I used to support wind power and vilify natural gas. I was so wrong.
Here's the truth. ⬇️
2/ Natural gas has reduced CO2 by 2X more than wind.
The US has reduced ~1 BILLION metric tons of CO2 since 2005—more than the entire EU. What’s produced the energy-related reductions:
61% = Natural gas replacing coal
31% = Wind
8% = Solar
bit.ly/3nBTKzD
3/ Shifting from coal to natural gas remains the fastest, cheapest way to reduce CO2.
"Every 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas replacing coal saves over 30 million tons of CO2 emissions—the equivalent of electrifying 6 million cars."
- @Shalennial
bit.ly/3I2QZiT
4/ Lower-income & middle-income families subsidize wind-power tax credits to support the wealthy.
Wind power received 48X more subsidies than natural gas per unit of electricity generated.
bit.ly/3w2aEfu
5/ Natural gas produces less waste.
Each wind turbine blade is over 165ft (50m) long & is made from toxic materials that can’t be recycled & that are getting dumped in landfills.
Tens of thousands of blades will eventually enter the waste stream.
bloomberg.com/news/features/…
6/ Natural gas produces less air pollution.
Wind power needs a gas plant as a backup to avoid blackouts when the wind doesn’t blow.
Wind power causes plants to ramp up & down quickly.
The up-and-down ramping causes more air pollution than running the plant efficiently.
7/ Even when the wind is blowing, the gas plants must continue burning fuel to maintain their minimum operating levels.
bit.ly/3SHzcnD
8/ Wind farms increase utility bills.
Households pay more for electricity where governments mandate wind & solar power:
German households saw their energy bills DOUBLE between 2010-2020.
American households in CA pay 80% more, & 11% more in 28 other states with mandates.
9/ An offshore wind farm requires 13X more mineral resources than a natural gas power plant.
bit.ly/3mEbCJR
10/ Wind power requires 370X more land than natural gas.
A 200-megawatt wind farm takes up 13 square miles.
A natural gas power plant with that same generating capacity could fit onto a single city block.
bloom.bg/3Cb7auS
11/ Natural gas is 1.6X more reliable.
Capacity factor is a measure of reliability.
A plant with a capacity factor of 100% is producing maximum power 100% of the time.
bit.ly/3xST2Uw
12/ The wind often doesn't blow when we need it most.
The chart shows when power demand in Texas surges, wind generation falls.
Less than 3% of wind capacity was available during peak demand.
This is what happens when you hire a flaky part-time employee to do a full-time job.
13/ Natural gas uses 8X less energy to generate a usable unit of power.
bit.ly/3MWwpUv
14/ Natural gas plants last 2X longer than wind farms.
15/ Wind farms break down often & don’t last long.
Equipment failures & declining performance make the cost of operating a 16+ yr old wind turbine prohibitive.
Onshore turbines lose 37% output & offshore turbines lose 50% output at 16 yrs.
bit.ly/34dxYft
16/ Natural gas costs less to transmit power to the people who need it.
Natural gas plants are built near urban areas. But wind farms are located far from homes & workplaces which increases the cost of moving the energy where it's needed: ~$BILLIONS for new transmission lines.
17/ Natural gas promotes US energy security.
China’s chokehold on wind turbine manufacturing threatens the energy security of any country reliant on wind power.
18/ China takes up 7 spots among the world’s top 10 wind turbine manufacturers.
China controls 85% of the rare earth refining capacity for making wind turbines.
bit.ly/3K9CdJO
19/ By contrast, the US is the largest producer of oil & gas in the world.
The US ability to produce oil & gas promotes its energy independence & security.
bit.ly/3SXCOSM
20/ In summary…
21/ More background on my personal story via my article “Chasing utopian energy: How I wasted 20 years of my life”:
briangitt.com/chasing-utopia…
I almost forgot.
Wind turbines kill endangered golden eagles, bald eagles, owls, red-tailed hawks, Swainson’s hawks, peregrine falcons, and prairie falcons, among many others.
Hold on...there's more:
Offshore wind farms threaten endangered whales, fisheries, ocean views & industrialize the coastline.
@pwrhungry
realclearenergy.org/articles/2022/…
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