Part of the attraction of off-shore wind farms is the same as off-shore oil & gas rigs. Government agencies commonly lease these areas at rates far less than a fair market would demand. This provides a misguided incentive for investment groups to fund and push the projects. As another wrote recently, show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome. In this case, the outcome is great harm to sea life with little real benefit to the human communities.
I am not certain why there are no takers. I assume that it is due to the Biden administration policies. Investors are loathe to risk such huge sums on the whims of politicians. Same in California; businesses are leaving if they can afford to and the others are going bankrupt. The power outages and, to a lesser extent, the wild fires, are due to lack of investment in the power grid and such.
As for market prices, look to the domestic leasing business for oil and gas properties. One of the benefits to multi-national corporations in doing business with government agencies is money can and does force the hand of agency staff by way of "suggestions" from powerful politicians. It is far harder to do that with a land owner in the USA.
Dinosaur turbines are not the answer, except how to get richer by filching other people. Any energy system needs to stand on its own; usually that means self-financing, or cost-effective.
Those big ugly metal Wind turbines are so ugly - on land or sea. Compare with historical small windmills, which can be beautiful and add to the scenic landscape in some places.
Also I find it ironic that the worshippers of the “environment” only seem to trip over themselves in their race to damage it - birds, whales, lobsters, and there myriad of life affected by all that undersea construction and tunneling.
It is my understanding that wind is the result of localized heating which causes air to rise. That air is replaced by air from someplace else. The result, is wind. If my understanding is correct, then all wind sucks, not blows.
Part of the attraction of off-shore wind farms is the same as off-shore oil & gas rigs. Government agencies commonly lease these areas at rates far less than a fair market would demand. This provides a misguided incentive for investment groups to fund and push the projects. As another wrote recently, show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome. In this case, the outcome is great harm to sea life with little real benefit to the human communities.
Thanks for the comment. I didn't know the leases were below market. But I read that in the recent gulf lease auctions, there were still no takers.
I am not certain why there are no takers. I assume that it is due to the Biden administration policies. Investors are loathe to risk such huge sums on the whims of politicians. Same in California; businesses are leaving if they can afford to and the others are going bankrupt. The power outages and, to a lesser extent, the wild fires, are due to lack of investment in the power grid and such.
As for market prices, look to the domestic leasing business for oil and gas properties. One of the benefits to multi-national corporations in doing business with government agencies is money can and does force the hand of agency staff by way of "suggestions" from powerful politicians. It is far harder to do that with a land owner in the USA.
Great piece and informative. Love the analogy to the plagues of Egypt!
Thanks. Moses' 10 plagues just popped into my head as I was writing.
Good sense.
Great summary on the troubles with turbines!
Thank you.
I enjoyed the information, but not really enjoying any of the facts.
Thanks for the comment. I understand what you're saying.
Another good article
Thanks, Bill.
Dinosaur turbines are not the answer, except how to get richer by filching other people. Any energy system needs to stand on its own; usually that means self-financing, or cost-effective.
Great article.
Those big ugly metal Wind turbines are so ugly - on land or sea. Compare with historical small windmills, which can be beautiful and add to the scenic landscape in some places.
Also I find it ironic that the worshippers of the “environment” only seem to trip over themselves in their race to damage it - birds, whales, lobsters, and there myriad of life affected by all that undersea construction and tunneling.
Thanks for the comment and good point. Either the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, or they just don't really care.
Al, after reading your article, I can’t resist this comment. The wind blows, but offshore wind power truly sucks! Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
It is my understanding that wind is the result of localized heating which causes air to rise. That air is replaced by air from someplace else. The result, is wind. If my understanding is correct, then all wind sucks, not blows.