Nebraska Official Winds Race for Stupidist on 8-11-2010 | 16 comments (16 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

The Nebraska imbecile (4.00 / 5)

"If the Nebraska landscape was covered with wind farms, the energy produced would not sustain the state's energy needs, according to Ron Asche during a presentation Tuesday to the Columbus Noon Rotary."

Two problems in this quote, the obvious lie is about potential power generation, which has been thoroughly destroyed in the post.

The second one is the choice of language "landscape covered in wind farms" implies that the land would be covered in windmills. This misleading description is designed to create a false image in peoples minds of the result of building the wind farms in Nebraska.

Truth is most of Nebraska, especially the purple part depicted in the US wind map linked in the post, is empty. Western Nebraska, along with Western Kansas, South Dakota and even further south, are areas that have been steadily losing population since the 1970's. Wind Power offers a measure of economic uplift to areas that have abandoned farming because it's too dry.

Wind power is a full win for everyone in this region of the US, and it is a crime that coal industry prostitutes like Ron Asche get to spout their BS in public.

by US Blues on Mon Aug 16th, 2010 at 12:56:53 PM EST

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (4.00 / 3)

Blues,

Wow, well said. This state has the motherlode of a wind resource, and it's still not going to do squat about tapping it.

As Jerry was known to say, "got two good eyes and still can't see..."

Nb41

by nb41 on Mon Aug 16th, 2010 at 05:56:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 0)

ditto above...it is simply staggering how blindly self-destructive republican ideology is.

let's hope the utter untenability of their retrogressive stance on this (and so much else) has become fully visible to voters, come november!

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Mon Aug 16th, 2010 at 07:28:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (4.00 / 3)

Let's not forget that logic and rational discourse are not a part of this debate. This is about controlling the flow of money for an essential modern human need.

I'd bet there isn't one farmer or rancher in the entire state of Nebraska who wouldn't welcome turbines + revenue on his spread, unless he was already bought, or insane.

Though the coal industry does attract people who get off on real equipment, and think monster trucks are just for the rubes.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Tue Aug 17th, 2010 at 04:37:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 1)

CH,

Any possibility that a syndicate of wealthy Euorpean's bored of playing with derivatives and currency speculation might make an offer for the western part of the state? Too bad 300 GW can't be exported across the ocean. Maybe some exotic lease for most of the state? Just saying....

Nb41

by nb41 on Tue Aug 17th, 2010 at 10:06:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 0)

You've got me thinking. I've been wondering about such a structure for some wind projects on Lakota lands (to the north of Nebraska, and stronger winds) for some time now. Hmmm.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Aug 18th, 2010 at 02:03:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 0)

Republic of Lakotah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Republic of Lakotah is in negotiations to establish its own energy company, and hopes to develop solar and wind power and sell surplus electricity to the United States. This would represent a continuation of projects in the past that have sourced renewable energy on tribal lands.^[6]

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Wed Aug 18th, 2010 at 05:34:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 1)

I read a report on the efforts of the Lakota to start a wind farm. Here is a quickie on their awesome wind resource: http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/951198-QqTMUr/

It turns out that there is one one 115 kv line that goes through the Lakota lands, and that goes from the Missouri River (a dam run by the US Army Corps of Engineering) into Nebraska. NPPD owns the line, and are the customers for the electricity. The Lakota were trying to get the wind based electricity down to 2.9 c/kw-hr to meet the maximum price NPPD would tolerate. They came close but couldn't quite get there.

NPPD could have upped their price a touch to make up for past genocide, but no dice. So, no Lakota wind farm as there is just no way to get the electriciy product off to market. Oh well...

Nb41

by nb41 on Wed Aug 18th, 2010 at 09:31:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 1)

I cannot find clear, readable maps showing the North American Grid but, from what I can see it seems that eastern S. Dakota is a regional hub and there are connections to Minneapolis. There is significant population density in Minnesota and it might be feasible to upgrade lines from South Dakota and finance lines from the reservation to the South Dakota hub. That could be a very green way to warm the hearths of Homo Minneapolis in very cold winters. Upgrade a few more lines and you have a way to cool hot summers in Chicago.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Aug 20th, 2010 at 03:59:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 1)

Here is a low resolution grid map:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UnitedStatesPowerGrid.jpg#file

There is an intersection of 230 kv and a 345 kv in the center of South Dakota next to a big dam on the Missouri River. And all the coal burners in the region also need to be near a river for cooling water. And it is those coal burners that hog the output of the transmission lines, plus the dams on the Missouri.

What there really is a need for is a choice. Should those wires be used for existing, largely pollution based electricity, or renewables. And will the Missouri River be allowed to be the source of the water for pumped hydro storage, as well as deferred hydro.

And so looks like coal wins for now... It owns the lines..

Nb41

by nb41 on Fri Aug 20th, 2010 at 09:39:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nebraska imbecile (none / 0)

And so looks like coal wins for now... It owns the lines..

That was a good move for coal. But in California the PUC forced the utilities to sell the transmission infrastructure, if I recall correctly. Of course that was a dark side move to enable profiteering, a la Enron. Seems like such moves work so much better when done for dark side motives.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Aug 20th, 2010 at 11:32:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nebraska Official Winds Race for Stupidist on 8-11-2010 | 16 comments (16 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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