Comments on: Big Wind, Renewable Energy Boost as Illinois Gov. Quinn Announces Rock Island Clean Line Project Labor Agreement

By: Block RICL

Block RICL — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:29:00 +0000

eix53 Thank goodness for someone pointing out the huge errors in “Clean” Line’s koolaid sales pitch.

Gotta love Quinn saying that Southwire is going to “supply” the wire. Notice he doesn’t say “manufacture.” Wonder what Illinois company is going to “supply” the monstrous up to 46 x 46 foot square and 200 foot high lattice structures probably from China.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:28:00 +0000

i’ll just tag this post on here, on wind energy capacity factors and energy efficiency (since you, understandably, got tired of talking with this propagandist): http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/07/wind-turbines-waste-much-less-energy-than-fossil-fuels

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 02:39:00 +0000

Spain is undergoing some hard financial times for exactly the same reason as is the US.

Spain got carried away with their own housing bubble and financial industry ‘games’ and it crashed down on them.

As for Texas, you must not know how merit order pricing works. Look it up. But basically having a bunch of cheap wind on their grid lets Texas utilities pay less for power.

Is someone “paying” for that? Well, the people who used to sell power at higher prices to Texas customers aren’t making as much money so you might argue that they are paying. More reasonably, they’re profiting less. Free market bit their butts.

Wind capacity – you don’t have even a slightly warmed over clue. And I’m too tired to mess with any more of your foolishness.

By: eix53

eix53 — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 22:48:00 +0000

Isn’t Spain going broke, that country has liek a 25% unemployment rate and no opportunity for young people.If electric costs are going down in Texas due to wind someone is paying for it. Also Texas is benefiting due to low natural gas costs. Energy Information Administration says the installed cost of wind is $2400/KW. So the 3500 MW’s of capacity that Illinois doesn’t need will have an installed cost of about $8.750 billion.(Of course the wind energy is being imported from other states) Whoever invested that needs a return, of course our government subsidies some of that cost. The problem with the wind plants is that they only operate at a 20% capacity factor unlike thermal & nuclear that operate at 60% and above. So you may as well triple the installed $/kw. Of course most of that money goes to manufacturers in India (Suzelon), Mexico & Europe. This transmission line is a very bad idea for the residents of Illinois as well as investment in wind power. Invest in something that will get manufactured goods we use in this state that are imported from elsewhere. Keep our power producing jobs in this state.

By: eix53

eix53 — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 22:23:00 +0000

Won’t this ultimately lose a lot of Illinois jobs because it will cause the shutdown of Illinois plants because 3500 MW’s will be coming in from Iowa, Minnesota & South Dakota. It will mean the loss of tax revenues from these plants which support local communities. We saw this in Zion & Morris in recent years. Every one knows there is no wind turbine or equipment manufacturers in Illinois because high taxes and a bad business environment drives manufacturers out.This is the main reason our state can’t pay its bills. I don’t know where they come up with the ridiculous figures they are quoting above. Oh wait it is probably the governors cronies and their lawyer fees. What would prevent anyone from dumping 3500 MW’s cheap reliable coal power made in South Dakota and Iowa through these lines. This is more bad news for Illinois. The installed $/kw cost of a wind turbine is greater then that of a nuclear power plant plus operationally they only run at about a 20% capacity factor and you can’t control when they generate. The only reason they are being built is due to large federal subsidies. In addition to that they drive up the cost of delivered electricity to the consumer which is really going to hurt the poor. All the capital equipment with the possible exception of the transformers and cable are built overseas. I agree with tri city they definitely will not lower electric bills. This country needs to put money into things that create american jobs but they don’t need the government and buffons like Pat Quinn to dictate where money is invested. Southwire does have a plant in Flora, Il that makes cable but once that cable is made, if they make it there and not at their Mexican or Canadian plants all the impacts will be negative for Illinois. How about building 3500 MW’s of power plants at the old Morris, Il that would jump start that whole area and provide a lot more union jobs.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Wow, way off here.

Wind does lower the cost of electricity: http://cleantechnica.com/world-wind-power/5/

Wind sounds are WAY overblown: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=384208774930332&set=a.379490175402192.96376.154039257947286&type=3&theater
(And, yeah, compare them to a coal train.)

Blades fall off?

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Perhaps you should try looking at places where wind generation has become a significant contributor to the grid.

Texas and Spain are two such places. Both have seen their cost of electricity drop because wind has replaced more expensive methods of generation.

Oh, and do be careful when crossing railroad tracks. Those coal trains just can’t stop quickly….

By: Tri City

Tri City — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:40:00 +0000

My feelings are blatantly —disgusting is what you people are all about —as an observer —all I see is a desecration of our countryside that hasn’t lowered anyone’s electric bill. So go ahead subscribers —keep collecting your royalty fee for the next few years and —keep farming around them —but when they start making those weird, awful sounds— make sure you get far,and fast away—especially when those propeller blades start to fall off.