Article
Wind power can’t deliver promise
The Charleston Gazette|David Buhrman|March 26, 2006
It’s just not necessary for Greenbrier County to surrender to a highly questionable technology that cannot deliver what it promises.
It’s just not necessary for Greenbrier County to surrender to a highly questionable technology that cannot deliver what it promises.
When Beech Ridge developers claim their 124-turbine project in Greenbrier County will serve 50,000 homes, they want you to accept that a single modern 1.5-megawatt wind turbine produces enough electricity for 400 West Virginia residences. Not true.
Actual performance of 117 industrial wind turbines sited atop ridges in our region in 2004 shows clearly that the amount of power generated by one wind turbine in a year could equal the actual metered electricity consumption of 298 West Virginia homes — about 100 residences per turbine fewer than claimed by the wind firm. And each turbine would do less during summer months when peak demand is highest, supplying only enough power to match demands of just 111 households during August.
Because …
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Actual performance of 117 industrial wind turbines sited atop ridges in our region in 2004 shows clearly that the amount of power generated by one wind turbine in a year could equal the actual metered electricity consumption of 298 West Virginia homes — about 100 residences per turbine fewer than claimed by the wind firm. And each turbine would do less during summer months when peak demand is highest, supplying only enough power to match demands of just 111 households during August.
Because …
When Beech Ridge developers claim their 124-turbine project in Greenbrier County will serve 50,000 homes, they want you to accept that a single modern 1.5-megawatt wind turbine produces enough electricity for 400 West Virginia residences. Not true.
Actual performance of 117 industrial wind turbines sited atop ridges in our region in 2004 shows clearly that the amount of power generated by one wind turbine in a year could equal the actual metered electricity consumption of 298 West Virginia homes — about 100 residences per turbine fewer than claimed by the wind firm. And each turbine would do less during summer months when peak demand is highest, supplying only enough power to match demands of just 111 households during August.
Because citizens in those residences also require electricity for services such as streetlights, offices, stores and factories, the turbine-to-household ratio is still lower. A modern turbine can only produce enough electricity per year to match the total “per capita” consumption of just 98 households containing an average of 2.4 persons each. However, during August, a 1.5-MW turbine — costing well in access of $2 million — is only going to provide for the needs of 36 “per capita households” in West Virginia — just 9 percent of the claimed 400.
This is the reason Consumer Research magazine’s editor characterized wind power recently as “an egregious... boondoggle.” This is why The Country Guardian newspaper calculates that for the British government subsidy toward construction of one wind turbine, they could insulate the roofs of almost 500 houses that need it and save in two years the amount of energy the wind turbine might produce over its lifetime.
This is why so many distinguished and knowledgeable leaders do not support the tax breaks that make these turbines profitable for big developers. The list includes Rep. Nick Rahall, Rep. Alan Mollohan, state senators Jon Blair Hunter, Clark Barnes and Jesse Guills, delegates Thomas Campbell and Ray Canterbury, and Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester.
It’s just not necessary for Greenbrier County to surrender to a highly questionable technology that cannot deliver what it promises.
Buhrman is a leader of Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy.
Actual performance of 117 industrial wind turbines sited atop ridges in our region in 2004 shows clearly that the amount of power generated by one wind turbine in a year could equal the actual metered electricity consumption of 298 West Virginia homes — about 100 residences per turbine fewer than claimed by the wind firm. And each turbine would do less during summer months when peak demand is highest, supplying only enough power to match demands of just 111 households during August.
Because citizens in those residences also require electricity for services such as streetlights, offices, stores and factories, the turbine-to-household ratio is still lower. A modern turbine can only produce enough electricity per year to match the total “per capita” consumption of just 98 households containing an average of 2.4 persons each. However, during August, a 1.5-MW turbine — costing well in access of $2 million — is only going to provide for the needs of 36 “per capita households” in West Virginia — just 9 percent of the claimed 400.
This is the reason Consumer Research magazine’s editor characterized wind power recently as “an egregious... boondoggle.” This is why The Country Guardian newspaper calculates that for the British government subsidy toward construction of one wind turbine, they could insulate the roofs of almost 500 houses that need it and save in two years the amount of energy the wind turbine might produce over its lifetime.
This is why so many distinguished and knowledgeable leaders do not support the tax breaks that make these turbines profitable for big developers. The list includes Rep. Nick Rahall, Rep. Alan Mollohan, state senators Jon Blair Hunter, Clark Barnes and Jesse Guills, delegates Thomas Campbell and Ray Canterbury, and Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester.
It’s just not necessary for Greenbrier County to surrender to a highly questionable technology that cannot deliver what it promises.
Buhrman is a leader of Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy.