In Other Wind Power News
First of 54 WIND TURBINES PUT UP OFF LINCOLNSHIRE COAST
A giant wind turbine has been installed off the Lincolnshire coast. It is the first stage in the creation of a group of wind farms which could soon power half the homes in Lincolnshire. Energy firm Centrica is building its Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms about three miles off the coast of Skegness.
This week the company put up the first of 54 turbines, which between them should generate enough renewable energy for 130,000 homes. Each of the 260-tonne structures, built by the power generation wing of Siemens, will be shipped in 300 miles from Denmark.
Centrica spokesman Mike Dennehy said: “First power is expected to be generated in a few weeks time as other turbines are being installed. “Subject to off-shore weather conditions during the heavy lifts, Centrica expects to complete construction and the subsequent commissioning of the turbines by the end of 2008.”
And
Energy giant submits wind farm plan for East Yorkshire
Energy giant E.ON has unveiled plans to build one of the biggest wind farms in the UK saying it wanted a swift resolution to an objection from the Ministry of Defence.
The company submitted an application to build the wind farm eight kilometres off the East Yorkshire coast and said that the so-called Humber Gateway site would generate enough electricity to power almost 200,000 homes.
Chief executive Dr Paul Golby said: “The next generation of large-scale off-shore wind farms like Humber Gateway have a vital role to play in the UK’s future energy mix. “This scheme will displace the emission of hundreds of the thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and will make a significant contribution to helping the government meet its tough renewable energy targets.”Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Nick Rau said: “We are delighted E.ON is pushing forward with plans for a new wind farm off the Yorkshire Coast. “The Humber Gateway wind farm will help tap into the abundant clean green energy resources we have in the UK.
“Offshore wind has a key role in the fight against climate change and helping us switch to a low-carbon economy. Projects like this are a springboard to a massive expansion of offshore wind energy.
“The Government must do more to develop this huge potential and ensure that Britain reaps the massive economic and environmental benefits of becoming a world leader in harvesting the wind.”
Germany and Spain, the EU’s largest producers of wind power, each are expected to add up to 2,000 megawatts of wind power capacity—almost the same amount produced by three coal-fired power stations—annually from now until 2012. Growth in Eastern Europe, an emerging wind market, is expected to be in the double digits annually during the same period.
Thanks for posting this. It brings us all back full circle to where we were Jan-Feb. 2007 as we first began looking at the possibility of having a wind-farm off Delaware’s coast.
It returns us to the heart of the matter: speaking directly to the reasons why we need our own wind-farm. It also drives home this point, that while we stall and spin our wheels in the southern chamber of our Legislative Hall, the rest of the world is moving past us a very fast pace…………..
These projects are getting done all over the place becuase they make sense. The United States (until recently) was the optimistic world leader pushing the bar up in so many scientific, cultural and human rights endevors.
Not so much anymore.
Jason,
That is exactly what I keep hitting at- that the creative people and scientists are out there but the political will to do any of this or “regulate it” into existence has been lacking for the last 20 years since the 1980’s. I am not sure what happened but something changed the political climate to such an extent that people want remain status quo ante 1962.
That is simply not going to work.
Now the last time we had a national or state energy policy was during the 1930’s. And before that the policy was very libertarian, if you can do it, it said, show me how it works and we will see if there is DuPont out there to help fund it.
By contrast now our leaders seem to say, “I have too much invested in blah blah blah, and if we do this it may harm my investment portfolio so we have to stop it all costs….” ala regressive policies or no policy at all and the end result is that the people are screwed.
Optimistic leadership would be a good first step to renew all kinds of innovation.
Brian –
I think the libertarian argument breaks down a little bit here.
New technologies need a boost from government. That’s what is happening in Europe.
Jason,
I agree. Given the circumstances today, with so many conflicts of interest etc., we need to have paternalistic libertarianism in cases that involve energy and national security. And government policy should be clear on innovation, especially for energy.
My goal has always been that Delaware should be a regional powerhouse in energy production and technological innovation. I do not care how it is achieved; I think if we are serious about it, we should just do it.
I hope my ventures into history, change management, economy and science to guide the present, have not irritated you too much….