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Huge wind project breaks new ground for Idaho

Idaho Statesman -- BLISS - A 327,000-acre range fire that burned through seven Idaho Power Co. transmission lines couldn't stop energy developers and Gov. Butch Otter from celebrating what could become the largest wind energy project in Idaho.

The fire had forced organizers to move a "blade signing" - as wind-power developers call a groundbreaking - from the plateau above Hagerman, where several of the wind turbines will be erected, to the nearby town of Bliss. And even though seven transmission structures and 75 to 100 electric distribution poles were burned in the fire that began Saturday, the blades of an existing wind farm turned in the breeze.

"The very same winds that fanned the brush fire will turn the turbines to produce clean energy," said GE Energy Financial Services President and CEO Alex Urquha

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Submitted Aug 25, 2010 By: fmfbgp

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Army2310 Rookie Author Arizona Posts:54 Points:996,760 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 31, 2010 9:20:28 AM Ignore Army2310 Report Abuse Very interesting.
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:12,392 Points:2,180,040 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 27, 2010 7:41:24 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse The only problem I have with it is that they still required government grants and tax exemptions in order to be economically competitive.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:4,716 Points:1,658,720 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 27, 2010 7:30:04 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse It makes sense, where the wind blows enough...
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,285 Points:1,145,225 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 7:41:40 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Yea ID. Works for NE, why not ID.
Bonanza Champion Author Boston Posts:9,312 Points:2,088,980 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 4:37:36 AM Ignore Bonanza Report Abuse I hope it works for Idaho
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:4,257 Points:1,400,485 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 4:23:32 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse NOT GOOD
skiaustin Sophomore Author Austin Posts:179 Points:1,113,115 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 1:02:05 AM Ignore skiaustin Report Abuse I really like the idea of Wind (and solar, etc.) power, however, it introduces new, very complex problems in load balancing and distribution. Wind can be inconsistent and predominate at night while the highest demand loads are during the day and largely in areas other then open landscapes with wind turbines. Transmission losses can be substantial!
bigreddwg Champion Author Tampa Posts:4,967 Points:1,042,630 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:56:15 AM Ignore bigreddwg Report Abuse yes, winds blow day and night so energy can be produced around the clock unlike solar panels!! one question has to be asked, why do the turbines have to be so tall/large?? is there not a smaller curvilinear version that can turn vertically that then allows winds to come from any direction??
Asbury09 Champion Author Iowa Posts:4,988 Points:1,073,655 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:19:28 AM Ignore Asbury09 Report Abuse huge area to support a large number of turbins
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:6,024 Points:1,450,120 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:10:56 AM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse Idaho should be a good place for this project.
72_Monte Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,449 Points:1,534,455 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:09:07 AM Ignore 72_Monte Report Abuse They oughta color the blades in real bright colors. PINWHEELS!!
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:6,403 Points:1,513,670 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:07:03 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Wind mill usage is common place in this part of PA and has been for centuries. I like seeing wind power being researched to produce CLEAN energy where ever possible. It certainly should be less expensive and more reliable than any other method, including nuclear which is number two in my pecking order.
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:6,221 Points:1,236,505 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:06:38 AM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Idaho has plenty of space to build a wind farm.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:15,412 Points:3,057,405 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:03:17 AM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Based upon the past in CA; bird lovers will fight the wind projects.
madison8359 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:5,757 Points:1,130,665 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00:35 AM Ignore madison8359 Report Abuse Wind power is coming so we all can celebrate.
kyrunner Champion Author Lexington Posts:6,605 Points:1,235,140 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00:12 AM Ignore kyrunner Report Abuse Sure hope they are able to build the transmission lines to get it out to the users. Environmentalists will put road blocks up at every opportunity.
AuburnTim Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,714 Points:1,288,690 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:54:05 PM Ignore AuburnTim Report Abuse Build it and worry about problems later
Rt118E Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:6,724 Points:908,685 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:52:19 PM Ignore Rt118E Report Abuse This is going to be an up coming producer of electric energy.
adr47 Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:4,855 Points:1,019,855 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:51:47 PM Ignore adr47 Report Abuse Move it to Washington or Ottawa lots of windy politicians there
96sc1 Champion Author El Paso Posts:7,440 Points:1,145,530 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:44:17 PM Ignore 96sc1 Report Abuse Gov. Butch Otter? You can't make stuff like that up.
jcurley Champion Author California Posts:5,650 Points:1,325,345 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:41:07 PM Ignore jcurley Report Abuse Wind energy caused by politicians? Could be! Idaho is a very conservative state!
REVLAW Champion Author San Antonio Posts:8,037 Points:1,542,215 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:40:22 PM Ignore REVLAW Report Abuse Washington D.C. is the perfect place for a wind farm ... lots of hot air and "wind generation" there.
CumminsFanOH Champion Author Columbus Posts:1,670 Points:827,990 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:37:23 PM Ignore CumminsFanOH Report Abuse Wind energy? Does this mean 'hot air'? From politicians, probably.
vollee All-Star Author Cincinnati Posts:521 Points:453,035 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:37:16 PM Ignore vollee Report Abuse This is literally p*ssing into the wind! Feels good for awhile, then it gets cold and uncomfortable.
miteybear Champion Author California Posts:6,877 Points:1,131,645 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:37:02 PM Ignore miteybear Report Abuse if it works , good
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:3,555 Points:392,610 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:36:04 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Very good!
NotmeuQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:3,325 Points:671,870 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:29:27 PM Ignore NotmeuQc Report Abuse Good for them, I hope it works.
Bezalel Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:9,774 Points:1,831,325 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:26:21 PM Ignore Bezalel Report Abuse Already in use in Europe for electricity. Windmills have been powering things such as grain mills for centuries.
LoneGuy Champion Author Lansing Posts:6,163 Points:1,859,705 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:25:44 PM Ignore LoneGuy Report Abuse They like the clear open country but how about the trees gone now that used to turn co2 to water and oxigen. They might get into the California style mud slides.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,859 Points:761,825 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:25:43 PM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse Lets see how the people react to this. In this state people are fighting it. There are people that will protest anything.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:4,924 Points:1,280,430 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:20:44 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse It will be interesting to see how well wind turbines handel the real world.
Jeff1944 Champion Author South Dakota Posts:3,104 Points:680,815 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:19:17 PM Ignore Jeff1944 Report Abuse I ask the same question of the solar people: how many Chinese and Mexicans will this development unemploy by 2020?
JaniBop Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,124 Points:1,189,740 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:17:49 PM Ignore JaniBop Report Abuse Talk about breaking wind...lol.
Bruno44 Champion Author Texas Posts:4,856 Points:1,325,800 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:17:25 PM Ignore Bruno44 Report Abuse Govt will find a way to tax the wind.
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:7,018 Points:1,400,195 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:16:13 PM Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse We still will need all types of energy for now and in the foreseeable future.
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,167 Points:1,205,650 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:11:12 PM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse What we need to help break our dependence on fossil fuels, to generate electricity.
WxWegman Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,440 Points:574,660 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:10:39 PM Ignore WxWegman Report Abuse I wish there were more effective ways of harnessing wind power than having thousands of wind farms. Technology development still has a long way to go.
CobraLeader Champion Author New Jersey Posts:267,902 Points:1,200,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:07:58 PM Ignore CobraLeader Report Abuse ... Just remember that the wing blows for free. ...
ssect8 Champion Author Hartford Posts:5,629 Points:1,665,880 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:05:11 PM Ignore ssect8 Report Abuse Solar and wind are a waste of time and money, I wonder how long it will be before people wake up to that fact, I assume not in my life time.
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:8,172 Points:1,395,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:04:15 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse This makes me puke.
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:6,060 Points:1,818,465 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:03:25 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse More wind farms to solve our energy needs. Sounds good, but is it?
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:3,308 Points:1,101,545 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 11:00:38 PM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse and this relates to automobiles, how ?
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:7,232 Points:1,173,310 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:58:58 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Invite a few of us for cocktails and we'll volunteer to put one up LexusMark
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:7,232 Points:1,173,310 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:58:12 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse No wind farms in the USA have failed yet mikaye and wind energy has been growing for over 40 years now. Try a more positive outlook on breaking the chains from Big Oil and the Coal Barons too.
DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,790 Points:1,172,455 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:57:48 PM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse we'll see how long this takes...
Tatalah Champion Author Riverside Posts:8,813 Points:2,007,005 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:54:02 PM Ignore Tatalah Report Abuse My new favorite word "renewable"
traindude Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:5,615 Points:1,246,100 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:52:03 PM Ignore traindude Report Abuse the dawn of a new age. the first steps walking away from the oil teet
bigreddwg Champion Author Tampa Posts:4,967 Points:1,042,630 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:48:52 PM Ignore bigreddwg Report Abuse unlike solar panels, wind turbines can be powered thru the night by nature's breathe!! i wonder if they have to be so tall or large to work effectively??
mikaye Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,811 Points:458,620 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:46:59 PM Ignore mikaye Report Abuse how long until the cost of the plant is passed on to the consumer?? will consumers not serviced by this plant have to pay for it? if it fails will they still have to pay (like some atomic plants)
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:5,168 Points:967,835 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 10:32:15 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse "The $500 million project will become Idaho's biggest wind project and one of the largest in the entire Pacific Northwest. Once completed, the 11 farms will be able to generate 183 megawatts, enough to power 39,700 Idaho homes." That comes out at $12,594 per home. With a utility bill of $200/mo. it would take about 63 yrs just to repay the construction cost much less the salaries of these jobs they mention and maintenance. Who comes up with these ridiculous ideas that can't be self sustaining. Also fire risk, I hope this isn't a frequent occurrence. If they have a lot of brush fires there and keep having to repair or replace equipment that will increase the cost of generating energy from the project even more. Maybe they don't care if it makes a profit they can just keep getting more gov. grants with our tax dollars.