Instead of Oil offshore....

With a constant Gulf breeze, it seems very stubborn not to harness the power of the wind. Two words - Big Oil. Visually, I happen to like the looks of windmills. I would rather have a windmill generating power than solar panels. Somewhere along the way, we have lost our path and are corrupting our environment without care and concern. We get too busy lost in the vicious cycle of making money to pay the bills.

Recently, I read an article about some R & D guys creating wind-powered wi-fi stations to help connect the world, regadless of power lines ran in the area. The thought of such things facinates me somewhat.

I think they are very pretty- they look like birds. And instead of pooping on us like real birds or Big Oil, they are very useful!

This would also create great structure for recreational fisherman.

I could see a massive Exxon tanker plowing through the wind turbines.

Windmill farms are a good energy alternative, but the windmills chew up a lot of birds and they also make a lot of noise. Choices, choices...I choose using less energy.

Windmill farms are a good energy alternative, but the windmills chew up a lot of birds and they also make a lot of noise. Choices, choices...I choose using less energy.

Wouldn't more chopped birds be good for the fish hovering below?:idontno:

Just kidding. I've been around the old school windmills that were operating and never heard a sound. How loud are the ones to which you refer, Donna, and what do they sound like?

Windmill farms are a good energy alternative, but the windmills chew up a lot of birds and they also make a lot of noise. Choices, choices...I choose using less energy.

I dont know about the birds but who is going to be listening 50 miles offshore?

I dont know about the birds but who is going to be listening 50 miles offshore?

She is probably referring to my post regarding my thoughts of using a windmill to power my home, and general thought of doing this all over the place instead of only off shore. If we each had a windmill, maybe we would reduce the need to pay the electric company so much money. The electric companies would supplement our power as needed. I wonder what my neighborhood would sound like if each home had one of these?

As for the windmills chewing up birds, they would have a difficult time doing so in my neighborhood which has very, very, very few birds, probably having something to do with the pesticides killing many of the insects which the birds may eat and the pesticides covering the seeds or fruits which the birds may eat, thereby killing the birds. :idontno:

I could see a massive Exxon tanker plowing through the wind turbines.

I know I shouldn't laugh but I am. The visuals! 😱 The sheer irony of it! 😱 😱 It's hysterical.

Having said that, I agree with jdarg that they're pretty and graceful looking. And anything that goes toward protecting an environment as lovely as the one we're blessed with should be looked into, tankers notwithstanding.

This would also create great structure for recreational fisherman.

I don't know a lot about fishing- but would it be the same principal as fish around piers? Do they tend to gather around structures?

I don't know a lot about fishing- but would it be the same principal as fish around piers? Do they tend to gather around structures?

Bingo! We have a winner! :lol: Yes, fish hang out around structure of any kind. (even oil wells in the Gulf)

Bingo! We have a winner! :lol: Yes, fish hang out around structure of any kind. (even oil wells in the Gulf)

Believe it or not, I can bait my own hook and take my own fish off the hook, because for some reason, fish like me, and like to go home with me. But my question is really not ansered- why do the fish hang out at piers, etc. More food falling in the water? Protection? I had never really thought about this before.

Believe it or not, I can bait my own hook and take my own fish off the hook, because for some reason, fish like me, and like to go home with me. But my question is really not ansered- why do the fish hang out at piers, etc. More food falling in the water? Protection? I had never really thought about this before.

I did not realize that you were asking why. Yes, they hang out around structures for protection, and the bigger ones come in for dinner.

Believe it or not, I can bait my own hook and take my own fish off the hook, because for some reason, fish like me, and like to go home with me. But my question is really not ansered- why do the fish hang out at piers, etc. More food falling in the water? Protection? I had never really thought about this before.

Small fish seek any structure for cover and protection from larger predators. They also feed on the barnicles and other stuff that grows on the platforms legs.

If there are small fish, then big ones are not far.

Pick your poison. Oil rigs, wind turbines or solar panels. Everybody has their preference. Frankly, the bash "big oil" mantra has gotten old with me. We can blame no one else for the energy situation. We all want to cry about oil prices, pollution, etc. but we still climb into our luxury cars and crank up the AC at the beach house. I am trying to become more self-sufficient and will look to an alternate source/solar power when I build another house. I try to live on a budget and I hate paying big $ for fuel to fill up the car so I do my best to use less. I do not want any oil rigs on the Florida coast, but I don't think I can complain if I don't live accordingly.

As a follow up......

I was in Toronto last week and saw they have installed a huge wind turbine on the lake shore. Most interestingly, it was funded by a joint patnership between the local power company and a private co-op. Shareholders in the co-op earn an annual dividend from the sale of the elecricity the turbine produces.

It is a 750 kW turbine (about enough to power about 250 homes) and stands 30 storeys high.

http://www.torontohydro.com/corporate/initiatives/green_power/wind_turbine/index.cfm

http://www.trec.on.ca/windshare/

The turbine was manufactured by a dutch company and cost about 1.6 million to purchase and install. Apparently, in Europe it is becoming common for private co-ops to install wind turbines to power neighborhoods, etc.

Anyone think there is a future for this sort of enterprise here in sowal?

With some of the beach communities, eg- Seaside, Rosemary Bch, Alys Bch, gaining world-wide prestige for neighborhood design, I think something like this would be great, and could be asthetically pleasing and interesting. Alys Bch, being so green-minded, should have been all over this long ago. Why shouldn't they set the bar?

Storm approaching, collapse the blades on the windmill. Storm passes, pop them back up.

Intersesting discussion. I'd personally rather see a few birds flying way offshore get chopped up then have the entire planet become uninhabitable due to global warming. Any ideas about alternative energy is a great thing.

Wondering how thick the windmills are and whether they would hold up to major-hurricane force winds? Or would a Cat 4-5 storm be a good thing for energy production? :funn:

Twelve years ago I used to make the drive through the Coachella Valley every day from Yucca Valley, Calif., to work in Riverside. The sight of the wind farms on that drive always made me catch my breath. They don't look weird to me; there's something peaceful and majestic about them. Goofy I know.