Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Sirveri

(4,517 posts)
75. Not to mention manufacturing costs and materials.
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 02:56 AM
Sep 2012

Piles of rare earth metals, steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, etc etc etc... How do we get all these, well right now we use oil and coal because that's what our energy infrastructure is based on. But that might be worth it, ramp up your carbon footprint for 5-10 years, then drop it considerably once the system goes fully online. Other issue is maintenance costs, I'd imagine they'd be fairly costly to service. Might be better to install tidal power generators, though we might be able to do a side by side mix (likely stabilizing power outputs).

What would 144,000 wind turbines look like? Hangingon Sep 2012 #1
Doubtful considering the really huge space but TheKentuckian Sep 2012 #3
I didn't waste much time, but Google gave me a East Coast length of 19,924 KM. Hangingon Sep 2012 #7
19000 km is the total US coastline... SidDithers Sep 2012 #8
Thanks. I just grabbed a number and, of course, it was wrong. Hangingon Sep 2012 #11
One every 50 feet would do it pokerfan Sep 2012 #22
Here's what it WOULDN'T look like... Scootaloo Sep 2012 #28
Thank you ! nt eppur_se_muova Sep 2012 #57
Yes, thank you! Magoo48 Sep 2012 #81
They are miles off shore. They also look better than this NightWatcher Sep 2012 #41
Don't think in linear terms, think echelon. Ikonoklast Sep 2012 #64
Bright side fire risk is minimal if one caught on fire nadinbrzezinski Sep 2012 #2
Not to mention manufacturing costs and materials. Sirveri Sep 2012 #75
I'd rather have that than oil rigs. n/t porphyrian Sep 2012 #4
I believe this fine west coast institution of higher education is really saying: Brother Buzz Sep 2012 #5
That and most of the responses in the thread. (nt) Posteritatis Sep 2012 #29
US Atlantic coastline is 2,069 miles long... SidDithers Sep 2012 #6
Your shoreline length is better than mine Hangingon Sep 2012 #9
Then they are little different than coal and oil barons, nukers, and frackers to me. TheKentuckian Sep 2012 #16
The military and national security types will object too. GliderGuider Sep 2012 #18
Typical blades I see passing my home are closer to 50 meters, not feet Brother Buzz Sep 2012 #10
Yeah, you're right... SidDithers Sep 2012 #13
The spacing would be more like 2500 feet (5 to 8 rotor diameters) GliderGuider Sep 2012 #15
Why do they have to be in a line? The Midway Rebel Sep 2012 #40
I didn't say they'd go in a single line... SidDithers Sep 2012 #44
You described it as a picket fence which is in a line, that is where I got it from. The Midway Rebel Sep 2012 #45
I have one serious question re wind turbines malaise Sep 2012 #12
The turbines near me are on shore. They do not run during hurricanes. Hangingon Sep 2012 #38
Thanks malaise Sep 2012 #70
NOW! DonRedwood Sep 2012 #14
It would be a $2+ Trillion project - just to re-power the East coast. GliderGuider Sep 2012 #17
Such pessimism! XemaSab Sep 2012 #19
Aw, you noticed! GliderGuider Sep 2012 #21
Cool, the cost of wars! ProSense Sep 2012 #20
We waste that kind money blowing up other nations liberal N proud Sep 2012 #23
they should just carbon tax the fuck out of a war or two..... problem solved. piratefish08 Sep 2012 #24
We could have afforded the 2 Trillion Dollars easily SilveryMoon Sep 2012 #31
Yeah, give me $100 trillion (Jacobson's estimate for the world)... joshcryer Sep 2012 #37
That's incredible, but how much does each turbine cost? Bluefin Tuna Sep 2012 #25
$15 million each. Total cost $2 trillion. nt GliderGuider Sep 2012 #30
But but but when the sun starts rising in the west won't there be a problem?? n/t 2on2u Sep 2012 #26
Could they maybe mount the turbines on tidal generators and cut the number down?? eqfan592 Sep 2012 #27
Why? Because we haven't put enough crap in the oceans already? hunter Sep 2012 #32
I wonder if, for $1 trillion....... Bluefin Tuna Sep 2012 #33
Biggest bang for the buck... liberal N proud Sep 2012 #35
So will you have us all move then? nt Confusious Sep 2012 #55
That's the thing about wind turbines, you can build them nearly anywhere. liberal N proud Sep 2012 #58
I guess I misunderstood. Confusious Sep 2012 #68
Every TD bank has solar panels covring the roof of the drive in DainBramaged Sep 2012 #49
Yes, thank you Confusious Sep 2012 #54
on sustainable energy theKed Sep 2012 #61
Energy descent is coming. abumbyanyothername Sep 2012 #62
it's already started. There's a wind power conference next month to discuss next phases NightWatcher Sep 2012 #34
Fantastic. liberal N proud Sep 2012 #36
Natural gas is expanding faster than wind. joshcryer Sep 2012 #39
I wonder how that would affect the currents? XemaSab Sep 2012 #42
Ocean or air? liberal N proud Sep 2012 #43
The UK is already working on a carbon fiber vertical windmill. Half the weight, twice the power. The Midway Rebel Sep 2012 #46
The day will come when we have no choice DainBramaged Sep 2012 #47
Seems like a realy great idea to me. nt Zorra Sep 2012 #48
Ain't gonna work. abumbyanyothername Sep 2012 #50
The use of lots of powerful nuclear energy (if SAFE) Bluefin Tuna Sep 2012 #53
People will eventually consume less abumbyanyothername Sep 2012 #59
Sounds like Malthus. Bluefin Tuna Sep 2012 #66
Sigh. abumbyanyothername Sep 2012 #67
Once dinosaurs like you get out of the way RandiFan1290 Sep 2012 #60
NIMBY Auntie Bush Sep 2012 #63
BANANA backscatter712 Sep 2012 #69
I like that much better! Auntie Bush Sep 2012 #73
Of course, if we develop fusion power, we won't need to consume less Occulus Sep 2012 #65
"Power the east coast" drm604 Sep 2012 #51
What about the midwest? is it included? nt Confusious Sep 2012 #56
The same number as those who will be "saved" according to Revelation. nt Deep13 Sep 2012 #52
Would be hell on the bird populations pediatricmedic Sep 2012 #71
Communication towers kill more birds - Cars kill more birds... liberal N proud Sep 2012 #72
There's a difference between 40,000 house sparrows XemaSab Sep 2012 #74
Compared to global warming? liberal N proud Sep 2012 #76
That ship has sailed XemaSab Sep 2012 #82
BURN MORE COAL! liberal N proud Sep 2012 #83
Add 144,000 wind turbines, I think that number might just go up. TheManInTheMac Sep 2012 #78
Power from Indiana wind turbines B Calm Sep 2012 #77
The poll is 90% for and 10% against. sarcasmo Sep 2012 #79
From the NY Times bighart Sep 2012 #80
Offshore wind is 4 or 5 times as expensive as natural gas fired combined cycle badtoworse Sep 2012 #84
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Study: 144,000 wind turbi...»Reply #75