A hidden cost of wind power is that it requires full backup from conventional power plants for those times when the wind does not blow sufficiently or when it blows too strongly.

Gov. Deval Patrick has declared a goal of 2,000 megawatts of wind power by the year 2020 and the state has engaged in significant programs to achieve that goal, including soon-to-be-finalized legislation that, among other things, weakens the power of town boards from permitting decisions. Lost in this activity, however, is a critical examination of the downside of wind power and whether the 2,000 megawatt goal should actually be pursued.

The issue is that pursuit of the goal has the potential to convert thousands of acres of the state's land and water into industrial tracts - all for the purpose of generating low quantities of expensive and unreliable electric power. This may be acceptable in the Midwest with its open... [continue via Web link]