In the olden days PG&E commissioned a 10 MW wind machine just east of the Bay Area. Boeing built it. 600 feet high. The first heavy wind the main shaft broke and the blade came off. They fixed it and it lasted about 6 months when the blade came off again it helicoptered across I 580 during rush hour at an altitude of about 100 feet. That was it. They got some thermite and cut it down.. it was a hell of a thump.
CAISO just authorized $6 billion to construct 500 kV lines to remote areas of the coast to gather offshore wind. In service date 2034
The floating platform thing staggers the mind. Off the northern coast 70 mile an hour wind and 40 foot seas are common in the winter, huge, tall, heavy structure anchored to the seabed, in 70 mile an hour wind, rising and falling 80 feet with each wave. Think it might come loose? If it does you can only hope it collides with the Disney glacier cruise.
Does PG&E ever learn any valuable lessons from their negligence and bad policy? Apparently not. This whole thing is a giant giveaway to developers, who will never have to be held responsible for the inevitable cost to environment and consumers that will result.
I think PG&E is so traumatized by the two bankruptcies and the manslaughter convictions that they do whatever the regulators say without any thought whatsoever. I think they are headed for bankruptcy #3 and they are still paying off #2. They are finding it difficult to borrow money and are trying to sell their hydro assets to pay down debt.
I have to defend them a bit. None of this was their idea. Regulators stole from the reliability funding to build renewable upgrades… kinda like this concentration camp guards, just following orders.
Gigantic offshore floating wind such as those proposed off California's central coast are likely to produce some of the most expensive and least reliable power for Californians. The death tolls for sea birds flying along the Pacific Flyway and migrating large marine mammals will be large. To learn more about these problems, please visit https://www.reactalliance.org/
Yep get ready for dead whales all along the shore. Search it on the east coast. We had 5 in one week. Not so long ago there was an average of 1.5 a year (including pilot whales) but now we're averaging about 1 a week. The difference… OSW construction. 🤬🤬🤬
We're fighting and winning some but in VA the developer is basically ignoring a court ordered “stay”.
I agree. From what I've observed, the goal of the wind developer seems to be get their wind turbines constructed, all else be damned. Wind developers also seem to be adept at greasing the appropriate palms. :-( I've seen the environmental degradation at some California onshore wind developments.
It’s long been suspected that the proliferation of sonar use, especially for the construction of offshore wind parks, is related to the beaching and death of large families of whales. That’s been documented sufficiently. Recent research from the University of St. Andrews suggests that sonar closely resembles calls of killer whales, an alpha-predator for many whale species. When they hear it, they panic and flee it, often to their deaths.
Not that issues like that mattered for energy-transitionists.
Three offshore wind turbines located in RI, VA, MA, and the oldest at Block Island RI went on-line in 2016. Out of the 5 turbines, the cables came out of the seabed on 4 of the 5. Another situation that is, of course, a huge issue for these monsters of the ocean. They are useless in hurricane, kill sea life, disfigure lobsters, interfere with radar, National Guard maneuvers, migration and on and on and in the case of RI - blackouts, and a fishing ban 5 miles around the turbines. Down for 9 months it was all just memories holed, as usual by the climate shills who have no compunction about taking out reliable energy, biodiversity, wildlife, migration of birds, bats and then there is insect collision. But, oh my, it is for the good of planet. I don't know what planet they're on, but our planet will not survive the insanity swirling around not only Big Wind and Big Solar, but the giant environmental groups that are bastardizing the past objectives while they beg at the alter of the renewable disaster funded by us!
If the cables are coming loose in relatively shallow waters off of NE, it's gonna be a whole lot worse if they try to tether these things to the 1/2 mile deep seabed off of California. A disaster waiting to happen.
Thanks for a thought provoking post. In the mad rush to universal virtue signalling, how many birds, fish and mammals will be sacrificed in the race to provide ‘environmentally safe’ energy that, in the end, still requires diesel to work? All of this for some IMHO, ridiculous, theory that C02 harms the planet . What a joke. I look 20 years ahead and all I see is farmland desecrated by solar panels and the wildlife that lived on that land gone, the panels dying a natural death after 20 years or destroyed by hail and sent to massive landfills to be joined by the massive windmills that also have a 20 year lifespan, unless they break down early, as many do, and millions of batteries, all of which are not renewable. Seems a bigger mess than the use of safe and effective natural gas. P.S. I will never fly in an electric airplane. ✈️
All to send us into the Stone Age. Less power, less people with even less power. The climate scam is in full force in the US. Look at how far down the rabbit hole Europe went before a few countries finally gave up on the hoax.
Follow the capital flows to see who benefits from this global scam. Hint: the WEF prodigy (newsome) and their masters.
Earth is cooler with the atmosphere, water vapor, 30% albedo not warmer.
Ubiquitous GHE heat balance graphics use bad math & badder physics.
The kinetic heat transfer modes of the contiguous atmospheric molecules render impossible a BB surface upwelling and looping “extra” LWIR energy for the GHE.
Consensus science has a well-documented history of being wrong & abusing those who dared to challenge it. (Bruno, drawn & quartered)
GHE & CAGW are wrong so alarmists resort to fear mongering, lies, lawsuits, censorship & violence.
There seems to be a misunderstanding about these projects. They are not intended to generate electricity only profit for the companies until they realize they can't perform. I suspect any contract that's written will have terms favorable to the involved companies not the State and that CEO's (et al) will be fully and regally compensated for their efforts. Anyone who thinks wind is the solution to our energy problems is a fool. And you can take that to the bank.
In the olden days PG&E commissioned a 10 MW wind machine just east of the Bay Area. Boeing built it. 600 feet high. The first heavy wind the main shaft broke and the blade came off. They fixed it and it lasted about 6 months when the blade came off again it helicoptered across I 580 during rush hour at an altitude of about 100 feet. That was it. They got some thermite and cut it down.. it was a hell of a thump.
CAISO just authorized $6 billion to construct 500 kV lines to remote areas of the coast to gather offshore wind. In service date 2034
The floating platform thing staggers the mind. Off the northern coast 70 mile an hour wind and 40 foot seas are common in the winter, huge, tall, heavy structure anchored to the seabed, in 70 mile an hour wind, rising and falling 80 feet with each wave. Think it might come loose? If it does you can only hope it collides with the Disney glacier cruise.
Does PG&E ever learn any valuable lessons from their negligence and bad policy? Apparently not. This whole thing is a giant giveaway to developers, who will never have to be held responsible for the inevitable cost to environment and consumers that will result.
I think PG&E is so traumatized by the two bankruptcies and the manslaughter convictions that they do whatever the regulators say without any thought whatsoever. I think they are headed for bankruptcy #3 and they are still paying off #2. They are finding it difficult to borrow money and are trying to sell their hydro assets to pay down debt.
I have to defend them a bit. None of this was their idea. Regulators stole from the reliability funding to build renewable upgrades… kinda like this concentration camp guards, just following orders.
Gigantic offshore floating wind such as those proposed off California's central coast are likely to produce some of the most expensive and least reliable power for Californians. The death tolls for sea birds flying along the Pacific Flyway and migrating large marine mammals will be large. To learn more about these problems, please visit https://www.reactalliance.org/
I will check out the link! Thanks!
Yep get ready for dead whales all along the shore. Search it on the east coast. We had 5 in one week. Not so long ago there was an average of 1.5 a year (including pilot whales) but now we're averaging about 1 a week. The difference… OSW construction. 🤬🤬🤬
We're fighting and winning some but in VA the developer is basically ignoring a court ordered “stay”.
I agree. From what I've observed, the goal of the wind developer seems to be get their wind turbines constructed, all else be damned. Wind developers also seem to be adept at greasing the appropriate palms. :-( I've seen the environmental degradation at some California onshore wind developments.
It’s long been suspected that the proliferation of sonar use, especially for the construction of offshore wind parks, is related to the beaching and death of large families of whales. That’s been documented sufficiently. Recent research from the University of St. Andrews suggests that sonar closely resembles calls of killer whales, an alpha-predator for many whale species. When they hear it, they panic and flee it, often to their deaths.
Not that issues like that mattered for energy-transitionists.
So sad :(
Keep up the good work and clever titles!
Thanks, Tuco!
Thank you! Please note that I am Tuco's son.
Got it :)
Great connecting the dots, glad to read
Thanks, Pablo!
Three offshore wind turbines located in RI, VA, MA, and the oldest at Block Island RI went on-line in 2016. Out of the 5 turbines, the cables came out of the seabed on 4 of the 5. Another situation that is, of course, a huge issue for these monsters of the ocean. They are useless in hurricane, kill sea life, disfigure lobsters, interfere with radar, National Guard maneuvers, migration and on and on and in the case of RI - blackouts, and a fishing ban 5 miles around the turbines. Down for 9 months it was all just memories holed, as usual by the climate shills who have no compunction about taking out reliable energy, biodiversity, wildlife, migration of birds, bats and then there is insect collision. But, oh my, it is for the good of planet. I don't know what planet they're on, but our planet will not survive the insanity swirling around not only Big Wind and Big Solar, but the giant environmental groups that are bastardizing the past objectives while they beg at the alter of the renewable disaster funded by us!
If the cables are coming loose in relatively shallow waters off of NE, it's gonna be a whole lot worse if they try to tether these things to the 1/2 mile deep seabed off of California. A disaster waiting to happen.
Thanks for a thought provoking post. In the mad rush to universal virtue signalling, how many birds, fish and mammals will be sacrificed in the race to provide ‘environmentally safe’ energy that, in the end, still requires diesel to work? All of this for some IMHO, ridiculous, theory that C02 harms the planet . What a joke. I look 20 years ahead and all I see is farmland desecrated by solar panels and the wildlife that lived on that land gone, the panels dying a natural death after 20 years or destroyed by hail and sent to massive landfills to be joined by the massive windmills that also have a 20 year lifespan, unless they break down early, as many do, and millions of batteries, all of which are not renewable. Seems a bigger mess than the use of safe and effective natural gas. P.S. I will never fly in an electric airplane. ✈️
None of this is environmentally friendly. Just absurd!
All to send us into the Stone Age. Less power, less people with even less power. The climate scam is in full force in the US. Look at how far down the rabbit hole Europe went before a few countries finally gave up on the hoax.
Follow the capital flows to see who benefits from this global scam. Hint: the WEF prodigy (newsome) and their masters.
Follow the money and you'll find a lot of (unpleasant) answers.
Good stuff!
Thanks, Tom!
Waste of money. It is unfortunate that America's Nuclear Regulatory Commission is anti-nuclear.
Earth is cooler with the atmosphere, water vapor, 30% albedo not warmer.
Ubiquitous GHE heat balance graphics use bad math & badder physics.
The kinetic heat transfer modes of the contiguous atmospheric molecules render impossible a BB surface upwelling and looping “extra” LWIR energy for the GHE.
Consensus science has a well-documented history of being wrong & abusing those who dared to challenge it. (Bruno, drawn & quartered)
GHE & CAGW are wrong so alarmists resort to fear mongering, lies, lawsuits, censorship & violence.
$6 billion / gigawatt. What’s the capacity factor?
There seems to be a misunderstanding about these projects. They are not intended to generate electricity only profit for the companies until they realize they can't perform. I suspect any contract that's written will have terms favorable to the involved companies not the State and that CEO's (et al) will be fully and regally compensated for their efforts. Anyone who thinks wind is the solution to our energy problems is a fool. And you can take that to the bank.
Yup, more taxpayer subsidy’s.