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Currently wind is not a viable alternative to our use of fossil fuels. The energy used to build and maintain a wind turbine is greater then what we will ever receive from the systems. Thus wind turbines add to our needed energy requirements.

Wind systems typically deliver about 8 to 10% of what they claim to deliver. This is because they are rated at fairly high wind speeds (25 to 28 mph). If the wind averages 14 mph it will develop less then 10% of the rated output. (Power cubed).

If the wind goes over 31 MPH the system will save itself and shutdown.

To compensate for these issues, power companies build extra fossil fuel systems to backup the wind systems the Government mandates they use. France has been slightly better as they build Nuclear, rather then fossil fueled.

A typical wind generator that claims to feed 300 homes will be close to feeding 30 homes on occasion. The saddest part is that due to wind variations the fossil fuel plant will remain running at all times to back up the wind. This means zero reduction in fossil fuel use and no real power.

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15y ago

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