« Texas School District bans cleavage | Main | Dinner...with the Fam. »
Power...Blowing in the Wind
August 07, 2006In case you missed the Sunday paper...there is a huge debate in the counties surrounding Wichita Falls regarding the massive electricity-providing windmills.
These are the ones that would dominate the landscape. Towering high above the hills and plains, perhaps lowering property values and perhaps providing enough power for entire cities.
But make no mistake, they are big. I've been to Palm Springs, where they have entire mountains covered in them, and they are huge.
But what if you could fit one in your backyard?
I saw a story on CBS Evening News last night about a couple in New Jersey who have purchased their own backyard wind generator (much to the chagrin of their neighborhood associations).
About 30-40 ft tall (can be up to 110 ft.) and a rotor span of 12 feet....it would stick out likes a sore thumb in a suburban neighborhood in a big city.
But is that all together different than the old radio antenna towers?
Just like their larger brothers, the opponents say they'll kill birds and be too loud. The huge glass piles outside of PPG kill birds too. They think its water and crash into them. Where's the public outcry against that?
As for the noise...well, I guess. I think it's a good kind of noise. Beats the highway noise. Or the Sheppard noise.
Anyways...I can't see how this doesn't make sense. Let's build a windmill that will power your house virtually year round. Every ranch, farm, and country community resident should be seriously considering this. The upfront cost is about $5,000-6,000. But given the electric costs and average wind speed...it could pay for itself in 5 years. Even if it takes 10 years...how is this not a good idea?
When you have a 30-year mortgage on a nice house out in the country...and say only pay for 2-months worth of electricity a year from TXU...that sounds like a pretty good financial option doesn't it?
As long as the wind is more than 8 mph...You’re getting electricity. You could store it if the wind is high enough. You could keep your house at a balmy 72 without worrying if your bill is going to be $300.
I know this wouldn't fly in the Country Club or whatever...but good lord this sounds like a good idea to me.
Think of how many wind-mills there are out there, pumping water from the ground. They are running out of their usefulness in these parts. The water is drying up. It will be gone eventually.
You think the wind is going to suddenly stop in Texas?
Here's the company's info. sheet on this product...give it a look.
Posted by Jason Palmer at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
