Wind Energy now cheaper
Someone suggested that converting 3% of America's farmland to wind power would provide 95% of America's electricity requirements.
Let's pretend that all that we read about wind power is true (and there are many opposing views) - ultimately we are removing energy from a system that has previously been untapped. And 95% of America's electricity requirements is a LOT of energy.
What will the effect of that be?
One slightly preposterous thought of mine is that the earth's rotation could be slowed. Well - we would be creating quite a strong opposing force...
I read someone suggesting that removing energy from the atmosphere would help combat global warming - sounds silly at first, but if you look at the net equation it seems plausable.
I think the pundits from Tram Town may well have something to add here...
01:15 AM, 15 Sep 2004 by Mark Aufflick Permalink
95%... ptooey!
95% would mean that it would be generating a significant proportion of base load which would require the wind to be blowing all the time for most of the turbines. Sorry, it won't happen. Also, on your preposterous thought, whilst some effect might exist it would be insignificant in comparison to natural barriers such as mountains and forests and they don't seem to causing any problematic slowing at this stage. Also consider the amount of energy lost due to the friction caused by oceanic water and magma flows. And these arguments I am pulling out of my arse with very little research. Wind power... no bloody good! Semi, one of the TramTown pundits
by Unregistered Visitor on 09/16/04