MWH
2013 US Energy Information Administration Subsidy Report: March 2015
[Direct + Tax + R&D + Electricity Support] {EIA Tables ES4 & ES5}
$35.33
How has this changed six years later?
Note 1: the 2013 Solar subsidy/MWH = $231.21
Note 2: the 2013 Wind subsidies are greater than the
subsidies for all conventional sources, combined.
Note 3: the wind energy lobbyists mantra is that
wind subsidies will decline over time. That has not
been the experience in the US.
85. $901 M $1,660 M $690 M $392 M $4,393 M
Coal Nuclear Nat Gas Hydro Wind
Some Annual Federal Subsidies
of Electrical Energy Sources: Totals
2013 US Energy Information Administration Subsidy Report: March 2015
[Direct + Tax + R&D +Electricity Support] {EIA Table ES4}
$4,393 M
How about looking at it from a Totals perspective...
Note that the total 2013
subsidies for wind energy
exceed the totals for all the
other conventional sources
COMBINED!
136. The Claimed Financial Benefits
from an RPS:
1 - Economic Development — very little
2 - Price (Rate) Suppression — zero
3 - Environmental — tiny
These conclusions are based on NY state’s own analysis!
To get these “Benefits” NYS is spending
something like Two Billion Dollars...