Larry Jaques wrote:

On Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:24:49 -0500, the infamous Wes
scrawled the following:

Is there someplace that has an analysis of how much energy is put into making, erecting,
and commissioning a windmill vs typical energy output. I'm wondering how long it takes to
recover the energy used to put it in place.

What scale are we talking about, Wes? Home or commercial with a 90'
wingspan?

Definitely commercial. I'm trying to make sure wind power isn't a feel good thing like
using corn for gasohol.


Since wind is a bit variable, we can assume it is somewhere in the wind corridor that T.
Boone Pickens was pitching.

I know solar cells have a lousy break even point unless the technology has changed
drastically.

Doesn't look like it has changed much.


Let me finish the book first, then I'll tell you if Tucker had stats
in there. _Terrestrial Energy_ is quite a good book so far (I'm 129
pgs into it now.) It's subtitled "_How Nuclear Power Will Lead the
Green Revolution and End America's Energy Odyssey_" He (and lots of
others in the know) is banking on nuclear power for the base and
solar, etc. to provide the peak power on a daily basis.

Until this book, I had no idea that it was the nuclear-_trained_
President Carter who derailed the nuclear industry, caused the
proliferation of nuke waste (by not allowing rod recycling), and
brought back coal, the dirtiest of all possible power sources.

Does the book go into his reasons for being anti nuke? That man has been an embarasment
all around.

Wes
--
"Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect
government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home
in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller