Entire State Of Oklahoma Auditioning For Wind Power Play
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.13.07
Not the musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein: "Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain."
This one will be a reality play.
"Major energy players in government and business are trying to chart a billion-dollar wind frontier with Oklahoma in the middle."
"They say the biggest hurdle to harnessing the region's renewable, clean and lucrative gusts is the transmission of the energy. Electricity transmission lines in rural areas, such as the Oklahoma Panhandle, are too small to satisfy the needs of populatio centers like Oklahoma City and Dallas. The plan is a logistical and financial unknown. States, their utilities and industry seek a way to spur economic development and harvest a valuable resource. The prospect is attracting outsiders who want to own the expanded transmission system, which is necessary to sell clean energy to the wind-starved east...Oklahoma wind farms can produce a maximum 689 megawatts, ranking fifth in the United States, said Oklahoma State University climatology professor Steven Stadler."
We're not certain if the cited maximum wind power potential for Oklahoma was correctly quoted, by the way. Perhaps someone can provide us an update or citation?
Via:: NewsOK.com, "Energy plan turns nature into money" Image credit:: Amazon, Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack)
I don't think that quoted number is for maximum wind potential-- the way it is written it appears to be either:
1. The maximum power production capability that is *currently installed*, or...
2. The amount of additional power they could transmit on the existing lines, which the article takes time to mention are inadequate for transmission of any significant new generation.
State Summary:
Total installed = 595*
Under Construction = 94.5 MW
Wind Energy Potential:
Average Power Output (MW): 82,700
Annual kWh: 725 Billion
Rank in US: 8th**
*Updated: June 30, 2007
Source:
http://www.awea.org/projects/oklahoma.html
(first google hit for keywords: oklahoma wind energy potential)
==== author response ====
Thanks Pieter. I made the mistake of doggedly looking for the final copy of the report prepared for the OK state legislature, by a team led by the cited source. After 20 minutes I just gave up frustrated. Glad you had the patience to look in another direction.
Thanks for the thanks.
Did not require much patience. Google is quick ;-)
I just drove up I-35 a couple of weeks ago and there's some of the biggest turbine blades I've ever seen laying out by some factories just a bit north of the Red River. And when I say big, I mean big.
IIRC, a single blade was about as long as an entire commercial jet. Seeing all the blades laid on the ground like that with points of reference for size next to them almost got a "Holy crap!" out of me. I knew they were big, but not THAT big!
Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the pllain. Transmission necessary to sell energy to the wind starved East. That is a contradiction to treehuggers post on 7-11- 06. New study claims enough wind energy on U.S coasts to power the whole country. A potential of 900,000 MG's. You mentioned A project off Massachusets and another off the Long Island coast. The one on Long Island has already been scrapped because of cost and it is feared the one in Ma. will also be litigated to death. It seems the NYBY Yatch owners also live off the metropolitan areas. Heave ho, me lads, the wind blows free.