There goes wind power...

[Beet]

WASHINGTON - The wind, a favorite power source of the green energy movement, might be dying down across the United States. And global warming — the very problem wind power seeks to address — could be behind that.

The idea that winds may be slowing is still a speculative one, and scientists disagree whether that is happening. But a first-of-its-kind study suggests that average and peak wind speeds have been noticeably slowing since 1973, especially in the Midwest and the East.

"It's a very large effect," said study co-author Eugene Takle, a professor of atmospheric science at Iowa State University. In some places in the Midwest, the trend shows a 10 percent drop or more over a decade. That adds up when the average wind speed in the region is about 10 to 12 miles per hour.

...

The ambiguity of the results is due to changes in wind-measuring instruments over the years, according to Pryor. And while actual measurements found diminished winds, some climate computer models — which are not direct observations — did not, she said.

Yet, a couple of earlier studies also found wind reductions in Australia and Europe, offering more comfort that the U.S. findings are real, Pryor and Takle said.

It also makes sense based on how weather and climate work, Takle said. In global warming, the poles warm more and faster than the rest of the globe, and temperature records, especially in the Arctic, show this. That means the temperature difference between the poles and the equator shrinks and with it the difference in air pressure in the two regions. Differences in barometric pressure are a main driver in strong winds. Lower pressure difference means less wind.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31205508

[Stampever]

We should have more wind farms across the country, but trying to appease the environmentalists has been difficult.  No matter where the turbines are placed, birds are bound to fly into the rotors.  Interestingly enough, there is a lower impact on wildlife by drilling in ANWAR than there is with wind farms.

[Verily]

We should have more wind farms across the country, but trying to appease the environmentalists has been difficult.  No matter where the turbines are placed, birds are bound to fly into the rotors.  Interestingly enough, there is a lower impact on wildlife by drilling in ANWAR than there is with wind farms.

Well, like you said, depends where they are. Wind farms in southeastern Utah (outside of the national parks there, obviously) would have essentially zero environmental impact.

[??????????]

Obama says Iran should be allowed to have domestic energy from nuclear power. Why is the same standard not set here in the USA by President Obama?

[Purple State]

Obama says Iran should be allowed to have domestic energy from nuclear power. Why is the same standard not set here in the USA by President Obama?

Because if Iran has nuclear power, they will die when they fail at storing the wastes, duh...

Seriously, Obama isn't shutting down the nuclear power plants currently open throughout the country, so you're logic fails that. In addition, Obama has to worry about how America will store the nuclear wastes, while I'm sure he doesn't really care how/if Iran does. It's the difference between what is his responsibility and what is not.

[??????????]

Seriously, Obama isn't shutting down the nuclear power plants currently open throughout the country, so you're logic fails that.

Don't make up something I didn't say. Obama just doesn't want the challenge, he's to busy kowtowing to the environmentalists.

[Purple State]

Seriously, Obama isn't shutting down the nuclear power plants currently open throughout the country, so you're logic fails that.

Don't make up something I didn't say. Obama just doesn't want the challenge, he's to busy kowtowing to the environmentalists.

You asked why Obamasays Iran should be allowed to have domestic nuclear energy production, but doesn't set the same standard here in the US. But the US has domestic nuclear energy production and Obama is president and so your logic does, indeed, fail.

[justfollowingtheelections]

Obama had actually said during one of the debates that he will consider all the options, including nuclear, when it comes to energy

[Stampever]

Obama had actually said during one of the debates that he will consider all the options, including nuclear, when it comes to energy

He said a lot of things during the debates and the campaign that he has backed off from.

[ilikeverin]

And notice that they say the average is between 10 and 12 mph yet they're comfortable stating a 10% drop.  Wouldn't a 10% drop of 12 mph only be 10.8?  Still above the their huge average range.

Problems with statistics, much?

[CultureKing]

And notice that they say the average is between 10 and 12 mph yet they're comfortable stating a 10% drop.  Wouldn't a 10% drop of 12 mph only be 10.8?  Still above the their huge average range.

Problems with statistics, much?

Agreed, also wind farms are strategically placed, it isn't as if they put them in "average" places or for that matter only in the Mid-West. Also Wind turbines work at optimum efficiency when they are in the 20-30 mph of wind range. Many people don't realize that when winds hit a certain range (usually above 50 mph) they have to be shut down. So really they are looking for good wind consistency, not overall high winds.

Oh and someone was talking about the myth regarding wind farms and birds... In actuality the average wind turbine takes out less birds in a year than an american domestic cat (yeah, it really was not as much of an issue as had been previously thought).

[Stampever]

Oh and someone was talking about the myth regarding wind farms and birds... In actuality the average wind turbine takes out less birds in a year than an american domestic cat (yeah, it really was not as much of an issue as had been previously thought).

My comment was in regards to the protest by the environmentalists, not actually the number of birds themselves.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

We need more wind turbines, and more solar power plants, and more nuclear plants.

[CultureKing]

We need more wind turbines, and more solar power plants, and more nuclear plants.

Agreed. Though for nuclear there are going to have to be at least two states that need to bite the bullet and have permanent nuclear waste disposal sites (and at least one has to be in the eastern portion of the country, we can't keep trying to pawn it off to the West).

Oh and tidal generation, cause it's cool.

[MK]

Great, now the tree hugging liberals are going to say due to global warming we can't pursue green energy.  This will of coruse convince those in congress.

Thus more bills passed on emissions and other useless junk.