Offshore Wind Farm Could Power Entire East Coast
A new study funded by the University of Delaware and Stanford University reports that offshore wind power could supply almost all of the East Coast’s energy needs. This is the first time a study has looked at just how much wind energy offshore farms could produce in this area of the country.
Wind power has had to fight some battles out East, most notably on Cape Cod, MA. There, some residents argue that the proposed offshore wind turbines would be visible from shore and ruin the area’s pristine view. I think global warming may take care of that job, anyway…
The study found that the most efficient area for offshore wind is a region called the Middle Atlantic Bight, which runs from Cape Cod, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC. The shallow water along this area would make it possible to put up a large amount of turbines. Current technology only allows turbines to be erected in water about 60 – 90 feet deep, although Scotland is experimenting with turbines in 150 feet of water. The study’s author, Willet Kempton, believes that some day soon wind power could pop up in as deep of water as 300 feet.
And that’s the depth the East Coast turbines would need in order to generate power efficiently. The study suggests that the installation of 160,000 turbines spread along the Bight area out to a depth of 300 feet would be more than enough power for the whole East Coast. Even better, this clean electricity would cut global warming pollution by 57 percent. Sound far fetched? Not to Kempton: “I think it’s a 100 percent probability [that this project will be built].”
February 24th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I disagree with you on a number of points, Dona, but won't get into all of them here. Perhaps it's just my perspective (I've kept a fairly close eye on this debate), but I think wind opponents have gotten quite a bit of media time, and not all framed the way you suggest.
One of the the best pieces I've read on this debate was written by Charles Komanoff, and published in Orion. I think it's worth throwing out here… Otherwise, I'll probably hold any other comments until Maria's post next week…
_______________________________________
Jeff McIntire-Strasburg
Senior Editor
Green Options
jeff@greenoptions.com
February 24th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
At two thousand feet Charles Komanoff measured the noise level at 45 dbs. Depending on atmospheric conditions and location of a receptor, that can go up or down. Wind turbine noise is a pulsating modulating noise that propagates long distances and is difficult to mask by back ground noise. If a house is sheltered from the wind it won’t benefit from noise masking. period. The World Health Organization has found that sleep disturbance is a genuine health hazard and night outdoor noise >42 dB(A) can cause sleep disturbances. Why do the environmentalists think its OK to subject any family to that kind of exposure? I know of a family in Nova Scotia Canada who have been driven from their home by wind farm noise. The home is now for sale. Greens - put your money where your mouths are. If your going to talk the talk-walk the walk. Don’t sacrifice others to appease your own guilty consciences. It's a matter of social justice, a concept the greens seen to conveniently ignore when it comes to pet wind farms. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ML KING
February 24th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Even better, here is a reply to Komanoff's <i>Orion</i> piece: http://kirbymtn.blogspot.com/2006/09/charles-komanoff-is-two-with-nature.html
February 24th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Lots of interesting discussion going on here - I'll post more next week on wind realities, opportunities, and controversy.
November 25th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
[...] we’ve seen here in the US, the arguments against wind power in the Greek isles largely comes down to aesthetics and noise [...]