ASSATEAGUE -- Concerns raised earlier this month about a possible
transmission line crossing Assateague and connecting future offshore
wind energy turbines to the mainland were allayed somewhat last week
when the company said it was not intending to utilize the island.
In each of the last three General Assembly sessions, Gov. Martin
O’Malley has pushed legislation that would open the door to the
development of a wind farm including as many as 100 turbines off the
coast of Ocean City and in each year, state lawmakers have balked at the
proposal for a variety of reasons. However, proceeding on a parallel
course has been an effort to develop a network of underwater
transmission lines off the coast in preparation for a future connection
from the turbines to the mainland.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
4 comments:
Again, I must comment. It really is a labor to bring the obvious to the attention of the folks out there listening, but I will do it once again.
First of all, on land, a wind turbine over a 25 year lifetime when it will need to be replaced, will have generated enough electricity to have paid for itself, purportedly. Nothing has been proven here, as this is a new science. But, we do have them up and running, and are currently collecting data that concurs with this.
Putting these wind generators offshore is a completely different animal, though. I don't know how many of you know about the conflict of electricity vs. water, but it is multiplied by SALT water, which makes corrosion a rampant plague! 25 years will likely turn to 10 with the electrolysis factor, unless we use mass quantities of lead and zinc dissolving into the water to put it off for maybe another 5 years.
What will this do for our fishing/ crabbing industry? Add the added cost of anti corrosion maintenance.
Add to this the voltage loss over 10 miles of transmission line in salt water. Wow, this is huge. Voltage loss will be at least 40%, so offshore wind is a hole in the water to throw money in to.
But, just close your eyes and say yes again, and expect higher utility bills.
I'm not here to bash alternative energy, however I will bash negative technology. We know certain things about wind and solar energy. Both have improved greatly since inception. Solar is now cost zero at 25 years, I'm told! IF that's true, that's good, and it will get better. Wind is okay on land, but neither addresses night/ dead calm issues, and running the big coal plant (so far) cannot shut down and start up efficiently.
We will get there, it is just going to take using this latest 75 cent per gallon increase for "Tourist Season" used toward research towards making a new system workable. Heat and battery storage are huge items here, and we are not there yet.
God Bless us all, Everyone.
To say the Gov has the answer for energy, health care, is a joke. If they can't manage a budget, or even come up with one, why would you trust any public employee as a credible source? Crumbling Europe has the same ideas. Our energy decision are our future or our demise! Coal,oil, natural gas, are the current and near future. There I just said what the majority knows. For Gov OMalley, I suggest moving the wind turbine at Ches College to your statehouse backyard, where it will provide you all of your energy needs. Then you can be the first to tell us of the amazing technology!
Because drilling for oil in the ocean is SO much safer and cost efficient? Never heard of a "wind spill" in the ocean...
10:14 am, holy cow you just dont get it, do you. do i take the time to lead you through it again, or just ignore you? I will offer you yhis approximate item before I go.
Look at your electric bill. That is from oil and some natural gas, a lot of coal, and very little(lass than 1%) wind/solar.
Now, solar will cost double, offshore wind will cost 3 1/2 times as much. Neither work during the night, which is 2/3 of the day.
So you pay approximately triple your existing bill plus the construction costs of setting this whole thing up.
Any questions?
We need to keep working on these technologies, but we also need to work with what we have. There are ways of deep drilling for oil safely while avoiding disasters like the last gulf one, and we need to make sure we do that.
I'm done unless you have some argument.
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