I’m creating a series of short videos on renewable energy’s inroads in the American Heartland.
These are based on my interview with University of Michigan researcher Sara Mills – who has studied impacts of wind energy in Michigan’s rural counties and villages.
More below.
Apex Clean Energy says it will build two 400 megawatt wind farms next to each other in the Texas Panhandle. Taken together, the projects are large even by the standards of Texas, which leads the country in wind energy capacity.
=> Virginia company to build $1.2 billion Panhandle wind farm
When it’s a large (2x400MW) installation in a relatively remote area, transmission lines become a major issue. Who’s paying for and maintaining new transmission lines.
Enquiring minds want to know!
Nobody knows. They must have missed all that when they were doing the calculations that resulted in payments going to pensions and schools because of the money they thought they were saving.
You could ask the same question for the Hoover Dam, rhymeswithgoalie. Transmission doesn’t seem to be a problem there. No need to kill elephants with AC.
A discussion on the opposition to wind in Henry County, Indiana would be informative.
https://indianaeconomicdigest.com/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=92466
It looks like counties *surrounding* Henry County, Indiana have an opportunity to take advantage of their neighbor’s opposition, and reap the economic benefits.
As for the HC vote against the wind turbines, perhaps the residents see only cost (e.g., the “eyesore” problem) and no benefit (county revenue hidden or minimal).
the “anti” strategy is to obfuscate the benefits, while exaggerating the down side.
they thrive in information vacuum – these vids are meant to address that.
Henry County voted for Trump in 2016 by 13,895 to 5,124. That’s 73% to 27%. No surprise that they would be equally “ignorant” when it comes to wind power.
These are on youtube under Greenmanbucket.
playlist here