French technocracy sez: evil wind | 35 comments (35 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: 'assume a can opener' (4.00 / 3)

Seems to me the selection of an imaginary "Island" for this hypothetical example is stacking the deck too--
A well designed smart grid over a land mass of significant size would change the picture, would it not?
Just as Bruce's UHVDC line would.

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.

by geezer in Paris (risico at wanadoo(flypoop)fr) on Wed Jun 8th, 2011 at 11:39:01 AM EST
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Re: 'assume a can opener' (4.00 / 4)

The "imaginary island" might not be so imaginary.

When I visited the Isle of Wight in the summer of 2006, I couldn't help but notice a NIMBY campaign against a proposed offshore wind development off thewest coast of the island.

The island is exceedingly windy. It also imported power from the mainland --- there were undersea power cables coming from Southampton visible on the north shore of the island --- as well as oil or gas from the North Sea for its single power plant. Back then, North Sea gas from Scotland had already peaked and the two "gas wars" between Russia and Ukranie were about to send price of gas through the roof. So I thought that that island would be an ideal location for a wind farm, and they even had the cables in place to use the mainland's grid for power-balancing.

Economics is politics by other means

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jun 8th, 2011 at 12:34:23 PM EST
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Re: 'assume a can opener' (none / 0)

I can imagine in the future many folks like you, seeking out places to VISIT that don't have rotating horizons. I'll be one of them.

by pembo on Wed Jun 8th, 2011 at 02:32:11 PM EST
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Re: 'assume a can opener' (none / 0)

I didn't go to the Isle of Wight seeking a place without wind farms in the horizon.

Economics is politics by other means

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jun 8th, 2011 at 03:16:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: 'assume a can opener' (none / 0)

Welcome to the European Tribune, and thank you for your inciteful comment!

by njh on Wed Jun 8th, 2011 at 06:31:10 PM EST
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French technocracy sez: evil wind | 35 comments (35 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)