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Rise in renewable energy will require more use of fossil fuels

Sunday Gazette Mail -- The Delta Energy Center, a power plant about an hour outside San Francisco, was roaring at nearly full bore one day last month, its four gas and steam turbines churning out 880 megawatts of electricity to the California grid.

On the horizon, across an industrial shipping channel on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, scores of wind turbines stood dead still. The air was too calm to turn their blades -- or many others across the state that day. Wind provided just 33 megawatts of power statewide in the midafternoon, less than 1 percent of the potential from wind farms capable of producing 4,000 megawatts of electricity.

As is true on many days in California when multibillion-dollar investments in wind and solar energy plants are thwarted by the weather, the void was filled by gas-fired

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Submitted Dec 17, 2012 By: skb69sa

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teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,642 Points:249,915 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 5:49:25 PM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse Wish we could get new cleaner coal plants here as well E-Squirrel! Think that can happen under Obama?
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,012 Points:819,060 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 2:37:53 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse honda0105 informs: "funny how wrong information is distributed." Germany's "new energy plan", with the pending shuttdown of existing nuclear plants is the building of twenty three brand new coal-fired generation plants. Funny how that doesn't get mentioned every time somebody cites Germany as a leader...
joeschmo12 Champion Author New York Posts:1,016 Points:306,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 11:36:13 PM Ignore joeschmo12 Report Abuse california and other states must find an alternative when comes powering their homes. too many blackouts are experienced during the summer time
scorpiogg Sophomore Author Modesto Posts:248 Points:158,600 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 9:44:12 PM Ignore scorpiogg Report Abuse Oh no, what's a "greenie" to do?
bevmill Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,577 Points:600,320 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 9:10:40 PM Ignore bevmill Report Abuse Good news I hope.
obimerrill Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,440 Points:289,715 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 2:02:05 PM Ignore obimerrill Report Abuse They can't win any way you look...
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,780 Points:1,546,850 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 6:13:52 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse Oh no, what's a "greenie" to do?
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,623 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 5:50:55 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse funny how wrong information is distributed. Germany, Crete and other wind and solar users (who have done so for over 20 years in some cases), have reduced their reliance on fossil fuel and their electricity got a lot cheaper.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,005 Points:2,345,510 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 3:33:09 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Rise in renewable energy will require more use of fossil fuels? One of the problems with renewable energy, when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing, very little power is being generated. Its not a perfect world and will need a way to store the generated renewable power until it is needed. A site survey for the best location for wind turbine placement and installation. Renewable power from solar, wind, hydro, thermal, tidal and/or nuclear. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, vehicle manufactures Produce and the population ‘Drives’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,012 Points:819,060 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 1:52:42 AM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse The proponents of "alternative" or "green" energy are often clueless about the realities, and hopelessly optimistic about how easy it is to replace "fossil fuel". You notice that none of the politicians involved with this have been realistic, which is why California, despite its terrific weather is becoming more and more of a "problem" place to try and live.
JuicyQ69 All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:643 Points:1,139,640 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 1:46:36 AM Ignore JuicyQ69 Report Abuse Figuers...
UpSol7 Champion Author Augusta Posts:1,654 Points:758,875 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 12:05:06 AM Ignore UpSol7 Report Abuse I could use 33 megawatts of power at my house.... for some reason the solar power drops off at night too...
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,468 Points:662,200 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 12:04:37 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Not so green.
pastorpaulcg Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,615 Points:775,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 12:04:14 AM Ignore pastorpaulcg Report Abuse Law of unintended consequences
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,396 Points:1,877,080 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 12:03:11 AM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse They put the wind turbines on the wrong coast. Should've put it besides DC. Plenty of wind coming from there.
bigdipperMS Champion Author Mississippi Posts:1,512 Points:536,775 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:58:56 PM Ignore bigdipperMS Report Abuse Fortunate that we have natural gas to fall back on. It should be on the first team.
CCLighthouse Champion Author Hartford Posts:1,003 Points:213,030 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:58:30 PM Ignore CCLighthouse Report Abuse You didn't know that?
The_DR Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,780 Points:584,840 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:57:59 PM Ignore The_DR Report Abuse good news
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,475 Points:747,515 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:55:41 PM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse Strange how that works out
OCTAPA Veteran Author Toronto Posts:493 Points:481,915 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:53:59 PM Ignore OCTAPA Report Abuse Informative...
mia3bxs Veteran Author Miami Posts:452 Points:311,040 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:53:13 PM Ignore mia3bxs Report Abuse I don't want to think about the day that we go back to fossil fuels because renewable energy may not be as effective as we thought.i
civicdutie Champion Author Rochester Posts:4,506 Points:953,485 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:52:51 PM Ignore civicdutie Report Abuse The concept of renewable energy sounds good, but it is merely a concept for most.
WIWalt Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,726 Points:415,545 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:51:24 PM Ignore WIWalt Report Abuse Renewable energy is a joke
chillyman3 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,355 Points:423,640 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:50:31 PM Ignore chillyman3 Report Abuse Get moving with it!
Dragnet Champion Author Arizona Posts:15,406 Points:2,908,760 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:49:08 PM Ignore Dragnet Report Abuse Can you believe how many dinosaurs are buried under the land called America? And now we want to use these fossilized characters to please the clowns of today. It's mind boggeling
Mikeyl Champion Author Cleveland Posts:5,152 Points:1,185,020 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:49:07 PM Ignore Mikeyl Report Abuse So, invest where there is wind or sun or whatever regularly... Mt. Washington would be a great place for a wind farm. Arizona for a solar farm. Many rivers for water turbines. Think before investing in worthless technology.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,066 Points:1,731,235 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:40:34 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse wow
rjoeh Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,081 Points:2,470,065 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:39:39 PM Ignore rjoeh Report Abuse This is an example of why renewable and traditional energy sources need to work in concert with each other vs being competitors to the whole picture.
Jeeputtputt Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,002 Points:677,465 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:37:21 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse use some sense, cost vs. worth
69Bonne Champion Author Gary Posts:1,150 Points:473,150 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:36:39 PM Ignore 69Bonne Report Abuse Anything that can help should be appreciated.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,217 Points:518,525 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:34:39 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Is the law of unintended consequences to blame?
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,019 Points:1,486,880 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:32:56 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Use natural gas!
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,469 Points:1,711,160 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:31:54 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse Will be the key to the innovation of energy
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,212 Points:871,990 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:31:51 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse Renewable energy is a joke played on the taxpayer by the environmentalists.
dcjauburn Champion Author Sacramento Posts:12,448 Points:2,239,590 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:30:04 PM Ignore dcjauburn Report Abuse I will bet that the demand for electricity was also down at that time. When the air conditioners are running we are getting power from the sun and wind, this may not happen during the winter time when there is less demand for electricity. Don't forget the other renewable, Hydro electric. No one said that renewable energy will replace non renewable sources, it just reduces the demand for the non renewable. [Edited by: dcjauburn at 12/17/2012 11:36:24 PM EST]
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:556,230 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:26:57 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse That's going to be expensive
bbreff Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,848 Points:2,568,415 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:26:47 PM Ignore bbreff Report Abuse How are the elements of fossil fuels regenerated?
BigKart All-Star Author Indianapolis Posts:764 Points:224,825 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:26:40 PM Ignore BigKart Report Abuse So our need for the capacity to generate power is not reduced by the existence of wind/solar farms after all. We just have a huge investment that's being wasted when the alternate sources can generate power. Boy, that makes sense... (not).
oas Champion Author Maryland Posts:4,230 Points:2,141,415 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:23:57 PM Ignore oas Report Abuse Renewables are not all they are touted to be.
Billrusty All-Star Author Washington Posts:842 Points:157,235 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:21:37 PM Ignore Billrusty Report Abuse what happen to thinking out side the box.
BREW9 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:881 Points:2,911,980 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:21:32 PM Ignore BREW9 Report Abuse ok
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:3,824 Points:1,413,860 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:19:42 PM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse Old news and not necessarily true.
PoohMcGoo Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,067 Points:800,585 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:18:14 PM Ignore PoohMcGoo Report Abuse Ok
saleboss Champion Author Phoenix Posts:3,929 Points:1,177,875 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:17:22 PM Ignore saleboss Report Abuse They need to have solar arrays as a back up!!
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,564 Points:1,512,130 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:13:33 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Quandry here.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,324 Points:1,531,150 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:07:40 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse You can't build wind turbines where the wind is not constant for 90% of the time or you are just wasting your money. We have some turbines just outside our town that have never failed to produce their expected norm for the eight years since they were first installed.
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,800 Points:818,335 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:04:19 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Hmmm...
toadNY Champion Author Albany Posts:7,042 Points:1,513,150 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:02:41 PM Ignore toadNY Report Abuse Go with Tax Payer solar! Oh wait they went Bankrupt!
KhelbenArunson Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,441 Points:717,640 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:01:59 PM Ignore KhelbenArunson Report Abuse How do they figure that? lol.
gd83goldwinger Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,428 Points:504,230 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 11:01:00 PM Ignore gd83goldwinger Report Abuse It always going to play apart, since there is no tech. out there that is a 100% all the time. But the hopes is that we keep moving forward to get there one day.