I like this guy!
Jstas
Posts: 14,842
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/19/pickens.qa/index.html
Using his brain and putting his oil money to good use!
There was another story a short while ago where GE or some other gigantic firm like that has a way to generate tons of solar power from 4 or 5 acres of desert land where the sun is there all the time. It's not just from really efficient solar cells either. They are talking about focusing solar radiation to generate steam to run generators. It's clean and if they can get it done right, it will likely generate as much or more power than a typical coal or natural gas fired plant.
I wish more people with big bucks like that would step up. If I had that kind of wealth, I'd be putting my money towards such things also. Best thing is, this oil dude has a way of making it profitable. With profit, there is incentive. That's awesome!
Using his brain and putting his oil money to good use!
There was another story a short while ago where GE or some other gigantic firm like that has a way to generate tons of solar power from 4 or 5 acres of desert land where the sun is there all the time. It's not just from really efficient solar cells either. They are talking about focusing solar radiation to generate steam to run generators. It's clean and if they can get it done right, it will likely generate as much or more power than a typical coal or natural gas fired plant.
I wish more people with big bucks like that would step up. If I had that kind of wealth, I'd be putting my money towards such things also. Best thing is, this oil dude has a way of making it profitable. With profit, there is incentive. That's awesome!
Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
Post edited by Jstas on
Comments
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He's absolutely right. Of all of the renewable resources, wind is probably the most viable right now. It's pretty much constant in certain areas, and the technology is here for easy implementation.
He is shrewd. Start in now, and stand to be in position for the big push later. I like it... -
This is what it takes -- guys with lots of money and a little bit of vision to begin putting stuff like this in place and make it affordable, then everyone will follow suit.HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50 LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub
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Great video. Straight talk from a pioneer.-Ignorance is strength -
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Hello
You know I would just love to put up a wind/solar setup out here on our farm in Montana. I've researched it a few times now over the years and I just get discouraged from the cost of this stuff. For a good reliable setup that would take care of most of the power out here would probably cost around 30,000. And to go "off grid" would be even more....
I've talked to our local rural electric company about it too and they currently don't offer net-metering, but my last e-mail to them sounded like the might be coming around too the idea.....
Yes their are tax credits available but not nearly enough to make a dent right now.....Testing
Testing
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Wind is great until they want to put the windmills by your house or in your town.
This is nothing new. -
They can put a windmill up near me. It'd be entertaining watching all the stupid birds fly into the giant blades.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
I wish more people with clout and sense would wake up and help make this type of technology mainstay.
-Luc -
Wind is great until they want to put the windmills by your house or in your town.
This is nothing new.
That's the attitude which hobbles this country. "Not in MY backyard...":rolleyes:
If it needs to be done, it needs to be done. You won't see them in peoples backyards, unless they want them there. -
That's the attitude which hobbles this country. "Not in MY backyard...":rolleyes:
If it needs to be done, it needs to be done. You won't see them in peoples backyards, unless they want them there.
Old Holland windmills.
The technology is old. If it was actually profitable nationwide, it would have taken hold by now. Good on this guy spending his money, but it's no solution for the country by any stretch.
....and it's been a huge debate here. They are popping up and devaluing people's homes because there needs to be multiple numbers of these unsightly contraptions to even make it worth while.
Out of all of the "old" technologies out there nuclear is about the only viable option. That's blocked because of complete irrational fear based on false information on it that's been pumped out over the years. -
Hello
You know I would just love to put up a wind/solar setup out here on our farm in Montana. I've researched it a few times now over the years and I just get discouraged from the cost of this stuff. For a good reliable setup that would take care of most of the power out here would probably cost around 30,000. And to go "off grid" would be even more....
I've talked to our local rural electric company about it too and they currently don't offer net-metering, but my last e-mail to them sounded like the might be coming around too the idea.....
Yes their are tax credits available but not nearly enough to make a dent right now.....
Did you start a thread talking about this that got lost during the server issues they were having a couple of weeks ago? Solar power really interests me. I did a little searching for a system suitable for our house and have to agree, the initial cost of a full house system is prohibitive. IIRC, I calculated we'd need to live in our house for 7 years in order to break even on the money we'd save not paying an electrical bill, which is a bit longer then we plan. I did see small set ups in the $3k range, producing enough power for a small cabin or an RV. For that matter, I imagine it could be a pretty clean source of power for a dedicated audio circuit if it were done right.
Back on topic, it is good to see big money invested in alternative energy sources. Nuclear has a bad rap in the US, wether it's deserved or not I don't know. When done correctly there's no doubt it's cleaner and more efficient then fossil fuels. I, and maybe a lot of other people, have this image of a poorly staffed facility that's safety is compromised by a cost cutting management. Could be chalked up to living by Three Mile Island and Peach Bottom, or partying around the television every time the Simpson's came on for what seemed like a couple of years straight in college. Seems to me a farmer could really supplement his income by allowing some turbines to be built on his land. The ones I've seen were in West Virginia and were actually hidden pretty well from view. I couldn't see it 'til I was driving immediately down hill from it. They didn't seem that bad to me, but I'm not living with them. Are they loud, or are they just that much of an eyesore when they're not hidden in the hills?Wristwatch--->Crisco -
I go to school in a town with a windmill. It's not ugly at all and I can't help watching it when I drive by. They don't make any noise and they don't really take up that much space. It's very close to the ocean so there's plenty of wind there.
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Rio Vista, California was packed with those big things, and I was always fascinated by them. I dont know why anyone wouldn't want to see them, I thought they looked cool. Also, Palm Springs has a bunch on the mountain side, also, looks badass. I guess that could just be my opinion...Update: Once again allowed on polk forums from work! New job yaaaay. Well sorta.
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Rio Vista, California was packed with those big things, and I was always fascinated by them. I dont know why anyone wouldn't want to see them, I thought they looked cool. Also, Palm Springs has a bunch on the mountain side, also, looks badass. I guess that could just be my opinion...
Depends what the alternative is. Some people like to see something called "nature." A lot of folks buy or design their house BASED on the view. If you have your house overlooking some gorgeous panorama of the beach or mountains and someone plops a couple dozen giant windmills in the way? That's crap.If you will it, dude, it is no dream. -
Did you start a thread talking about this that got lost during the server issues they were having a couple of weeks ago? Solar power really interests me. I did a little searching for a system suitable for our house and have to agree, the initial cost of a full house system is prohibitive. IIRC, I calculated we'd need to live in our house for 7 years in order to break even on the money we'd save not paying an electrical bill, which is a bit longer then we plan. I did see small set ups in the $3k range, producing enough power for a small cabin or an RV. For that matter, I imagine it could be a pretty clean source of power for a dedicated audio circuit if it were done right.
Back on topic, it is good to see big money invested in alternative energy sources. Nuclear has a bad rap in the US, wether it's deserved or not I don't know. When done correctly there's no doubt it's cleaner and more efficient then fossil fuels. I, and maybe a lot of other people, have this image of a poorly staffed facility that's safety is compromised by a cost cutting management. Could be chalked up to living by Three Mile Island and Peach Bottom, or partying around the television every time the Simpson's came on for what seemed like a couple of years straight in college. Seems to me a farmer could really supplement his income by allowing some turbines to be built on his land. The ones I've seen were in West Virginia and were actually hidden pretty well from view. I couldn't see it 'til I was driving immediately down hill from it. They didn't seem that bad to me, but I'm not living with them. Are they loud, or are they just that much of an eyesore when they're not hidden in the hills?
Yeah, as a matter of fact I did. I was wondering what happened to that thread, I didn't even get a chance to see if anyone responded.....Testing
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They threw a wind turbine up in the park right next to my house on the coast of BC and I got pretty excited. Rushed over there with my camera to catch it in construction only to find out it was one of the little home-sized ones. Nothing special. It just looks like any other lamp post in the park but at the top are three small blades.
Wind generated power is not supposed to be a be all and end all solution to the countries / worlds power shortages. It's just a small effort to try and increase the amount of renewable power we are creating, otherwise we will eventually over use what resources we have and have to leave it to the last minute to look for alternate sources. Look how much power Canada produces that is sold to the States. It's clear that more needs to be done.
It's a shame the home setups aren't usually worth it financially. Some do it for the green aspect of it, but before it is taken on by the general public it'll have to be a lot more cost efficient and hopefully with developing technologies that day isn't too far off. -
Out west the attitude about wind farms is far more positive. Drive I-80 thru Wyoming and you'll see three massive wind farms. In Colorado, farmers are being encouraged by the big electric company to put up windmills as a way to meet the voter-approved mandate of 20% by 2015 (they're almost there already). The energy company has discovered that it is actually cheaper and quicker to assist farmers in setting up windmills than fighting to build another coal-fired plant. They are shooting for 30% by that date.
It's important to note that wind and solar are not perfect energy sources, nature and night limit their usage, but as a part of a varied energy source group their effectiveness cannot be denied.
Those who dismiss alternatives outright because of the tired excuses need to look for places where successes are happening and study to learn how to overcome the objections. Alternative energy is a terrific ticket for economic growth and can happen when the people mandate a goal and businesses set about finding the best possible way of reaching it.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
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we have a wind farm in our town. theres probably over 100 of them spread out over a few miles. i think they look cool and they make no noise (that i can here several hundred feet away). if they dident cost so much i think most of our power would come from them.Polk monitor 10B's and 5 jr's
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I am putting food on the table these days thanks to wind farms. I did one in Hawaii last year, 2 in Idaho this year and one just starting in Oregon. Many more are quoted. We quoted a massive solor power plant in Florida that will be big also, the mirrors cover 50 acres.Dodd - Battery Preamp
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They do make a little noise. It is not so bad unless you have lived in the country all of your life (which is where they tend to end up). I do like them though and if I am ever able to move back to the country, I would love to have one.2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
