How to power California with wind, water and sun

[Old Rocks]

Not a fan of wind turbines. Eyesore; not overly effective; dangerous to eagles and other birds.

American wind power now generates over 10 percent of electricity in nine states

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 13, 2013 – The American wind industry experienced record-breaking growth in 2012 as a U.S. power provider. American wind power's generation shot up 17 percent last year, and produced more than 10 percent of the electricity in nine states, up from five states in 2011. Those numbers are likely to continue growing as new investments and wind projects are announced. Across the country, wind energy produced 3.5 percent of the nation's electricity during 2012, according to the Energy Information Admiration's (EIA) latest figures.

That seems rather effective. 10% of the power of a state is a significant amount. The roads alongside the wind farms have higher kill rates on raptors than the wind farms.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Should impose a nation-wide tax on peak usage of electricity to encourage conservation. When things are plentiful people don't think about conserving. When things are cheap, people don't cut back usage. Make it expensive to run your dish washer during the day when people have their a/c's on (I only run mine when I'm heading to bed late at night,) and people will cut back without draconian measures needing to be put in place, like massive taxes for all energy consumption regardless of time.

US uses 25% of the planet's resources with just 5% of the population. That's ridiculous. Especially when it's so easy to cut back. Just need a little incentive for the oblivious ones not already doing so.

 

[Manonthestreet]

Hope you dont like your job if its energy intensive.

 

[Manonthestreet]

btw I think your cliche stats are out of date way China and India are ramping up

 

[elektra]

Another Bullshit study, today, after spending billions on windmills and solar farms California can not produce 1% of the electricity required to pump water.

Link to the study, not to an article that contains no fact.

Here you go
A roadmap for repowering California for all purposes with wind, water, and sunlight

Link actually means link to the study, how is it so many people think press releases are science.

People believe in solar based on faith, not facts.

 

[elektra]

Should impose a nation-wide tax on peak usage of electricity to encourage conservation. When things are plentiful people don't think about conserving. When things are cheap, people don't cut back usage. Make it expensive to run your dish washer during the day when people have their a/c's on (I only run mine when I'm heading to bed late at night,) and people will cut back without draconian measures needing to be put in place, like massive taxes for all energy consumption regardless of time.

US uses 25% of the planet's resources with just 5% of the population. That's ridiculous. Especially when it's so easy to cut back. Just need a little incentive for the oblivious ones not already doing so.

Your post is ridiculous, nice quote of a piece of political propaganda.

You assert we use 25% of the earth's resources, prove it. I am sure you are repeating what you heard, so go ahead and link to studies, tell us even in your own words how it is possible.

Seriously, 25%, let's see if you can provide anything to support what you believe, which may open your eyes and allow you see things in proper perspective.

 

[elektra]

How about using the gulf streams current to power the east coast? Maybe build a huge wave turbine system to use that energy...

Maybe we can build it to around 100 or more gw.

It's your post. How do you explain it?

Renewable Energy From Slow Water Currents

We can use slow moving ocean and river waves for a new, reliable and affordable alternative energy source. A University of Michigan engineer has developed a device that acts like a fish that turns the potentially destructive vibrations in water into clean, renewable energy. This machine is named as VIVACE ( Vortex Induced Vibrations for Aquatic Clean Energy). It is the first known device that could draw energy from most water currents around the world, according to a statement from the University of Michigan. “There won’t be one solution for the world’s energy needs,” VIVACE developer Michael Bernitsas, a professor at the U-M department of naval architecture and marine engineering, said in the statement. “But if we could harness 0.1 percent of the energy in the ocean, we could support the energy needs of 15 billion people.”

VIVACE can work in flowing water moving slower than 2 knots, or about 2 miles per hour. Here it should be noted that most water currents are slower than 3 knots, while turbines and water mills need an average of 5 or 6 knots to operate efficiently. VIVACE doesn’t need waves, tides, turbines or dams. It’s an unequaled hydrokinetic energy system that relies on “vortex induced vibrations.” Think like a fish not like a bird, say researchers of the University of Michigan. Because in water, nature has invented a different strategy for natural swimmers. If we observe the movement of a tiny sperm or a giant whale, we will see that they generate vortices (or little whirlpools) that they push off of to propel themselves forward. Michael Bernitsas of the University of Michigan, realized that these same vortices could be used to drive a generator. He and his colleagues have invented VIVACE whose cylinders oscillate up and down in moving waters. “This device works naturally in the marine environment,” says Bernitsas.
Bernitsas’ team has developed a working prototype in their lab. The spring-supported cylinder moves up and down in a tank of moving water. As water bangs into the cylinder, this action induces turbulence which transforms into a vortex. The vortex eventually rolls off the back, giving the cylinder a little push as it goes. The next vortex that forms will spin in reverse and give a push in the opposite direction. These opposing forces cause the cylinder to vibrate up and down. The high density of water, makes the vibrations about 800 times more energetic than they would be in air at the same speed. Due to this, the VIVACE system can produce three to 10 times more energy from a given volume of moving water than tidal turbines.

This is a cat that can be skinned in many ways.

Wow, the government has come up with a toy fish that will melt silica into solar panels, right, more wasted tax money. Until green renewable energy can actually produce the energy to power industry, until that time green renewable energy is a colossal failure.

 

[usmcstinger]

California going Green will not solve their economic problems. Their industries are moving to the more business friendly state of Texas. No corporate income tax and less suffocating regulations.

 

[elektra]

California going Green will not solve their economic problems. Their industries are moving to the more business friendly state of Texas. No corporate income tax and less suffocating regulations.

No ab 32, cap and trade California style.

with no industry California can shutdown all the nuke and fossil plants.

 

[flacaltenn]

From the abstract of this turd...

Electrification plus modest efficiency measures may reduce California's end-use power demand ∼44% and stabilize energy prices since WWS fuel costs are zero.

I can only guess that "electrification" means EVehicles and shifts from OTHER oil use. But the REDUCE DEMAND by 44% Bullshit --- tells you EXACTLY how high the BS pile is here. Reduce current grid use by 44% and then INCREASE IT BACK 33% for EVehicles. This is true academic whacking off..

Make Energy RARE and EXPENSIVE, and damned the costs.
Instead of making energy PLENTIFUL and CHEAP. That would be a disaster for the socialist green agenda.

every comment in this thread about shutting down factories and ending industry as we know it -- is probably correct. Because THAT'S the result of a 44% reduction in demand from where Cali is today.
Reading a book in a dark at San Jose airport clued me in..
Had to wave my arms to keep the lights on..

 

[elektra]

Californian's do not flush their toilets because it costs too much money.