I have finished 1,030 Billion kWhs: South Dakota's Wind Fields, a handbook to successful wind farming. I will market 1,030 along with the specifications for two 100 kW turbines, a 750 kW turbine, and a 900 kW machine.
The handbook costs $5.95; the handbook plus one spec costs $9.95. South Dakota's 31,000 farmers, ranchers, community leaders, and other potential wind farmers will be able to immediately put to work this clear and to-the-point handbook. I'm also compiling 1,000 farm energy production web addresses (which includes wind energy and wind power).
Coteau Wind & Power is the company I've started to reach the 31,000.
"The Wind Energy & Transmission: The South Dakota Landscape forum will begin at 1:00 pm onThursday, November 29th and will adjourn at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 30th. Please see the latest summit draft agenda here for more details."
"The registration fee is $80. This fee covers meeting materials, a reception onThursday, November 29th, and breakfast and lunch on Friday, November 30th. Register online through the “Online Registration link." [It is time to "wheel" some of our 1,030 billion kWhs to divert fossil-fuels from power genertion to raw stock for material.]
Farm Energy Production web addresses (a work in progress)
Horizon Wind Energy- Developing and Building Wind Power Projects
Showing posts with label wind farming handbook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wind farming handbook. Show all posts
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The Courage to Change
1,030 Billion kWhs: South Dakota's Wind Fields is your handbook to successful wind farming. 1,030 Billion was developed to spur wide-spread "aericulture" as a companion to traditional agriculture practices. The handbook will be available in print (134 pages, 4.25" x 5.5") on 3 November to farmers, ranchers, ag-business operators, and rural communities. (The table of contents was posted in this blog on October 10.)
In addition to ten steps to wind farming, the handbook has web addresses at the end of each Step that complement the content in the step.
Before we can profit from- rather than curse- every windy day, we have to develop wind with as much desire as we raise crops and livestock.
In The Wall Street Journal, 15 October, p. A1, is "Northern Vintage: Canadian Wines Rise with the Mercury," Gary Kennedy, a farmer in Tappen, British Columbia, told TWSJ "We've literally bet the farm that this is going to work," said . He sold his dairy cows to raise Pinot Noir grapes on his farm.
The borders of the world's grape-growing regions are shifting north, as global warming encourages vintners to press even futher north. At Mr. Kennedy's winery- Granite Creek- a heavy snowfall in the mountains meant a possible early frost when the grapes needed another two weeks of sun for the best harvest.
Mr. Kennedy spent two years studying the region's climate data after learning his children didn't want to continue operating his dairy farm. Once he was confident about his business change, he sold the livestock and took out a hefty loan to start Granite Creek.
[South Dakotans have a similar choice to make in the face of climate change and the growth of marginal ag land. Wind farming, like deciding to raise grapes, also requires "doing your homework," with the understanding that electricity consumption continues to grow nation-wide. In SD alone, consumption by a typical household has increased from an average of 780 kWhs per month to 900 kWhs of electricity.
266 lbs. of coal had to be burned each month to generate 780 kWhs of electricity. Now we burn 307 lbs. coal each month to generate 900 kWhs. That's pounds more of ash settling on our lakes and land, and more mercury and radioactive cadmium in our wildlife.]
In the 19 October issue of The Wall Street Journal, on p.A13, "Builders get energy goals in California," the California PUC and the California Energy Commission proposed energy efficiency improvements for new homes and buildings. The report highlighted
In addition to ten steps to wind farming, the handbook has web addresses at the end of each Step that complement the content in the step.
Before we can profit from- rather than curse- every windy day, we have to develop wind with as much desire as we raise crops and livestock.
In The Wall Street Journal, 15 October, p. A1, is "Northern Vintage: Canadian Wines Rise with the Mercury," Gary Kennedy, a farmer in Tappen, British Columbia, told TWSJ "We've literally bet the farm that this is going to work," said . He sold his dairy cows to raise Pinot Noir grapes on his farm.
The borders of the world's grape-growing regions are shifting north, as global warming encourages vintners to press even futher north. At Mr. Kennedy's winery- Granite Creek- a heavy snowfall in the mountains meant a possible early frost when the grapes needed another two weeks of sun for the best harvest.
Mr. Kennedy spent two years studying the region's climate data after learning his children didn't want to continue operating his dairy farm. Once he was confident about his business change, he sold the livestock and took out a hefty loan to start Granite Creek.
[South Dakotans have a similar choice to make in the face of climate change and the growth of marginal ag land. Wind farming, like deciding to raise grapes, also requires "doing your homework," with the understanding that electricity consumption continues to grow nation-wide. In SD alone, consumption by a typical household has increased from an average of 780 kWhs per month to 900 kWhs of electricity.
266 lbs. of coal had to be burned each month to generate 780 kWhs of electricity. Now we burn 307 lbs. coal each month to generate 900 kWhs. That's pounds more of ash settling on our lakes and land, and more mercury and radioactive cadmium in our wildlife.]
In the 19 October issue of The Wall Street Journal, on p.A13, "Builders get energy goals in California," the California PUC and the California Energy Commission proposed energy efficiency improvements for new homes and buildings. The report highlighted
--homes are to be capable, by 2020, of generating as much energy as they consume; new buildings are to meet the same standard by 2035
--new homes are to be 35% more energy efficient by 2020 than now; buildings are to be 35 more energy efficient by 2035 than now
--with these new standards, the two agencies may be establishing a foundation for community-, subdivision-, and commercial-level energy self-sufficiency.
--utilities are required to develop proposals to motivate builders to voluntarily meet the goals.
--achieving the goals could save California consumers $10 billion in energy costs and cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to taking 1.8 million cars off the road.
[In addition to fossil fuel or biofuel-fired micro steam turbines, mid-size to sub-1 megawatt wind turbines may play important roles in helping to achieve better energy efficiencies. Community- or subdivision-level generation will also help the state achieve its Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal.
California, Minnesota, and other states are taking steps to reduce the impacts of burning fossil fuels; South Dakota wind farmers can deliver the "green" power they want in their RPSs.]
The Watertown (SD) Public Opinion, 19 Oct., p. 10B; "Farmer [turns to] wind energy," the report observed "squeezed by higher energy prices and more overhead costs, some small farms are exploring ways to increase their energy efficiency and lower costs. These efforts by small farms are becoming more common."
[Farm energy production methods such as wind turbines and biodiesel production were mentioned along with looking into energy effieciency. Solar panel use and biomass converstion were not discussed.]
A disappointing report on environmental activism was provided by the Farm Forum Green Sheet, 12 - 17 Oct., p. 74F. "Ill winds for Montana wind power project" highlighted
--two years of discussing and marketing didn't sway environmental groups opposed to the original 500 MW wind development
--political will, tax breaks, and good to excellent wind were not persuasive
--in an unsuccessful attempt to appease the groups, the project was cut from 500 MW to 170 to 50 MW. Completion of the minimalized wind farm is in doubt.
U.S. Jon Tester (D-MT) offered a realistic appraisal of wind development: "We need to figure out a way to make these [wind power] projects work. Or we all start riding bicycles."
[Environmentalists want the luxuries of modern life- electric lights, central heating/cooling, refrigerators, cars to take them dozens (if not hundreds) of miles to their next rabble-rousing-while preventing power generating projects that sustain modern life with the least negative impact on the environment.
Such environmentalists have not fully thought through how society changes to meet needs and the pace at which people change. Environmentalists have become as rigid as ultra-conservatives; both hinder rather than help their causes.]
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