Always Blowing
Wind power? What happens when the wind stops blowing?
The almighty cry of the renewable energy skeptic reveals an incomplete grasp of how our atmosphere works. It is an ocean. Rather than being comprised of water, though, it is an ocean of air, in constant motion. It is true that wind speeds at the surface often dwindle to a mere zephyr from time to time but a few hundred feet up, it never stops blowing.
Shoot! I still don’t buy it. Give me a coal-fired furnace any day! At least we know where the fuel is located!
Considering his background in oil and gas exploration, it may surprise you to know that I concur with billionaire T. Boone Pickens’ plan for liberating the United States from imported energy. Naturally, I dispute his position on the need for natural gas. In truth, hydrogen can do the job just fine if we embrace it properly.
However, America’s oil addiction is so great that the environmental community dare not allow perfect to be the enemy of good. Mr. Pickens is to be applauded for the bold position he has taken. While it is true that he stands to make billions off his media investment, he just as easily could have sat back and lived off passive income from his already vast fortune.
Instead, he chose to state the truth and allow his allies to criticize him for committing what to some of them is free enterprise apostasy. As important as it is in the effort to quiet the skeptics of wind power, though, at this early juncture, the Pickens plan offers mostly rhetorical validation of the power of wind, pun intended. In terms of practical examples of how a city can run entirely from wind power, we need look no further than Rock Port, Missouri – the first municipality in the United States to be powered entirely by wind.
Long-Term Sustainability
Because of the innovative approach taken in moving the local utility off fossil fuels and onto 100% wind power, the residents have benefitted in several ways. For starters, rates are expected to remain relatively stable for at least 15 years, which is highly unlikely for everyone else who consumes fossil-derived electricity. Additionally, many landowners have the option of leasing part of their property for the installation of additional wind mills. In some cases, the revenue from such leases has the potential to offset 100% of the owner’s monthly electric bill.
Perhaps best of all, being the first town in the United States to be powered solely by wind makes it an instant tourist destination. So, if Rock Port, Missouri can do it, why not the rest of the continent? If you are or know a skeptic of wind power, I highly recommend taking a hard look at Rock Port, Missouri. In the end, though, if you remain unconvinced, you may wish to consider investing in T. Boone Pickens’ organization. He has a proven track record of investing his money for a positive return and he is wagering big on wind power. Additional details are available at PickensPlan.com
Fomenting the Triple Bottom Line
Corbett Kroehler
wind power photo by: MU Cooperative Media Group, Steve Morse photo
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