Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

In the US, some states are almost entirely wind-powered now. It can work with the right geography. I'm in Iowa, and some days our entire demand is met by this. But it costs - about $1B per Gigawatt. Estimates are an average of about 1/3 total potential (windy days per year).

Still, nuclear is the clear winner in the long run. You can make as much as you want, and put it where its needed. Wind is entirely opportunistic.

And I'm not sure wind total-cost-of-ownership is even positive. Those towers cost money, and they require maintenance and have a life span.



>almost entirely wind-powered now. It

Wind provides base-load? Since when?

Behind every big wind deployment is a natural-gas company awash with profits. Seriously, natural gas companies are probably the biggest lobby groups for, and proponents of, wind and solar these days. Just look a little deeper into any major wind deployment and you'll see a natural gas company staring back at you. Why?


Last year, wind in Iowa surpassed coal. And yes gas is the big supplier here, because of all the grain drying mostly.


Yep. I know nothing about Iowa, but I can bet Iowan wind farms were constructed by a natural gas company (or at least natural gas company was a big investor). Natural gas companies LOVE wind power because it means more demand and more customers for natural gas.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: