Hence, the number of average homes a wind farm will power is a meaningless figure.
A few thoughts after touring a rare earth mine
Let me begin this blog on the tough job of rare earth mining with a few rhetorical questions. To what extent does sustainability matter to you? Do you consider the source or production processes involved in, say, your refrigerator when putting groceries away, or what about when buying electronics such as a new cell phone…
Energy use is down and that is good for windpower
A recent report out of a national laboratory confirms what should seem obvious: Americans are using less energy than in previous years. The report compares 2011 to 2010. (www.windpowerengineering.com/ and search on We’re just so darned frugal) It takes no great analysis to accept that when times are tough, as they often have been in…
Nine wind energy pioneers whose names you should know
People have been using wind energy since ancient times. It has been used to propel boats, pump water, grind grain, and in the last few centuries, generate electricity. These would not be possible without a few visionaries thinking outside the box. Windpower Engineering & Development magazine would like to recognize nine pioneers behind many wind…
A few comments on the President’s Climate Change speech
On June 25, President Obama delivered what some consider a major speech on climate change. The anticipation was that he would recommend definitive action to lower the frequency of harsh and lethal events that may be unleashed by the changing climate, presumably floods, droughts, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes. That is certainly a worthy goal. Thankfully,…
The beauty and secrets of capitalism
Capitalism takes a lot of knocks in an economic downturn because detractors credit the resulting pain to the system. They ignore that well meaning government decrees are usually the root cause of many problems. When people feel disadvantaged, they easily ignore the system’s tremendous upside. George Gilder is not one to ignore the distinct and…