Wind Turbine Towers

[Phil]

I just read this article today which suggest installing wind turbines into electricity pylons:

Inhabitat Wind Turbine Towers Win Metropolis Next Generation Prize!

Annoyingly, I thought up this idea years ago :-( Yet another idea down the drain

[hawaii]

I have heared that in US there so much wind potential that just three states South Carolina,TExas and one more stat could supplie all the electric power needs for the whole USA.

[b-baby]

Originally Posted by Phil

Annoyingly, I thought up this idea years ago :-( Yet another idea down the drain

Just goes to show you should patent every idea you have :p

Seriously though, what a great idea - neatly stops the arguments of those who don't like the thought of having actual turbines put up near them by using pylons that already exist...

[Mike]

I think these are a superb idea! and why are we not doing them now already!!

[KrisNY]

I think it's a super idea as well. I live near some of these wind turbines and let me tell you they are massive. The problem they are having right now is the propellers are coming off. Not all of them, but enough of them to not start them all up. Can you imagine the danger? If one of those flew off it could kill tons of people.

I'm all about finding alternative ways to get energy and electricity but it has to be safe.

[Phil]

The propellers come off? Surely with 100 years of aviation experience, we would've learned how to attach propellers properly!

[Mike]

eek, you wouldnt want that flying through your roof now would you!!

Zoikes.

[Greenbean]

Originally Posted by hawaii

I have heared that in US there so much wind potential that just three states South Carolina,TExas and one more stat could supplie all the electric power needs for the whole USA.

Would that third state be Colorado, by any chance? The high plains get SOME WIND, let me tell you.

There is a huge wind farm in the north of the state. I've flown from Denver to Cheyenne - it's a great, easy cross-country route - and the basic visual instructions are "go north until you run out of civilization; keep going; when you see the wind farm, you're nearly there."

Originally Posted by Phil

The propellers come off? Surely with 100 years of aviation experience, we would've learned how to attach propellers properly!

After flying for some 7 years in rental Cessnas, I can honestly say I have never worried about the propeller coming off. I mean, if it did, you'd just ("just"! ha) glide in for an emergency landing, but.... no. This does not make the top ten list for "reasons why small planes crash".

I very much doubt it makes the list for "reasons why wind turbines don't work" either, except in the dreams of some hard-nosed cynics.


On a similar note, it appears people are only just now talking about sinking turbines in the Mississippi River for hydroelectricity. Only now! {{facepalm}}