Tags
August 10, 2021
With the release of the latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) yesterday, which forecast more dire consequences from climate change, there may be more calls for wind power as a source of electricity.
The City of Ottawa’s “Energy Evolution” document calls for as much electrification as possible by 2050, and proposes the installation of as much as 3,200 megawatts of wind power (more than 700 wind turbines) to do that.
It won’t work.
Ontario has already gone through the experience of incorporating wind power into its power generation mix with disastrous results. Two Auditors General noted the lack of any cost-benefit analysis for the rush to wind power (Ottawa hasn’t proposed any such study either) and the enormous cost of wind power. To date, wind makes up less than 10 percent of Ontario’s power supply and its intermittency due to being dependent on weather means it often shows up when not needed.
Ontario has lost billions selling off surplus wind power we don’t need, and we regularly pay generators not to produce.
While people may call for the “clean” “green” expansion of wind power there are facts that must be acknowledged:
- Wind power generation is intermittent and produced out of phase with demand
- Wind power has a huge impact on the environment in terms of the harm to wildlife, the altered landscapes and the danger to wildlife as well as the introduction of harmful noise pollution to the environment
- Wind turbines require a massive amount of land and represent “energy sprawl” in comparison with other forms of generation
- Wind power projects are socially divisive as they must be forced on quiet rural communities, in effect industrializing them
- Wind can’t “replace” anything. Coal was replaced in Ontario by nuclear and natural gas.
- Wind power development cannot exist without subsidy and is very costly to electricity customers (i.e., everybody)
In short, wind doesn’t work.
So, while we are looking for ways to adapt to and perhaps mitigate climate change, or to take a more holistic approach, do everything we can to protect the environment, there are other alternatives.
Wind power is not the future: it is the product of a vigorous marketing program to which well-meaning people have fallen prey.
Let’s do better.
ottawawindconcerns@gmail.com
#energypoverty #winddoesntwork #energysprawl #environment #noise
Ottawa Wind Concerns 
Have you heard about ICLEI? Here is their website: https://iclei.org/en/Our_vision.html
Did you know that the City of Ottawa is on ICLEI’S list of 25 Canadian Cities chosen for intensive climate action pilot? https://www.iclei.org/en/media/twenty-five-canadian-cities-chosen-for-intensive-climate-action-pilot
An activist named Rosa Koire, who passed away on May 31, 2021 created the following flyers: http://www.postsustainabilityinstitute.org/uploads/4/4/6/6/4466371/iclei.flyer.city.updated.pdf
This is Rosa’s one pager on ICLEI https://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/iclei-when-they-say-local-they-mean-it.html
I think that there are some interesting and quite acceptable initiatives on the part of ICLEI but it’s important for us to realize that we are not just dealing with the City of Ottawa. I would be interested to know what you think of the information in these links. Francesca Walkey
We were not aware that Ottawa is among the ICLEI 25. Thanks for this. Their inclusion on this list does not prevent the City from doing something effective and meaningful, and without destroying rural communities.
Just saw your response now. what do you think that the City should do?
I can’t help wonder why all these climate change folk, aren’t focussing on the fossil fuel harm done as a result of international trade. The cost of sending goods, mostly trinkets that we really don’t need from Asia and other foreign countries, by 747 each day is horrendous. The fuel used by steamers and cargo planes like 747 should be stopped. Why aren’t these people focussing on this huge problem instead?
Interesting question. Ottawa is busy approving warehouse facilities and then when nearby residents object Council says, It’s YOUR fault for using Amazon! Or whatever. There has been no proper review, no cost-benefit analysis, no nothing except consultations with vested interests and faux “environmental” organizations.
Pingback: Wind power: not a solution to climate change | ajmarciniak
The total output of the Ontario windfarms this morning is a useless 946 megawatts with a grid demand of 16,925 megawatts. The hot calm day predicted will decrease the windfarms output and increase the windmills use of power. No need to talk about storage when we are in a negative benefit situation and it will take months for the windfarms to catch up after all the days in the last few weeks with no or low production. Even 10 % of grid has only been achieved for a few hours on various days since the start of 2021 seven + months ago.
Now after decades of expecting these monstrosities to produce the amounts of power as promoted I have learned to except the reality that once in a while they will add in a maybe 10 % then need maintenance then need repairs then be hopefully taken down, not left standing, rusting and falling over like some in California.
And guess who pays?
What a waste!
Stan
Here we go again!
26 of the 45 Ontario wind farms have had 1megawatt or less output since midnight. The three windfarms near me are Amherst Island, Wolfe Island and Chrysler producing 1, zero and zero, respectively, at 2pm.
It is a beautiful hot summer day here in eastern Ontario, August 15 2021 and the thousands of Ontario wind turbines are showing only 448 megawatts into the grid and noone knows how much the stalled units are drawing so it is possible that the overall tally would be negative.
700 more would be 700 less.
Is 2 % average really worth the trouble?
Stan
Another day another 33 windfarms out of 45 with 1 megawatt or less output since midnight. Total wind generation, 360 megawatts, total windmill backup fossil fuel gas generation, 3600 megawatts, into a grid demand of over 18,000 megawatts.
Yup, 2%, seems about right.
It’s a good thing that the Kathleen Wynne Liberals drove the manufacturing sector out of Ontario with the high cost of hydro. In 2004 the daily grid demand often peaked in the 30,000 – 32,000 megawatt range. The Liberals knew that getting rid of coal also meant moving our manufacturing industry to China and they would supply us with windmills and build new coal fired generating stations to supply our markets.
Worked out great for China and coal suppliers.
Ain’t nothing like a Liberal!
Stan
Sheesh again!
The electric car charger I have to install is rated at 7.4 kilowatts and last hours output from over 2600 Ontario industrial wind turbines was 114 megawatts. Less than 1% of grid demand so obviously they won’t be charging many car batteries when they are barely producing enough to power themselves.
The average electric car battery will need many hours to perform one charge and the car can run it down in just a couple hours.
I won’t bother doing the math on that losing proposition.
One more time, wind turbines make profit not power!
Stan
Ok, that’s it I have seen enough!
Industrial Wind Turbines are a waste of everything including my time!
No more!
I checked the output of the 45 grid tied Ontario windfarms at 9 am this Friday morning, August 20th 2021 and the total output from almost 2700 windmills was a useless 70 megawatts instead of a promoted, 9500 megawatts, into a grid demand approaching 20,000 megawatts, as the day heats up and the demand rises.
44 windfarms have had 1 megawatt or less output since last midnight. Below 1 megawatt shows zero simply because they are using, not producing and sync to the grid is varying faster than the hourly market cost prediction can be performed.
I hope this posting gets sent to anyone who expects any gain in electrical power generation from the Ontario industrial wind turbines today or in the future!
The facts from the last two decades have proven to me that industrial wind turbines are a make work project supported by taxpayers funding to shift huge amounts of money, not electrical power, from the many to the few.
Merry election to all and to all a good night!
Stan Thayer
Red seal journeyman Power Worker
613 551 1280