One point he misses. Texas is Zone 2/3 for 'winterization', what we got was Zone 7 (e.g. northern Minnesota) weather. Zone 2 is 48 hours of cold, not a week of sub zero. And no, there is no winterization for wind farms, because they got an 'exclusion' due to cost... sigh
Preparing for the 100 year storms and 500 year storms can be done. But it's gonna be damn expensive. And then it has to be maintained at that level of winterization. Kind of cost prohibitive...
I remember in the early 80's some frigid temperatures for a week in December for about three years in a row along the Gulf Coast of Texas as far south as Brownsville. The citrus farmers along the Rio Grande River valley were burning wood in their orchards overnight to save their crops.
The shallow bays had some ice, but not to where you could walk, but it was damn cold.
I don't recall the electric power going out or having any water issues. Of course the population was less, but the stupidity of wind energy was still more of an academic exercise than a reality.
Anyone that believes in solar is a sucker and actually deserves to sit and freeze in the dark. Adding to the this house of cards: Your average solar panel is made in China, where they can be manufactured cheaply because they don't have to meet environmental restrictions, and can use the world's cheapest labour as well as slaves and children. The posturing greenies spew sunshine and happiness about solar while denigrating Big Oil all need a serious kick in the nuts for that alone.
In addition, your average solar panel efficiency degrades at 1% per year. In 20 years those solar farms will be putting out 80% of what they do today. Or less. Lawrence has missed a few things, but it is a good effort none the less.
One point he misses. Texas is Zone 2/3 for 'winterization', what we got was Zone 7 (e.g. northern Minnesota) weather. Zone 2 is 48 hours of cold, not a week of sub zero. And no, there is no winterization for wind farms, because they got an 'exclusion' due to cost... sigh
ReplyDeletePreparing for the 100 year storms and 500 year storms can be done. But it's gonna be damn expensive. And then it has to be maintained at that level of winterization. Kind of cost prohibitive...
ReplyDeleteI remember in the early 80's some frigid temperatures for a week in December for about three years in a row along the Gulf Coast of Texas as far south as Brownsville. The citrus farmers along the Rio Grande River valley were burning wood in their orchards overnight to save their crops.
ReplyDeleteThe shallow bays had some ice, but not to where you could walk, but it was damn cold.
I don't recall the electric power going out or having any water issues. Of course the population was less, but the stupidity of wind energy was still more of an academic exercise than a reality.
Anyone that believes in solar is a sucker and actually deserves to sit and freeze in the dark. Adding to the this house of cards: Your average solar panel is made in China, where they can be manufactured cheaply because they don't have to meet environmental restrictions, and can use the world's cheapest labour as well as slaves and children. The posturing greenies spew sunshine and happiness about solar while denigrating Big Oil all need a serious kick in the nuts for that alone.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, your average solar panel efficiency degrades at 1% per year. In 20 years those solar farms will be putting out 80% of what they do today. Or less. Lawrence has missed a few things, but it is a good effort none the less.