NOT in MY backyard

[arcticfox46]

There is a guy around the corner from me that has a windmill in his backyard.

I am very very concerned about the lizard spotted mosquito getting whacked on the head as the blades on his 60 foot high wind mill spin. It also detracts from the view of the sky through the trees. Not to mention, the sound it makes - I can't hear it, but my dogs are barking at something. I bet his windmill is going to make my dogs go deaf. Then there are the birds. If they try to land on the blades - they will get chopped up. How terrible can that be?

How can I get this guy kicked out of the country and get his wind mill moved to MY backyard???

I keep thinking about it - self reliance.

What does anyone know about these things? Wind power. Make electricity.

[Sawduster]

Don't know much about them except that I think if they were to place several windmill farms strategically around D.C. they could probably supply the entire country with electricity from all the wind generated there. And if they were to install some heat collectors near the windmills, they could warm all our houses from the hot air blowing out of there. :)

Of course someone would pass a Federal Law speicifically aimed at preventing the installation as it might interfere with the wonderful pristine views around there, like the one passed to protect Martha's Vineyard or some such from installation of windmill farms off shore near there.

[brburns]

I looked into a windmill and found it would take about a $20,000 one to cover my electricity use. I figgured that there was no way it would ever pay for it's self.

[preyn2]

Not much. I live in Llano Co., Central Texas, which "they" say is right on the edge of the marginal ("they" use a more technical word for "marginal", but it means "marginal") wind-power generating area in Texas. I think what "marginal" means is that when you take purchase price and maintenance costs into account, you're on the ragged edge of being able to generate enough electricity to make the thing pay for itself.

Having said that, my dream is to have a piece of property large enough to have a windmill without bothering the neighbors because I think they're cool. If it generates power, that's even better.

I did some half-axed research on it once - there's lots of information online that will help you figure out the up-front costs, long-term costs, cost effectiveness, etc. Also, you want to check your local codes and property restrictions. Just because your neighbor has one doesn't mean that the Property Owner's Assn. isn't about to sue him to remove the "unsightly" thing. Personally, though it may be "unsightly", I can console myself by selling excess electricity back to the power company.

phil

[CajunRider]

Here's the top secret Department of Energy report that's everyone's been hush hush about:

"U.S. Continues to Lead the World in Wind Power Growth
DOE Report Shows Growing U.S. Wind Power Market
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released its first Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006, which provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of development and trends in the U.S. wind power market. Most notably, the Report concludes that U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27 percent in 2006; and that the U.S. had the fastest growing wind power capacity in the world in 2005 and 2006. More than 61 percent of the U.S.'s total wind capacity - over 7,300 Megawatts (MW) - has been installed since President Bush took office in 2001."

Texas is one of the state that's leading in wind power. When I travel on I-10 I've seen many of those things in transport. Each blade is longer than a normal 18 wheeler flat bed.

I feel sorry for the birds }> }> The blade are so long that even thought the wind mill rmp is low, the blade tips travel at very high speed and now and then will chop birds to pieces.

[Sawduster]

I mentioned this on a couple other recent posts, but . . .

There is at least one wind mill farm here in Texas and the Austin municipally owned electric utility offers folks the option of using power supplied by wind for a higher rate than their current one. Really sort of a joke but I guess what the power company does is to buy how ever much power from the windmill farm as is used by the folks wanting to feel good about themselves and pay the higher rate. Wind, even being free, is apparently more expensive to harness than other forms of generation.

[stretch2187]

Here's a link for a home model.

www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/

According to the wind map, I'd have a very marginal chance of making it work. It requires a minimum average wind speed of 10 mph but 12 is better.

[arcticfox46]

>
>Of course someone would pass a Federal Law speicifically
>aimed at preventing the installation as it might interfere
>with the wonderful pristine views around there, like the one
>passed to protect Martha's Vineyard or some such from
>installation of windmill farms off shore near there.

Martha's Vinyard is such a small place that I am suprised that you even know of this small Massachusetts place. I don't want to be oversensitive and get another political post going here, but is this some sort of a "dig"?

BTW - I am opposed to any legislation that prevents these wind farms. The Elizabeth Islands would be a perfect place for a wind farm. As a mariner in these parts, I know the significance of "disrupting the view". It is a VERY beautiful place.

I was wondering if anyone had any positive information, or if anyone has tried a winmill.

[arcticfox46]

No property owners associations around here. Not unless the trees form one.

[arcticfox46]

All along the Elizabeth Islands between New Bedford and Marthas Vinyard - the average wind speed is 15-20 MPH. But its a no-go due to our governmant regulations.