Guest Post from K.T. Lynn at The Joule Thief. A Site to Behold The waters off of California’s North Coast have long been prized for their abundant fisheries and wild natural beauty. The ancestral homeland of some of the state’s largest Native American populations, including the Yurok Tribe, Humboldt and Del Norte counties have seen their fair share of turmoil over natural resources through the centuries.
Thanks for this background on the north CA coast, and the status report of plans for offshore wind. As far as I know, there are no operating offshore wind turbines in deep water like the west coast that have been built yet, because of the much greater difficulties in deep water, unlike the more shallow east coast. I wasn't even aware that plans were so advanced until I saw your article - thanks.
So much for social and environmental justice. In the words of the great philosopher Mel Brooks - Fuck the Poor…. And the whales too.
I have been working on the grid interconnections for the southern projects. If you must have offshore wind, those are better. There are existing transmission lines to load centers. They’ll have to be upgraded, but they exist.
The Northern ones? Stop the madness.
1. The Ocean. 70 mph winds and 40 foot seas are common in the winter. Picture the stress on the anchor cables as the 70 story building lurches and twists and suddenly rises and drops 80 feet. The wind machines will pull loose and be washing up on beaches and colliding with the Disney cruise ships within 5. Years.
2. Transmission. There is no local electric load on the coast. New 500 kV lines will need to be built across a daunting mountain range and then to Portland and the Bay Area. 800 miles. The $130 per MW hour is low by at least a third.
These grid upgrades will take 10 years to build and cost many billions. The California ratepayers will swallow the entire cost, one way or another. The on peak residential rate in San Diego is 66 cents per kWh today. Expect that to double if this silliness continues.
The destruction of the Northern Right Whale by offshore has been amply demonstrated by refereed scientific literature. USA Federal Science Agency's have tried to "muddy the water". Very sad 😔. I oppose this madness. Onshore nuclear plants would mean jobs and sustainable livelihoods for local people. Where is Greedpeace when you really need them? Not "Russian" to help.....
It really never ceases to amaze me at how things progress. In my youth, it was all save the whales, the spotted owl, a rare minnow, and pack rats. All in the name of environmental conservation. Rip out the Dams! Spike trees and kill loggers! Coal Kills! et all. Now, hey lets build these monstrous floating bird killing whirly gigs, destroy the ocean floor, and cover millions of pristine acres with ugly black panels because "The Environment and Climate Change". @Davidblackmon says it so well. You just can't make this shit up.
Thanks so much for featuring my article! Please check out my substack linked above if you liked this post!
K.T.
Thanks for this background on the north CA coast, and the status report of plans for offshore wind. As far as I know, there are no operating offshore wind turbines in deep water like the west coast that have been built yet, because of the much greater difficulties in deep water, unlike the more shallow east coast. I wasn't even aware that plans were so advanced until I saw your article - thanks.
So much for social and environmental justice. In the words of the great philosopher Mel Brooks - Fuck the Poor…. And the whales too.
I have been working on the grid interconnections for the southern projects. If you must have offshore wind, those are better. There are existing transmission lines to load centers. They’ll have to be upgraded, but they exist.
The Northern ones? Stop the madness.
1. The Ocean. 70 mph winds and 40 foot seas are common in the winter. Picture the stress on the anchor cables as the 70 story building lurches and twists and suddenly rises and drops 80 feet. The wind machines will pull loose and be washing up on beaches and colliding with the Disney cruise ships within 5. Years.
2. Transmission. There is no local electric load on the coast. New 500 kV lines will need to be built across a daunting mountain range and then to Portland and the Bay Area. 800 miles. The $130 per MW hour is low by at least a third.
These grid upgrades will take 10 years to build and cost many billions. The California ratepayers will swallow the entire cost, one way or another. The on peak residential rate in San Diego is 66 cents per kWh today. Expect that to double if this silliness continues.
The destruction of the Northern Right Whale by offshore has been amply demonstrated by refereed scientific literature. USA Federal Science Agency's have tried to "muddy the water". Very sad 😔. I oppose this madness. Onshore nuclear plants would mean jobs and sustainable livelihoods for local people. Where is Greedpeace when you really need them? Not "Russian" to help.....
Power play!
It really never ceases to amaze me at how things progress. In my youth, it was all save the whales, the spotted owl, a rare minnow, and pack rats. All in the name of environmental conservation. Rip out the Dams! Spike trees and kill loggers! Coal Kills! et all. Now, hey lets build these monstrous floating bird killing whirly gigs, destroy the ocean floor, and cover millions of pristine acres with ugly black panels because "The Environment and Climate Change". @Davidblackmon says it so well. You just can't make this shit up.