Windy Wednesday

[Newt]

G'day Guys,

I don't know what it was like here on Wednesday but on my bike ride after work in Elmira it was crazy windy. One of the few times I got a upper body workout on a road ride, "and you know its windy when" the sand a grit on the shoulder is blowing so hard it is stinging you're legs. I guess the good thing was it was warm enough still to wear shorts to feel it. :)

I know there currently is quite a debate going on about wind farms in Picton, and I don't know if I'd like windmills in my backyard. But I certainly think they are better than putting a nuclear power plant/incinerator generator/coal fired plant/or Daming another major River in someone elses backyard.

Here is a little quote from Wednesday wind you might find interesting.

"A massive low pressure system that swept into Ontario on Tuesday brought heavy rain and gusty winds with it.
And while the winds were stong enough to knock down trees and leave some residents in the dark, they were also powerful enough to set a record.
Terry Young is with the Independent Electricity System Operator and he says the wind output in Ontario Wednesday powered around 900,000 homes. That's nearly six percent of the province's total demand for power.
Young says that the record wind power felt this week has been extremely encouraging. ?Ontario has made a commitment for more renewable sources of power like wind and so when you see that impact then you can see the kind of contribution wind can make in terms of meeting electricity need.?
He adds that the current trend in Ontario will continue to pick up. ?Over the next five years you're going to see a lot more wind in service than we have right now.?
The new record for hourly output that was reached on Wednesday is more power than what a large nuclear generator could produce."

Peace
Peter

[NancyR]

Very windy, went on a long walk/window shop trip with my mom and we thought we were going to get blown away!

Nancy

[Sandy]

It's been crazy windy here lately.  I agree about the windmills, it would be very interesting to add a few to the area and see what happens. 900,000 homes is an incredible statistic.

[runningwild]

Did anyone hear about the conference of sorts that was happening locally around this topic?  I'm not sure when it was, or is, but I heard about it on the radio.  It's basically a bunch of scientists and folks who think that wind farms are hazardous to our health.  They claim there is a bunch of research showing that wind farms cause insomnia, migraines, and all kinds of other ailments.  Sounded interesting, but I agree that the idea of wind power has a lot of potential.

I would love to read the science behind their claims though!

[NancyR]

Here is one article I saw last night (they had some meeting Friday about it all)

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2825122

[homer]

That was 900,000 homes for 1hr peak, homes running minimal power, was about 90% of the capacity of windmills (very good). The problem is they are on average only 14%. Not too good. I am Bias  because I work at a NUKE. But one day we will find the perfect alternative. Go take a trip to Gaspe Beau Quebec. They are everywhere and they are ugly. They ruin the looks of the mountains, Miles and miles of them. Look at this site not so nice. http://www.savewesternny.org/wildlife.html. Check out the environmental part also.

[NancyR]

Just saw another article, a speaker will be in Belleville.

Will check out the link homer, thanks.

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2827845

Wind power engineer to speak
Local News
By Intelligencer Staff
Posted 1 hour ago
 

A prominent wind energy expert will be in Belleville later this week to discuss green energy and the Ontario Power Authority's feed-in tariff program.

Rob Miller, country manager for Axio Power Canada Inc., will be the guest speaker for the Quinte Chapter of the Professional Engineers of Ontario's annual speaker's night. The event, which is open to the public, will take place Thursday at the Ramada Inn beginning at 5:30 p.m.


Miller joined Axio Power two years ago from Canadian Hydro Developers where he was the project engineer for wind projects including a $475 million development on Wolfe Island. He has also previously worked for Vector Wind Energy as a project manager.

Thursday's agenda also includes certificate presentations for four newly licensed engineers in the chapter.

[Newt]

Homer,

Nukes, are so much prettier along the shoreline. 

Peace
Peter

[Sandy]

 

[BT]

This same Rob Miller is a very talented runner and multi-sport athlete in the Kingston area.  I was doing a lot of running with him a year ago.  He's a very busy guy obviously, but on limited training he still manages to knock out low 18min 5k's and ~1:18 half marathons as a masters runner.

"Rob Miller, country manager for Axio Power Canada Inc., will be the guest speaker for the Quinte Chapter of the Professional Engineers of Ontario's annual speaker's night."