Here is the original announcement from MPUA, the company that Rock Port purchases their electricity from.
It did save the city a few thousand dollars in wheeling fees, since the wind generators were connected directly to the city distribution. (There were no transmission charges...)
- I have attended many meetings, am a journeyman lineman, a electrical generator operator and have been a utility superintendent. I have much hands on experience with all forms of electrical generation. The wind turbines would not be here, if it weren't for government subsidies. They just were not profitable.
- On the other hand solar power is just now coming into it's own as a viable alternative energy source that does not require government subsidies. The government subsidies are making it very profitable for a few big promoters of solar power, but solar power technology has advanced enough that it would maintain it's market without government subsidy.
Some links for you to check out...
- https://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/rock-port-missouri-zmaz09onzraw
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715165441.htm
- https://www.ecmag.com/section/green-building/first-100-percent-wind-powered-city-united-states
- http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4888310&page=1
I will read them. I am glad the city has savings. I view wind as the 3rd best of the 3 major renewables. I plan to build a house and want to have geothermal ran through my floors for radiant heat/cooling as well as temperature stabilization for my pool, water heaters etc. If done correctly, should reduce energy demand by up to 75%. I would then add solar to offset the remaining. Add in a Tesla battery back or 2 and I will be able to be off the grid completely. Lastly, I would back up the entire house with a gasoline powered generator so that I could have a few hundred gallons of gas delivered, and use it to fuel up my mowers, cars etc. and just in case there is a time I don't generate quite enough.
I wish your city the best, and hopefully as prices of electricity continue to rise, the savings will therefore increase, and you will be proud of the decision.
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That sounds like a good plan for your home! Best of luck with those projects.
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60K a year is great savings for a little town. The problem is that they planned for 125% of the cities need, and the company that owns the windmills has the rights to sell the power to others, not your city. This is a flaw in the leasing and why I turned down that option when offered it here. If I am going to attempt to create extra capacity, I am not going to let someone else reap the benefits. the city should have planned for 75% of need, and added a solar farm at the airport like Indianapolis Airport did, or on top of government building etc. Create some power during day for when wind is slower. This sounds like it was someones pet project, or relative who was paid for the project, so they went all in without thinking about the consequences.
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