By LYNN BREZOSKY, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 56 minutes ago
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - Texas officials announced plans Thursday for the nation's largest offshore wind farm, consisting of as many as 500 windmills out in the Gulf of Mexico.
Houston-based Superior Renewable Energy will build and operate the project, which will be situated within about 10 miles of Padre Island. It is expected to cost $1 billion to $2 billion and should be ready in five years.
Its 400-foot turbines would generate a total of 500 megawatts of electricity, or enough energy for 125,000 homes.
"The wind rush is on," Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said. "We want to be No. 1. We want to attract the businesses that build the turbines, that build the blades."
Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America.
"You probably couldn't pick a worse location," said Walter Kittelberger, chairman of the Lower Laguna Madre Foundation, an environmental group named for the strip of water between the mainland and Padre Island.
^^^ fvck them - my 2 cents
John Calaway, Superior's chief executive, said the company would do everything possible to reduce the threat to migrating birds. "Of course there's going to be some mortality, but we don't think it will be significant," he said.
Patterson said the wind farm would be situated off a remote, unpopulated part of Padre Island National Seashore. People who are concerned about the farm obstructing the ocean view "shouldn't have a problem," he said. "There's nobody there to look at it."
The offshore farm is the second announced in less than a year for the Texas coast, joining 50 wind turbines planned off Galveston.
Jerome Collins of the Sierra Club said his and other groups support wind energy and hoped to work with enery producers to prevent bird deaths and protect the scenic landscape.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, the U.S. produces 9,149 megawatts of wind power, enough to power 2.3 million homes annually. The largest U.S. wind farm is the Stateline Wind Energy Center on the Oregon-Washington line, producing 300 megawatts of electricity.
The Texas announcement comes amid a bitter fight over a proposed 130-turbine wind farm off Cape Cod, Mass., where residents fear the turbines will be unsightly.
Originally posted by: tennisflip
"Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America."
I'm no evironmentalist but that's the first thing that came to my mind about the project without even reading the ariticle. I believe the same concern is being voiced about building the wall to separate us from Mexico since it would prevent migration of land based animals. If some birds get killed wouldn't that just count as natural selection?
Originally posted by: sniperruff
Originally posted by: tennisflip
"Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America."
I'm no evironmentalist but that's the first thing that came to my mind about the project without even reading the ariticle. I believe the same concern is being voiced about building the wall to separate us from Mexico since it would prevent migration of land based animals. If some birds get killed wouldn't that just count as natural selection?
not when a man-made blade cuts up the bird.
Originally posted by: kosstamogen
"Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America."
They should put these environmentalists in a pit with environmentalists who think coal/gas/nuclear/etc power plants should be banned and have them duke it out. Then have the W stomp them both out.
Btw I think solar power plants might burn large populations of birds as they reflect and concentrate the sunlight.
Rat powered cars would harm rats! We need a source of magical energy from a magical energy fairy land where everything is made out of chocolate and sweets!
Originally posted by: kosstamogen
We need a source of magical energy from a magical energy fairy land where everything is made out of chocolate and sweets!
Originally posted by: myusername
It's called petroleum, and you and your ilk squandered it. Once we run out of energy and arable land and wildlife, you can feast on the body of my rotting corpse while you burn the Jews to keep your house warm.
Originally posted by: S Freud
They already have some of these windfarms in place in Oregon, one was just 45 miles from my hometown. The blades do spin very slowly, but at times can get moving pretty fast. As far as the bird situation I don't think that should be a problem, the movement usually warnes them.
On another unmentioned note, whoever the land belongs to that they plan to put these things on is going to rake in a lot of money. A judge owns the land that the wind farm was placed on where I lived. I've spoken with her a few times, she never gives away how much they actually make. But within a year she had two brand new cars, and a three story eight bedroom house being built.
They are pretty cool to watch also, especially at night, all the lights on them blinking, it looks like they go on forever. And its astonishing to see something that big when you drive or walk by it.
Originally posted by: myusername
Originally posted by: kosstamogen
"Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America."
They should put these environmentalists in a pit with environmentalists who think coal/gas/nuclear/etc power plants should be banned and have them duke it out. Then have the W stomp them both out.
Btw I think solar power plants might burn large populations of birds as they reflect and concentrate the sunlight.
Rat powered cars would harm rats! We need a source of magical energy from a magical energy fairy land where everything is made out of chocolate and sweets!
It's called petroleum, and you and your ilk squandered it. Once we run out of energy and arable land and wildlife, you can feast on the body of my rotting corpse while you burn the Jews to keep your house warm.
Originally posted by: mchammer
Just don't put in major migration pathway, problem solved no?
Originally posted by: myusername
Originally posted by: kosstamogen
"Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America."
They should put these environmentalists in a pit with environmentalists who think coal/gas/nuclear/etc power plants should be banned and have them duke it out. Then have the W stomp them both out.
Btw I think solar power plants might burn large populations of birds as they reflect and concentrate the sunlight.
Rat powered cars would harm rats! We need a source of magical energy from a magical energy fairy land where everything is made out of chocolate and sweets!
It's called petroleum, and you and your ilk squandered it. Once we run out of energy and arable land and wildlife, you can feast on the body of my rotting corpse while you burn the Jews to keep your house warm.