Salazar: Eastern wind could replace coal for power

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer – 4 mins ago

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Windmills off the East Coast could generate enough electricity to replace most, if not all, the coal-fired power plants in the United States, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Monday.

=snip=

The secretary spoke at a public hearing in Atlantic City on how the nation's offshore areas can be tapped to meet America's energy needs.

"The idea that wind energy has the potential to replace most of our coal-burning power today is a very real possibility," he said. "It is not technology that is pie-in-the sky; it is here and now."

=snip=

Salazar said ocean winds along the East Coast can generate 1 million megawatts of power, roughly the equivalent of 3,000 medium-sized coal-fired power plants, or nearly five times the number of coal plants now operating in the United States, according to the Energy Department.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090406/ap_on_re_us/offshore_windmills

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In case you missed it, here's the very inspiring speech he made at Powershift a month ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDoU9-fpffQ

[JerseygirlCT]

1. How close to shore do they need to be

and how much of an eyesore?

I do love my Jersey shore...

And is there an impact on shipping lanes? NJ/NY takes in a huge amount of shipping.

Otherwise, no more coal is a very good thing!

[TommyO]

5. I would prefer windmills to oil rigs

Eyesore? Like the exhaust plumes rising from coal-fired plants? Or something that looks like it's about a quarter-inch tall on the horizon? I'll tell you which I would prefer.

[Turborama]

8. These things look quite cool...

http://www.magenn.com">Magenn Power's MARS

-- ---- --

And regarding underwater power generation...



http://www.biopowersystems.com/technologies.php">BioPower Systems

[truthisfreedom]

7. They're grand and beautiful.

I love the way windmills look. They're exceptionally beautiful when compared with any other tall man-made utility object.

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Thanks - I really didn't know! nt

[AtheistCrusader]

12. How could windmills possibly be an eyesore?

They are beautiful.

[cali]

13. I find one or two or even a few visually interesting. I find the huge

windmill farms horrifyingly ugly.

[greenman3610]

14. the technology exists to site them far enough away

that they will not be visible, yet still close enough to make for
relatively close access to electric grids.
we can thank the oil industry for developing the technology
to anchor these things in deep water.

[JerseygirlCT]

16. Well that's cool

Thanks - I really didn't know.

[Kolesar]

18. The towers will be miles offshore and "disappear over the horizon"

And you won't miss the smog and particulates from the existing power generation. You do have a good point, though!

[tabbycat31]

2. nice

I've read so much aobut the hearing, and I wanted to go but I can't miss class and don't exactly want to drive an hour.

I just don't want any oil rigs off the coastlines of NJ. It's my NIMBY issue.

[tomm2thumbs]

3. they can paint them with invisible paint - it'll be fine

(g)

[On the Road]

4. This Was a Big Argument Against Building Railroads in the 19th Century

They were going to turn all the wilderness into an eyesore. Now they're seen as part of the landscape.

If Palm Springs can have a windfarm, I don't know why the beach couldn't. It seems strage, however, that the most efficent place to build them is in seawater rather than on land.

[hay rick]

11. Great thing about invisible paint

It's so easy to tell where you missed.

[L. Coyote]

6. No point in building them near xisting power inrastructure!

It is pie in the sky to think practical solutions are not there.
The wind blows in Kansas, the sun shines in Albuquerque.

[quidam56]

9. Hope this helps save a mountain and stream in Appalachia

We can't stand anymore of the prosperity thanks to Bush/Cheney and THE BIG CLEAN HYBRID GREEN NEW AND IMPROVED COAL INDUSTRY.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=138 Sean Hannity shut up !

[jtrockville]

10. Excellent. Coal is FILTHY.

[Frank Booth]

17. If they'll take the place of coal plants, they can place them anywhere for all I care.

The next door lot is fine.

Or putting them on a beach I like is also ok. From La Jolla to Leo Carrillo, and up to Pismo, it's all good with me.