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I have been fixated on the idea lately that our projects should have not only solar but wind power as a supplement to the grid. Unfortunately the idea has been shut down by a few of the more logical thinkers in the office. Come to find out that Sacramento does not get enough wind for most of the year to even get the things turning.
But this idea is one that I think is worth exploring. There is untapped energy potential all around us and we are going to get better and better at harnessing it as energy gets harder to find and thus more expensive.
I have to admit I am still a little sad that the Newton Booth project we are working on will not have wind turbines spinning on the roof for all the world to see.
Levi
Update: There may be another solution that would work in Sacramento. Anyone heard of these?
2 responses so far ↓
1 Steve // Nov 27, 2007 at 1:18 am
would love to see them on Newton Booth too - as long as they were working! I wanted to be a wind turbine designer at one point in my life. There is a great wind resource area down by Rio Vista that SMUD is tapping into and has room to grow.
http://www.smud.org/community-environment/wind/index.html
I think if you sign up for Greenergy you are supporting it. And it gives you another reason to love the delta breeze.
To see some of the other wind resources around the state check out:
http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/wind.html
At 5 cents a kWh it is by for the most economical renewable source.
2 wburg // Nov 28, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Those look very cool indeed! Mini turbines that could fit anywhere, generate power in cities, and make use of minimal winds…neat!
In general, the idea of making the most use of otherwise wasted energy, that is just there for the taking, is profoundly important. The main problem is getting the idea running, then people will realize how head-slappingly obvious it was in the first place.
The wind turbines by Rio Vista are very close to the Western Railway Museum. While some folks were concerned about the turbines’ effect on the landscape, and what was otherwise pretty much unspoiled rural farmland, it’s amazing how well wind turbines fit into the landscape. These are massive, massive machines–the generator housings are bigger than a 40-foot tractor trailer rig–but they just have this calm stillness to them. It’s also kind of cool that they generate power for the electric trains at Rio Vista Junction.
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