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Environment & Energy

dbackjon

(6,578 posts) Mon Jul 23, 2012, 04:09 PM Jul 2012

High temperatures, NO wind leave Iowa windmills useless [View all]

Friend of mine manages a regional utility in Iowa - 10% of their total capacity comes from wind, rest from Natural Gas.

Record heat, no wind for the last two weeks.

So when they needed the total capacity the most, wind has been no help. They are paying for capacity that can't produce any power.

16 replies

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High temperatures, NO wind leave Iowa windmills useless [View all] dbackjon Jul 2012 OP

Every time I drive past a wind farm at least a few of them are spinning. I think they are Vincardog Jul 2012 #1

Another reason for solar to accompany them. Arctic Dave Jul 2012 #2

So then you need to invest in three different energy sources dbackjon Jul 2012 #3

Diversity would seem logical in the long run. Arctic Dave Jul 2012 #5

If you can spread the costs dbackjon Jul 2012 #6

NG runs out eventually and the cost goes up. Arctic Dave Jul 2012 #8

NG extraction is unsustainable and dangerous Champion Jack Jul 2012 #16

Agreed GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #11

Predicted almost 3 years ago: Not so windy: Research suggests winds dying down NickB79 Jul 2012 #4

Interesting link pscot Jul 2012 #9

What's funny is that this effect is mentioned in "Under A Green Sky" which was published in 2007 NickB79 Jul 2012 #10

Yeah, we were posting about it on E&E years ago. joshcryer Jul 2012 #15

And the corn inedible. nt longship Jul 2012 #7

Of course there will be times of no wind madokie Jul 2012 #12

Looked fine to me. Tashca Jul 2012 #13

I agree. The area around my hometown in north east/central Iowa is covered with windmills emmadoggy Jul 2012 #14