My son works building the wind power grid across the US. The blades only last 3-5 years. They are vulnerable as well. We better do better starting with crazy in the WH cuz the path we’re on is deadly. Yes. Animals.
Don’t be so nasty. You sound like a Dumpy supporter and that’s not a compliment. My bad if I understood it wrong. I’ll find out. I doubt you’re the expert you think you are. Get some rest and try again. Being kind can be tough for some we know rhat. That’s why the WH is the way it is. Evil
So arguing that wind turbines last longer than three years makes me a Trump supporter? Seriously have you ever looked at what he says about wind turbines?
For the record, there are lots of international sources that back me up on the fact that wind turbines are pretty durable, and that wind power is the second most efficient source of power (after solar).
If I came across as nasty, my apologies - but over DECADES I have seen claims like that from the anti renewables lobby, and quite frankly I do get a bit short when they start spouting misinformation. If you are not in the same camp, I do sincerely apologise, but I would advise that no matter where you heard the information, always cross reference from several sources. Academic (university) based sources are usually a good bet, but international ones are probably best for US citizens at the moment as reliable sources within the US are being attacked by the Trump administration. .
A case of texting confusion…The wind Generators can last 35 (thirty five) years but the avg is 20. In 2020 not so much. There have been improvements and that’s a good thing. (They aren’t building many wind farms any more) Initially Koch brothers were in on the fast cash on their ranches in KS, of course.
Marianne is correct. Good example of incorrect info without a derogatory intention. (35 posted as 3-5) Be aware of that! Practice grace and humility. It’s few and far between these days starting with our leadership. We can still do better re: the planet but it’s a start. I support all efforts to stop destroying US 🌎 XGOP for MANY years. Nuff said.
Chiming in from Australia. When we get the occasional blackout here, it tends to be due to 1) storm damage, 2) some drunken S.O.B. taking out a power pole in their SUV or hotted-up car, or 3) a coal-fired power plant shytting itself because things have gotten too hot on that particular summer day. Renewables, combined with storage (and we have some massive batteries here, plus an integrated electricity grid across the nation) have actually been our saviours during those episodes. So please stop trying to project what is obviously northern hemisphere political incompetence onto us.
This is why journeyman power linemen are unsung heroes in times of darkness. My husband spent 47 years helping make the country safer. But, if it’s of a nefarious reason then all bets are off. The other scary thing, apprentices are harder to come by to replace an aging population of linemen.
I used to live in a small town on the south coast of Western Australia. Population about 400. When we had blackouts, which sometimes lasted for more than 24 hours, everything went dead. Those still lucky enough to have landlines could contact outside, but even though we had generators (because we were used to this) we had to factor in that no electronic systems worked. It was always a good idea to have some cash on hand if you needed to do shopping. Because of the difficulty of contacting outside during these times, you had the sense that if the world had ended, we might not know about it for days.
To be honest, if you are prepared for events like that, it's kind of nice living in a world where you have to get back to basics. It helps to make you more resourceful, and I think that's something we as a society have forgotten.
A bit over the top with the apocalyptic cloud. Phones wouldn't die immediately and therefore many flashlights would be used to find an exit. Oh no! I can't use the Internet for a while. I'll survive. Many people would panic yet many would remain calm and hopefully calm the ones down that can be talked off the ledge. I agree, the system is fragile and politics are preventing a more sustainable and reliable future. However, I don't see the apocalyptic nightmare described here...
And yet the oil biz billionaires have been investing in natural gas, solar and wind energy for 30 years. So once we finish burning coal or monitoring nuclear power plants from meltdowns for our electricity fix, they will again have their alternative energy spaceships ready.
Well put. Any system has weaknesses. The more complex the system, the greater the number of weaknesses. We can only safeproof so much of a system, such as standby generators, parallel means of supply, or selective switching of circuits. The actual cause of the Spain and Portugal power outage is not yet known. I am sure that whatever it was, some sort of remedy will be found.
Yet we could be self sufficient cheaply on solar & renewables - but that’s not corporate control nor good for them
My son works building the wind power grid across the US. The blades only last 3-5 years. They are vulnerable as well. We better do better starting with crazy in the WH cuz the path we’re on is deadly. Yes. Animals.
I call bullshit on that. Wind turbines last for decades. The ones I saw installed in 1999 are still there and have not been replaced.
Don’t be so nasty. You sound like a Dumpy supporter and that’s not a compliment. My bad if I understood it wrong. I’ll find out. I doubt you’re the expert you think you are. Get some rest and try again. Being kind can be tough for some we know rhat. That’s why the WH is the way it is. Evil
So arguing that wind turbines last longer than three years makes me a Trump supporter? Seriously have you ever looked at what he says about wind turbines?
For the record, there are lots of international sources that back me up on the fact that wind turbines are pretty durable, and that wind power is the second most efficient source of power (after solar).
If I came across as nasty, my apologies - but over DECADES I have seen claims like that from the anti renewables lobby, and quite frankly I do get a bit short when they start spouting misinformation. If you are not in the same camp, I do sincerely apologise, but I would advise that no matter where you heard the information, always cross reference from several sources. Academic (university) based sources are usually a good bet, but international ones are probably best for US citizens at the moment as reliable sources within the US are being attacked by the Trump administration. .
Apology accepted.
A case of texting confusion…The wind Generators can last 35 (thirty five) years but the avg is 20. In 2020 not so much. There have been improvements and that’s a good thing. (They aren’t building many wind farms any more) Initially Koch brothers were in on the fast cash on their ranches in KS, of course.
Marianne is correct. Good example of incorrect info without a derogatory intention. (35 posted as 3-5) Be aware of that! Practice grace and humility. It’s few and far between these days starting with our leadership. We can still do better re: the planet but it’s a start. I support all efforts to stop destroying US 🌎 XGOP for MANY years. Nuff said.
Chiming in from Australia. When we get the occasional blackout here, it tends to be due to 1) storm damage, 2) some drunken S.O.B. taking out a power pole in their SUV or hotted-up car, or 3) a coal-fired power plant shytting itself because things have gotten too hot on that particular summer day. Renewables, combined with storage (and we have some massive batteries here, plus an integrated electricity grid across the nation) have actually been our saviours during those episodes. So please stop trying to project what is obviously northern hemisphere political incompetence onto us.
Beautiful writing. You made me feel like I was there.
Scared, confused and horrified.
But I always have a glimmer of hope in the background.
Maybe because I’m fighting.
And I’m a mom.
Brilliant writing and terrifying as hell.
This is why journeyman power linemen are unsung heroes in times of darkness. My husband spent 47 years helping make the country safer. But, if it’s of a nefarious reason then all bets are off. The other scary thing, apprentices are harder to come by to replace an aging population of linemen.
I hope Spain and Portugal are safe.
I used to live in a small town on the south coast of Western Australia. Population about 400. When we had blackouts, which sometimes lasted for more than 24 hours, everything went dead. Those still lucky enough to have landlines could contact outside, but even though we had generators (because we were used to this) we had to factor in that no electronic systems worked. It was always a good idea to have some cash on hand if you needed to do shopping. Because of the difficulty of contacting outside during these times, you had the sense that if the world had ended, we might not know about it for days.
To be honest, if you are prepared for events like that, it's kind of nice living in a world where you have to get back to basics. It helps to make you more resourceful, and I think that's something we as a society have forgotten.
I meant scary🤓
If you meant to get my attention you did. S army as hell.
A bit over the top with the apocalyptic cloud. Phones wouldn't die immediately and therefore many flashlights would be used to find an exit. Oh no! I can't use the Internet for a while. I'll survive. Many people would panic yet many would remain calm and hopefully calm the ones down that can be talked off the ledge. I agree, the system is fragile and politics are preventing a more sustainable and reliable future. However, I don't see the apocalyptic nightmare described here...
And yet the oil biz billionaires have been investing in natural gas, solar and wind energy for 30 years. So once we finish burning coal or monitoring nuclear power plants from meltdowns for our electricity fix, they will again have their alternative energy spaceships ready.
Well put. Any system has weaknesses. The more complex the system, the greater the number of weaknesses. We can only safeproof so much of a system, such as standby generators, parallel means of supply, or selective switching of circuits. The actual cause of the Spain and Portugal power outage is not yet known. I am sure that whatever it was, some sort of remedy will be found.
Really? I love your writing, but this one is just a bit over the top, perhaps.