One of the people putting wind generators up at near Hitchland commented the other day that they really appreciate the people around here.

He said that everywhere else he's been, the people are openly hostile to the idea of putting up the big wind generators and let their feelings be known to those installing them.

Anywhere else, they have to hire night watchmen to keep an eye on things at night so noone will steal or vandlize the equipment.

Because of the open hostility, he leaves his wife and children at home when working on site. Because of the friendliness of the people around here, both to the workers and in the friendly attitude toward the wind generators, he's bringing his wife and kids to Gruver in a week or two to stay with him until they finish up.

My only complaint about the wind generators is that they are all the same boring color. It would be great if every one of them was painted with a different color or combination of colors.

[This message has been edited by eric76 (edited 6/3/2008 1:47a).]

Too many Tech supporters in my area. I wouldn't want to look at red/black windmills.

They need to be visible to aircraft, but if it weren't for that, it would be nice if they were gray/blue so they would be less visible.

We've been told that a turbine could generate up to $12,000 per year for the landowner. And the construction has to be great for the local economy. No wonder folks in these small towns are happy to see them.

don't forget the county taxes generated also.

Just curious, what are some of the areas in the country where people have been openly hostile? Is it a particular group of people?

When I was out at the site a few weeks ago, they mentioned having been putting some generators in Minnesota.

I think there have been some heated discussions down in south Texas. Seems like the King Ranch and the other huge ranch (Kennedy, maybe) were fueding over the idea of wind generators.

I heard they were putting off about 5K each per year to the land owner. I'd fill my land up with them if I had any choice in the matter. That's a hell of a lot easier than farming. Minimum expenses and a guaranteed check. Sign me up.

Any place where you have city folks who have moved out to the country, you have opposition. There's been some moaning over in Cooke County, as well as south and west of Abilene (lots of nice homes built in those hills).

i like the look of them, when you are driving up highway 153 then to 70 and up towards sweetwater, it looks actually pretty good with the thousands around.

i would put them all over my land also if i had some there.

I Just made the drive on 153 and it is amazing looking at all of those. I also can't believe how many have been put up between roscoe and snyder now. When driving at night, it is pretty weird looking at all of the FAA warning lights on top of those things blinking at the same time.

They can put all they want on our land and I'll just keep farming around them. Royalty checks are nice.

If it were me, I'd be a lot happier seeing a wind farm than a typical power plant!

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If it were me, I'd be a lot happier seeing a wind farm than a typical power plant!

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Or a hog farm.

Hey guys, can ya'll take a picture and post it on here. I'm out in California now, and I want to show some of the guys here what Home looks like. I saw them briefly over Christmas, but didn't get a chance to get out there and really look at the farms...

By the way, what happened to the Vertical Turbine that was on I-40? Why was it taken down?

G-2 & K-2 '98

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By the way, what happened to the Vertical Turbine that was on I-40? Why was it taken down?

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I'm guessing you refer to the "eggbeater" that was at the USDA/A&M research farm at Bushland? I suspect the research project ended and it was taken down. It was quite impressive close up. (I worked at the center in 82-84) I think it was 30 meters tall.

is that one of those they put over the top of the highway that runs off of the airflow created by cars? saw something like that in popular mechanics...looks like a hell of an idea to me

jonesy98:

http://hscharlie.gruver.net/gruverarea/07wheatharv/index.htm

This is the eggbeater (Darrius turbine) I was talking about:

Thanks for the Photo...I made it my desktop.

Hopefully, this will satisfy my homesickness...

And, yes, that was the turbine I was referring to...I remember that thing used to spin like a son of gun....just curious what happened to it.

G-2 & K-2 '98

Hey eric,
Being from Oslo, do you know what the deal is with that wind farm pictured above. I've started working in Guymon and drive up 207 regularly. There's 38 turbines in that group between HWY 136 and 207 but the most I've ever seen operating at one time is 28, usually it's around 20-22. I've always wondered if it's a reliability issue or something else.

[This message has been edited by csp97 (edited 6/10/2008 12:29a).]

They keep having to replace the blades.

The rumor for a while was that they somehow installed the blades backwards and were having to go back and turn them around.

I also heard someone say that the blades were painted wrong and had to be removed and sent to Houston for repainting. I found that explanation nearly impossible to believe.

A week or so ago, someone told me that the real problem is that the blades are defective and are cracking in the wind.

I have no idea if any of these are the reason or if it is something else. The last is the more believable.

[This message has been edited by eric76 (edited 6/10/2008 4:14p).]

Interesting.

Only 12 turbines spinning this afternoon, and it's a windy day. That's a lot of money just standing there decorating the landscape.

Isn't there also an issue of certain powerlines being able to take the electricity away? I wonder if all of them were running if they don't have the line capacity to take all of the juice at one time.

The turbine companies have contracts to put power on the grid, before they generate it. They do not make money if it is not sold, before they generate it.

How far are the windmills spaced?

What does a farmer that has them on his land do in the event of needing to aerial spray his crops?

I suspect they'll have to pull a spray tank behind a tractor.

guess that will work in a drought year.....


We will see when they can't get into their fields, etc. I just shake my head when people pushing the windmills say that the structures won't have any effect on producers farming/ranching operations....

obviously they will have some effect on farming, but how would it interfere with ranching?

depending upon density, they could generate a hell of a lot more money per acre with virtually no risk compared to farming

The wind farm being planned southwest of Canyon will have 8 turbines per square mile. So a 1/4 section (160 acre) farm would have two turbines and a service road going across the farm. The base of the turbine itself is a buried concrete inverted mushroom about 60 feet across....I think that is 60' diameter, but let's double it for 60' radius.

As planned, the turbines will be at one end of the quarter, so you can farm the entire rest of the place. I'd estimate that the access road and the turbine base would take up 2-3 acres. But let's be extravagant and say you lose 5 acres.

The area being planned for the turbines here is all ranch land and dryland. Dryland wheat yields run around 20 bushels an acre in a good year. Price right now is excellent, in the >$7.00 range.

20 bushels/acre x $7.00/bushel x 5 acres = $700

Advertised income from turbines: $5,000 to $12,000 per turbine per year.


$700 vs. $10,000 to $24,000.....hmmm, let me think......

To extend it out, if you could somehow make 20 bushel wheat year in and year out (damn near impossible), the entire 160 acres would throw off $22,400 a year in gross income assuming prices somehow stayed near the current record high level. Of course your time and expenses come out of that.

At the more normal price range of $3-$4, you're talking about $10,000 to $12,000 a year, in the years when you actually make a crop.

Farmers will probably be happy to give up 3% of their land for an income equal to what 100% used to give them. Some will farm around the turbines and be happy to do so. Some may say the heck with it, put in grass, graze a few cows and relax.

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but how would it interfere with ranching

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Thought: could limit some ways to control invasive brush/weeds: i.e. burning/spraying/etc.

That is something off the top of my head - there are probably other things.

I don't doubt that the windmills are a good thing for the landowner - I will probably have some on my land in the future. But I just don't like the guys who are pushing it to tell half-truths like: "also, the turbines will not affect the farmer/rancher's ability to operate their land..." yada, yada, yada.

Also, what happens when this country potentially wises up to a real energy solution - nuclear - that makes it cheaper and more consistent than the current wind fad? What is everyone going to be doing with these windmills in 30-50 years, when they are deteriorating and rusting up?

These types of things are the things that the wind pushers never seem to talk about…..



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Americans for Fair Taxation!

Allegedly they post bonds to cover the cost of site remediation if the turbines ever come down.

However, since the initial cost of site prep and infrastructure gets paid off in the first few years, the cost of operation and maintainence, even if it involves replacement, has got to be a whole lot less than the initial cost.

Bottom line, if electricity stays the same, or especially if it increases, the turbines ought to stay profitable, or even increase in profitability.

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Thought: could limit some ways to control invasive brush/weeds: i.e. burning/spraying/etc.

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brush isn't a problem up on the caprock

once the windmills are paid off, it's basically "free" electricity, so nuke's can't get any cheaper than that

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the cost of operation and maintainence, even if it involves replacement, has got to be a whole lot less than the initial cost.

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agreed

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brush isn't a problem up on the caprock

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disagree (and more and more ranchers are starting to realize that)

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once the windmills are paid off, it's basically "free" electricity, so nuke's can't get any cheaper than that

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disagree: nuke plants will be built in this country - and using your same logic "once they are paid off" - they will be more "free" than the wind energy. For people to think the windmills will be "free" energy once they are built is foolish (imho). There will be significant cost in maintenance/replacement/royalties to transport the potentially inconsistent power, when the nuclear power will be closer to the demand. This is similar to the railroad service that was recently terminated from Spearman to Shattuck. Sure - once the initial cost is borne - the maintenance is minimal in comparison - but it is still very expensive - and at some point the cost could outweigh the benefit.

I hope I am wrong, but just to discount possible negatives w/o thinking is hazardous (again, imo).

Again, I am not against them - just tired of the zealot attitude and misinformation. And some of it probably is due to the sludge spewed by Pickens & Co....

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disagree (and more and more ranchers are starting to realize that)

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Where is brush a problem up on the cap? I don't live in the area any more, but I'm in the area once or twice a year and I don't recall ever seeing much brush.

Unfortunately, brush and invasive weed species are infiltrating the area. The Canadian River area's mesquite is growing rapidly. Further north, you have broom snakeweed, yucca, sagebrush, mare's tail, western ragweed, golden aster, *****ly pear, etc.

LOL - guess I should have typed: opuntia