———– First I support wind and about to become a wind generator producer myself. But being as dependent on big wind like this article assumes is problematic.
———– It doesn’t mention either the cost or whether there is enough copper to make both the WT’s and the transmission lines. The problem is most of the WT’s are too far from their loads which also jumps up line losses.
———– The reason so much wind is getting built is they are more investment vehicles generating commissions, interest rates and dividends with electric production more as a nessasary byproduct.
———— The solution really is home and building size WT’s along with solar especially concentrated solar power that also supplies heat as a byproduct. Not only does this cut transmission line costs and losses but the customer save/make retail costs and save all the overhead of big wind and utilities that are 2-3x’s as much.
———— But that is only after load reduction/eff/conservation as the cheapest power is that one doesn’t use.
———— What also wasn’t mentioned is transport benefits of EV’s as both load leveling by modulating charging mostly at late night and even putting power back into the grid for peak demand with their already 50-200kw inverters that Ford/ACPropulsion did in the 90′s on their Ford Ranger EV Pickups.
————- Add small, medium size gen 4-5 nukes that are inherently safe and burn up the waste from present nukes that need to let end before they become too dangerous, to replace them.
———– Add on low temp geothermal style generators on any heat source like nuke, NG, biomass, Solar thermal between the steam exhaust and the condensor that cuts condensor costs, energy while making almost free power from rejected heat. Many industrial waste heat should have these too.
————- Plus lmited dam hydro and much more river/tidal hydro without dams plus waste biomass and some NG to fill in the high demand peaks and you’ll have a reasonably priced and abundant if not wasted enerrgy supply for our long term future.