Wind turbine produces less in heat, humidity

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. - The wind turbine in Portsmouth wasn't moving Tuesday morning for one simple reason-there wasn't any wind.

So in the heart of summer, when heat and humidity are the highest and the demand for energy at its greatest, wind power is at its lowest levels.

It's an irony not lost on Gary Gump, the chairman of Portsmouth's Sustainable Energy Committee.

"August has the lowest average wind speed of the 12 months of the year," he said.

Gump said the biggest use of the turbine is to power the town's middle and high schools which aren't open during the summer.

"The school year is mostly September through the end of May, and the windiest part is October through the end of March and early April. So, there's a real match in terms of demand and production," he said.

Gump said the town's savings from the turbine when it does produce more than makes up for when it's not producing.

Gump said he believes the key to the future of wind power will be varying the locations of turbines.

"There's always some part of the ocean where there's a breeze, so that you've got diversity in terms of the location and you can generate the energy," he said.

Karina Lutz, of the nonprofit group People's Power and Light, said it's important not to rely on wind alone.

"What you need is a diversity of resources on the grid, all producing at their various times, with renewables there more intermittent," she said.

She said for a day like Tuesday, solar power could make up for the lack of wind. At night, the wind turbine could provide power.

"You need a balance," she said.