Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
energy in Europe. Denmark could see the financial writing on the wall. Although the
Danes had become dependent upon wind energy, they found that when the wind did
not blow they could not buy wind-generated electricity from north Germany because the
weather conditions were the same there. They resorted to buying more reliable hydro- and
nuclear-generated electricity from Norway or nuclear-generated electricity from France at
high prices. When the wind was strong, the power could not be sold because it was also
strong in north Germany. This electricity had to be given away. Denmark now has green
taxes that account for more than 50 per cent of an electricity bill.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has engaged in a campaign essentially to
regulate coal-fired electricity generation out of existence in the USA. 29 US states and
the District of Columbia now have 'renewable' energy mandates and many are trying to
imposecapand-tradeprograms.Ifindeedhumansarechangingclimate,fundsthatcouldbe
dedicated to helping people prepare for and adapt to climate change and extreme weather
events are wasted on futile attempts to stop what might (or might not) possibly happen in
50 or 100 years. The US alone spends $7 billion each year on 'warming studies' which, in
truth,isnothingbutahugemoneylaunderingoperation,sincenorealscienceisconducted.
Vapid alarmist reports are the only product generated.
Electricity from the wind is totally unreliable, uneconomic, and degrades the
environment. Wind energy neither decreases CO
2
emissions nor changes global climate.
No wind farm could operate without generous taxpayer subsidies and increased electricity
chargestoconsumers andemployers. These subsidies aregivenirrespective ofwhether the
wind farm produces any consumable energy or not and are paid even when a wind farm
is shut down due to strong winds. Wind farmers have been more successful in harvesting
massive subsidies from taxpayers than harvesting the wind. The subsidies in Australia are
paid per megawatt generated via a 'renewable' energy certificate. More bureaucratic jobs
are needed.
Wind farms produce less than 30 per cent of their nameplate capacity, often at times
of low electricity demand and low electricity prices. No carbon dioxide-emitting coal-fired
thermal power station has been replaced by a wind farm. Reliable, tried and proven,
low-cost,efficientelectricity generationfromcoalisneededasbackupbecausemostofthe
time the wind does not blow or blows too strongly. Coal-fired power stations take 24 hours
tofireupandtheyjustcan'tbeturnedoffandondependinguponwhetherthewinddecides
to blow or not. In still cold weather, wind farms consume electricity from coal-fired power
stations to stop lubricants freezing.
Industrial economies and urban areas need low-cost efficient electricity to function.
Eventually, subsidies will run out and the countryside that was once beautiful will be left
with defunct wind farms as a memorial to arrogant green stupidity. In many places, there
is no bond held for decommissioning wind farms and land rehabilitation, hence we will be
left with memorials for our energy stupidity for generations.
