How long before we see windmills dotting the horizon as we enjoy our beach vacations?
According to an article in The San Francisco Chronicle, federal officials are going to discuss just that at a hearing in San Francisco today. They'll also be discussing the potential of harnessing wave power as well.
One of the most exciting things we read in the article:
"One estimate by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that windmills placed in shallow coastal waters, those no deeper than 98 feet, could supply at least 20 percent of all the electricity consumed by the coastal states."
20 percent is an amazing amount of electricity. We just hope this happens sooner rather than later. Considering the fact that Denmark, the Netherlands, and England are already successfully using windmills off their coasts, we're just wondering what the hold up is?
Read the whole article here.
image via Bluewater Wind/ AP
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
The hold up is that they want to build this in a marine sanctuary near the Farallons...
(Its akin to putting solar panels all over Yosemite because that meets the criteria for the solar panels.)
view fredlet's profile
thx for the info fredlet!
view Lizzykewl's profile
Yes, one has to be wary when the info is coming from the Business section of a paper.
view digger61's profile
I remember when I was little there was some controversy over windmills because they killed birds (endagered birds?). I think I read about it in some educational magazine we got at school. has it been disproved or conveniently forgotten or do our energy needs simply outweigh the cost of the birds now?
view foodefafa's profile
No you're right about migratory birds and wind turbines. The problem with solutions to environmental problems is that environmentalist only end up fighting amongst themselves as any solution is going to have an impact of its own.
Near where I live are some very important wetlands that have been restored. A glass wall was put in to let people enjoy them without stepping foot in the fragile habitat. Unfortunately, many birds are dying because they cannot see the glass and fly into it. Cursed if you do, cursed if you don't.
view LilyC's profile