The idea of anything free or cheap fascinates Lord Kadizzle. Wind energy has some of those qualities. Since we now drive by the big wind farm at Center near our home of Hazen, Lord Kadizzle thought he should do some research on wind energy.
The other day when Lord Kadizzle took Daryl to have surgery in Bismarck, we stopped to see the big windmills. It was very cold, and the wind was blowing like crazy, but the windmills were not running. We happened to be near the control center, so his lordship went right past the NO TRESPASSING signs and demanded an answer. The technicians explained the machines could not operate below -20. It was strange that one or two were operating. This morning the specs were checked on the internet, and sure enough that is the temp requirement.
Now to the political game. The conventional carbon based energy industry does not want to cry uncle and admit, that there are any viable alternatives. Lord Kadizzle was once denied a job at a local coal mine because he was a proponent of wind energy. At a point in time when we must switch to nuclear the coal lobby is fighting every inch of the way.
The coal people always say "You cannot store wind power". At face value this seems true, but when you think about it North Dakota is in a unique position to store wind power. Right in Mercer county we have the Garrison dam. Any time you have strong production of wind, you simply throttle back the dam. The water, and or energy is backed up behind the dam. The energy is stored until you need it. The whole process is strait forward, but a lot of people would rather you think it can't work. Lord Kadizzle has asked a lot of people about the ins and outs of doing this and never got a strait answer. What it really comes down to is cooperation. The various people that control the dam, have to cooperate to make it work. At this point it seems politics are the real cause of pollution that could be avoided.
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