Feb 8, 2009: Wind Farm

[xoxoxoBruce]

Mexico recently had an inauguration ceremony also.
But not for a politician, their inauguration ceremony was for a $550 million wind farm to offset their falling oil production.

If the Mexican government wants to build something successfully, the same three rules apply to them as everyone else.
Of course anybody can tell you those three rules are location, location, location.



For a (successful) wind farm you need a spot where the wind blows and it looks to me like they got that right.
The petticoats, the man hanging onto his hat, the bent trees, and the dust off the dirt road, make me think this is a good spot.
I imagine the had the turbines shut down for the ceremony because they're noisy and sometimes toss dead bird parts about.

Link

[SPUCK]

They turn pretty slowly so the camera probably stopped them.

Local residents, largely Zapotec Indians, are accustomed to foreigners' coveting their land. The United States demanded rights to transport goods over the isthmus in the 1850s, and foreigners tried to build a railway alternative to the Panama Canal there.

If they had half a brain they would build a railroad across there.. Yachting cruisers would do that in GREAT preference to the now expensive, slow, and large hassle factor, presented by The Canal.

[sweetwater]

The wind turbine generators are fairly quiet, except in higher winds - then the blades are feathered to help avoid damage. Though I see conflicting reports on bird deaths caused by the spinning blades, one article recently showed that bats can be killed sometimes if they fly into the area of low pressure caused by their rapid movement. Link.

[Sundae]

When I lived in a little village (in a little house) we saw bats every summer evening. I don't know if they hibernate, just that we didn't stand outside for the rest of the year.

Of all the things I miss about that time of my life - and they are many - I think it's the bats that are the most poignant.

[Griff]

Note to self: Take bat pics for Cherry next summer.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

When I lived in a little village (in a little house) we saw bats every summer evening. I don't know if they hibernate, just that we didn't stand outside for the rest of the year.

Of all the things I miss about that time of my life - and they are many - I think it's the bats that are the most poignant.

In my old apartment, on any given night, you could see bats. Flying over your head, as you were watching TV. Cats chasing them like "this is fun." Not fun for me.

[Brett's Honey]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

When I lived in a little village (in a little house) we saw bats every summer evening.

A friend of mine from Ohio once spoke of summer evenings when her sister and her would tie hot dog pieces onto a stick and swing them around up toward trees to catch bats. When she asked me if I enjoyed doing that as a child, she could tell by the look on my face that I had never heard of such a thing!

As for the windmills - while driving down Interstate 35 I've seen semi trucks hauling those windmill blades. I had no idea how HUGE they were until I saw that one blade covers the 53' semi flat-bed trailer all the way from the front to the back.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Brett's Honey

while driving down Interstate 35 I've seen semi trucks hauling those windmill blades. I had no idea how HUGE they were until I saw that one blade covers the 53' semi flat-bed trailer all the way from the front to the back.

I saw a ship going up the Hudson river with a bunch of those blades on it. they were enormous.

[SPUCK]

Originally Posted by Brett's Honey

As for the windmills - while driving down Interstate 35 I've seen semi trucks hauling those windmill blades. I had no idea how HUGE they were until I saw that one blade covers the 53' semi flat-bed trailer all the way from the front to the back.

That's short!

Try 413 foot blade length for the Enercon E-126... as in 126 meters!

[gozar]

In the article, the locals are upset that they are not more involved. Why don't they form a cooperative, and build a few wind generators for themselves? I know - times are tough, they are probably dirt poor etc, but there are ways to get these things done.

[Gravdigr]

On a wind farm, do you have to water the wind, do you irrigate, or what?

And if you use cow shit to fertilize terrestrial crops, can you use cattle farts for fertilizer on a wind farm?

[Aliantha]

The whole argument about birds and windfarms seems pretty stupid to me if it's coming from anyone who drives a car or has ever flown in a plane, and I doubt there's too many greenies who don't fly in planes or travel by car or bus. Far more birds are killed by humans transporting themselves around than are killed by windfarms (at least in Australia).

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

The whole argument about birds and windfarms seems pretty stupid to me if it's coming from anyone who drives a car or has ever flown in a plane, and I doubt there's too many greenies who don't fly in planes or travel by car or bus. Far more birds are killed by humans transporting themselves around than are killed by windfarms (at least in Australia).

We are getting the same arguments here from the tree huggers. There is a risk benifit ratio in most of these decisions. I vote for non-oil/nuclear based energy forms. And then of course you have Kennedy family and their support of wind farms as long as it is NIMBY.

[Aliantha]

We have lots of bats here, but one of the most prolific is the fruit bat. The bain of every fruit growers existance! And the little buggers are protected too. Currently they're causing a lot of problems for our stone fruit and apple farmers in Stanthorpe.

I think the farmers should be allowed to shoot them.

[Shawnee123]

In my experience, that would have to be one sharp shooter. Those things flail about with no rhyme nor reason.