I noticed that Vail, Colorado has chosen wind-power instead of coal burning sources of energy. I wonder why the coastal regions around Florida are not ringed by tall 3-bladed wind power thingies. Instead of the fight over drilling off-shore into Florida waters we should be investing in perfecting solar energy cells. The shift to wind-power is already proven and here we go choosing one energy source over the use of coal burning or burning oil for electricity.
Over twenty years ago California hillsides were dotted with wind-power towers. When driving up from southern California to northern destinations we heard that these were boondoggles for investors for there were incentives to exploit the wind for power as an alternative to digging for more oil while resources underground were depleted. This was after that disastrous adventure in the North Slope of Alaska to bring its oil down into the lower 48.
What is most distressing is the knowledge that wind power basically cannot despoil the ecology of any area. Those towers look funny but so did the rigs that were used to drill for oil at the beginning of the 20th Century. For over a hundred and fifty years power from water falls or moving rivers have been harnessed to move machinery we need for our enterprises. The dams built to control flooding also are a fine source of electrification of huge areas. The waters continue to flow despite droughts and weather changes. Oil is the resource of choice despite its flaws.
Solar energy is there for inventive and inspired individuals and companies to build the better cell so that the sun that shines all day, every day – even through the smog, fog and clouds - can provide electricity wherever we need it. When you think about it you realize it is the rapacious and politically powerful oil interests that prevent development of pollution free electric energy from wind and the sun.
There is a complicated exchange of energy credits involved in the Vail, Colorado choice to go to wind-power. Rather than erect tall towers with three bladed rotors, they will buy power produced by wind-power elsewhere. This is a beginning. Vail will be the third largest user of such power in the country. It is a promising signal to all those with vision and willingness to cooperated to change our wasteful ways.
My vote is for solar power which can plainly be seen working throughout the year despite our rainy and hurricane season. Those solar cells are just waiting for tweaking in order to make them work as well as the cells used in our space vehicles. There is no oil up there. And, by the way – there is this heat wave beating up the U.S. Antiquated oil and coal burning plants cannot meet the current demand.