Does anyone understand the economics of these things? I see hundreds, maybe thousand of them along the Rivers in the Delta. They just stand there, lit up at night but don't seem to do work. Might be 10 of them turning ever so slowly but most don't.
There is less demand for electricity this time of year. Power plants have to run year around. Windmills are used during peak demand times during the summer and winter. You know, when people are using heaters or air conditioners. In California this is a time of year where people don't need either. Currently we don't have a way to store large amounts of electricity so when demand is low the windmills don't need to generate electricity.
I see. I am running two heater in the boat right now. Probably not a cold as Oregon, but too damn cold for no heat.
I do not believe this is true. This is related to the wind-patterns in these areas - usually May to August is when the wind is strong enough but not too strong to see more of these working. Basically, the grid will absorb whatever the wind-farms produce (unless it is really heavy winds) - the utilities will adjust the production of plants they can control based on need. I believe that only 5% of California's power production comes from wind.
Ha! No not really the intent. It is just my nature to observe. And I observe that I ask a question you guys don't really have an answer to. But if I had to take a guess at what is going on, I would take Sly's and your explanation and change it up a bit. It don't really make sense the power companies are going to give priority to this windmills and use all the power they can make, slow down their own plants and buy power. Take the power from them when they can't keep up? For sure! But right now, I would say they don't need it and therefore, the wind power is idle. But I don't think that is the story being told or sold.
On a recent trip around a big chunk of the USA I was utterly blown away (no pun intended) by just how many windmills there are throughout the country. They seemed to be everywhere and were almost always spinning. I’d love to know just how much energy is being generated. They’re not particularly attractive but they sure beat looking at oil derricks. And they produce a much cleaner and less environmentally threatening product. And there must be some money to be made by those who allow them to be erected on their property. In Iowa (for example), the farms who had the windmills usually looked to have the most squared away, well kept and upgraded properties....or at least compared to those who didn’t have the windmills. But then, that was just a passing observation. But again, they were everywhere throughout the West and always seemed to be cranking out the juice......
Suisun City directly ahead. This is about 8 miles up the Suisun slough from Suisun Bay. Neat little town. One thing I notice about a mile back from when I snapped this shot. An old California ranch, slightly up on the hill side. Big Ranch stile house with a Wind mill pumping water. Really busy like in a high speed spin. The funny thing was the giant wind turbine in view behind the ranch house, perhaps a half mile back. The turbine was in park, the old windmill, working like a beaver.
Been there! Done that. She don't like boats anymore either. I probably will need to sail her to Hawaii just to get back to the NW. Probably bring her into Puget Sound if I do it.
