Farmers seeking salvation in wind

[jpak]

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/173601/

When one of northwest Missouri’s leading employers decided to shutter a nearby manufacturing plant and ship 220 jobs to Mexico, the move was only the latest economic blow to a region accustomed to bad news.

From a steadily dwindling population to the well-documented decline of family farms, hard times have been the norm all too often in the cluster of Missouri counties along the Nebraska and Iowa borders.

Then came promises of economic salvation — or at least a step in the right direction — in the unlikely guise of a sharpdressed St. Louis lawyer and scion of one of the state’s most prominent political families. His remedy was simple: look up to the sky.

Farmers who once relied upon hogs or soybeans to make ends meet are now harvesting wind energy. By next year, more than 100 towering turbines are expected to rise above the skyline in Atchison, Gentry and Nodaway counties, generating enough electricity to power 45,000 homes across the state as part of Missouri’s first set of commercial wind farms.

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[theophilus]

1. The answer, my friend, IS blowing in the wind!

At least a part of the answer. If we can assure birds and bats don't get extincted this is a GREAT thing! If the aesthetics bother you, look at it this way......Let's use these turbines until fusion is perfected (the French are working on it right now and estimate twenty years to a working plant) or something else comes along. Wind makes total sense now as does solar and wave powered generation and others.

Go for it farmers! Wind farmers for energy freedom!!!!!

[w4rma]

8. It's my understanding that the fins on modern wind turbines move too slowly to harm birds/bats. (nt)

[Vorta]

2. Meanwhile we literally piss away potential hydro-power because.... well you know. eom

[BR_Parkway]

5. Are you suggesting micro turbines in all urinals? Fantastic concept

[Kolesar]

10. Could make a video game out of it at the local watering hole

See who can get the highest score. Win a free beer

[Maestro]

3. That looks to be indeed a step in the right direction.

The farmers can still raise cattle while at the same time helping the environment and earning some money. One thing though has me confused. It said that farmers could earn between $3,000 and $5,000 per turbine over the next 25 years. Please tell me that is the annual money generated over the next 25 years per turbine for the farmers not what is expected over the next 25 years. If you have say 5 turbines on your property, that could help subsidize your income yearly, but if this amount is the total for 25 years I fail to see the economic advantage to the property owner.

Property owners who allow the company to build on their land will earn $ 3, 000 to $ 5, 000 per turbine over the next 25 years, depending on the amount of electricity generated. They can continue to farm the surrounding land, or let herds graze, right up to the base of the turbines, which are 15 feet wide and weigh 200 tons each.

[jpak]

4. It's per year - and it's a gold mine for the landowners

n/t

[Odin2005]

6. We have plety of wind here in the Red River Valley of the North.

Fargo is the TRUE Windy City. We already have a bunch of windmills in the area but there is still tons of room for more.

[JohnWxy]

7. North and South Dokota in particular have huge wind power potential.

The Dakotas have been losing population and have been concerned about economic future. wind power is definitely in the Dakotas future. One complication is much of your demand is going to come from out of state, which means you need multiple states to work together to standardize rules and regulations regarding hooking into the power grid and perhaps building new power lines. This is why we need a Federal agency to work with states to facilitate working these details out so private investors will be encouraged to get involved(by removing regulatory unknowns).

wind power potential of 48 contiguous states:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_potential.html


NOte that even though wind power is now the cheapest source of electrical power, if wind farms could be financed with the same terms enjoyed by utilities when financing coal, and gas fired plants (can't compare to nuclear financing as so much is done by the Government) the cost financing wind farms would drop over 30%!!!

[nam78_two]

9. k&r/nt