Off Shore Deep Water Wind Turbines

They're actually planning this for the West Coast. I hope it never flies

OK, so I’m not the world’s greatest artist.

I sent some feedback to the DOE in September. (I don’t remember who I got these summary points from). I got a polite response that didn’t tell me much. (scroll down to see the response from the “Grid Deployment Office: of the DOE)

Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 3:38 PM
To: OSWTransmission <oswtransmission@hq.doe.gov>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] West Coast floating wind power plans

“At least, go slow

We have almost no experience with grid scale floating wind turbines in deep water. At the very most, only one should be built first as an experimental test, and it should be tested for at least 10-20 years in order to see how it holds up in all kinds of weather extremes, how viable the maintenance schedule is, how the undersea cables hold up, how much it destroys the marine ecology, how many birds get killed, and how much we're really talking about costwise. 

Cost

One study figured it would cost 12 times as much as for electricity. If that's true, everyone will join the exodus form California that's already started, with the highest rates in the country for electricity already.

Will weaken the grid

Intermittent power is the worst thing for the grid, because it creates even more need for backup batteries which are way too expensive, and even then, are not capable of storing more than a few hours of power.

Won't accomplish anything

The idea that CO2 levels are causing global warming is seriously challenged by many well qualified scientists, and the idea that wind and solar will reduce CO2 emissions has been proven false. Even with so-called 'net zero', global temperatures would only be reduced by such a low fraction of one degree that it wouldn't even be measurable.”

response, from Katie Segal, Policy Advisor, Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of Energy. (301) 820-2892 Katherine.segal@hq.doe.gov

“Hi Alan, Thank you for sharing input about the West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Action Plan. We have received your response and will consider it as part of our ongoing work. We appreciate you taking the time to respond.”

Best, Katie

I sure hope they listen!