[Coral-List] Need for more oil
Eugene Shinn
eshinn at marine.usf.edu
Wed May 19 10:12:18 EDT 2010
For those calling for offshore windmills I have reproduced a letter
published in the St. Petersburg Times a couple of months ago. It was
written By Dr. Robert Weisberg who is one of the leading authorities
on the loop current and currently providing vital information on the
Gulf spill trajectory.
The title of the letter is OVERBLOWN ENERGY SOURCE
Alternative energy schemes are overhyped to the point of being
folklore. Hence it is not surprising that well-intentioned
suggestions are published, such as the one that the answer to west
Florida's energy needs "is blowin in the wind."
Unfortunately the folklore itself is overblown. Based on 10
years of offshore wind observations plus commercial specifications
for a GE 3.6 megawatt wind turbine, Florida's west coast can on
annual average provide about 1 MW of power per turbine. Rated
capacity is not achieved because the wind must blow 7 knots just to
turn the blades.
Given that the TECO Big Bend power plant is rated at 1,800 MW,
we would need 1,800 of these turbines to replace that one power
plant. And these turbines are behemoths, equivalent in area to
tilting Raymond James Stadium on end. Sitting 1,800 of these along
the coast line 1 km apart would require stacking them three deep from
Tallahassee to Key West. Just imagine the coastal community uproar to
this invasion of the coastline.
The reality is that wind energy can merely supplement, not
replace power generation by conventional means. Similar can be said
of other overhyped methods. The real alternative is nuclear, but few
wish to speak about that.
Robert H. Weisberg, distinguised university professor, College of
Marine Science-USF
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I (Gene) might mention that I serve on the MMS science advisory
committee and the offshore windmill subcommittee. At our last meeting
I learned more about the windmill problems from an MMS official.
1. They violate the clean air act because boats have to used to service them.
2. They violate the Antiquities act (visual impairment of the scenery).
3. They interfere with certain native American spiritual practices.
4..The Coast Guard has not determined how to light them.
5. Bird strikes.
6. Bat strikes.
All of these problems have to be overcome not to mention a certain
high profile Family that does not want to see the Cape Wind project
off their coast. A similar problem exists with Native Americans
concerning a proposal for 100 windmills in Rhode Island Sound.
I personally have no problems with windmills but then I have no
problems with offshore rigs..they remind me of offshore lighthouses
which in the Florida keys are considered poetic and beautiful
cultural resources. Gene
--
No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
E. A. Shinn, Courtesy Professor
University of South Florida
Marine Science Center (room 204)
140 Seventh Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
<eshinn at marine.usf.edu>
Tel 727 553-1158----------------------------------
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