The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry Recently the horizon of my back yard changed. What was once a clear view of the Western sky has now become polluted with crimson lights that flash in perfect unison at night and during the daytime, visible wings that transfer wind into energy. Honestly, I don’t like my new view. I much appreciated the uninterrupted landscape allowing my eyes to wander as far as they could see. I loved being able to watch the storms roll in and up towards the north or the neighbor’s cows roaming freely through the fields. My backyard view was a beautiful, peaceful, and serene site.
Why am I so bothered by this change? Simply put, it’s another way that states have jumped on the bandwagon to “save the earth” due to governmental regulations on the environment before analyzing all of the costs, outcomes, and procedures involved.
I am highly aware of the advertised benefits that wind power provides, but just like any other strategy to preserve this globe, only enough research is completed up front to show value in the savings of money, yet as time passes, the product being presented as the latest and greatest is actually not as wonderful as it was first represented. There are always more costs involved than what is originally viewed as a savings.
According to “a fascinating new report by George Taylor and Tom Tanton at the American Tradition Institute called “The Hidden Costs of Wind Electricity” asserts that the cost of wind power is significantly understated by the EIA’s numbers… That’s because the numbers from the EIA and wind boosters fail to take into account a host of infrastructure and transmission costs.” (Forbes.com) With thorough research, Taylor and Tanton analyzed several components before officially reporting their findings
Here are some of the main points from their report that are not always taken into consideration when looking to establish a wind farm:
- The windiest places are often far away from an electrical source.
- Even linking into an existing power grid is decreasing, therefore a rise in cost for bigger power lines will be needed.
- The wind doesn’t blow all the time
- Most calculations of the cost of wind power do not take into account the costs per kWh of keeping fossil plants on standby or running at reduced loads.
- Due to the increase of expenses, taxpayers will have to pay more money overtime for a less efficient, more expensive technology
I am not opposed to taking care of the place that God has given us to dwell in. However, when one jumps onto the environmental bandwagon, they need to first complete all of their homework before expanding the cost onto the taxpayer’s dollars and to take a glance into the world’s horizon before it becomes polluted with the very items that are trying to save it.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
I remember when I was stationed with the U.S. Army over in Germany. There were windmills all over the place. I can’t say I know much about wind energy, but sometimes the windmills are pretty to look at. Anyway, I don’t know that they’re anymore efficient that anything else, especially after reading this article. Also, I don’t think using wind power is an option for most, especially those in larger cities. But hey, at least it’s an idea, and sometimes small ideas become bigger ideas. Maybe they’ll eventually become more efficient than they are, but this is a baseline for them. Just a thought. Thanks for sharing. God bless.