LIVE VIDEO STREAM: Dan Malloy environmental plan press conference

I'm not a wind expert, but... (0.00 / 0)

generally-speaking... when you look at the efficiency of existing wind turbines and plop them down in CT... they don't make sense... even in -- or along -- the Sound.

Other states work great.  Some states have some perfect wind patterns that suit current technology well.  And you don't need to have Nevada's wind-swept valleys for them to work.  If Delaware's wind farm moves forward, it could work really well.  But CT is stuck behind Long Island... and our hilltops are covered with trees.

Wind can work in CT, but the payback on solar thermal, solar electric, geothermal installations, etc. is still better than wind -- based on current technology.

And when you factor in the siting concerns, startup costs, etc... I don't see the point in having the wind mill discussion.

I like Dan a lot, but think this discussion is unnecessary for CT.

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by: Tim White @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 05:39:56 AM UTC

And I recall... (0.00 / 0)

Ned discussing this.  So I'm sure this plays into the primary.  But I'm still pretty sure both are off target on this one with respect to a logical approach to transitioning to clean energy.

Also, windmills generate electricity.  And CTs electricity comes mostly from the nukes and NG-powered plants... neither of which are imported from the middle east.  Yet CT still uses 1 billion gallons of heating fuel per year (I think New England uses 8 billion... and New England is pretty much the main place in the US to heat with oil... so we have a responsibility to reduce that).

I'd prefer to hear more about reducing our oil consumption than reducing our nuke or NG consumption.

And both solar thermal and geothermal will prob do more to reduce our oil consumption (for heating) than wind turbines would.

So I see many reasons to skip the whole wind mill debate and discuss other clean energies.

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by: Tim White @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 05:52:42 AM UTC

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hey (0.00 / 0)

Nice to hear from you again, Tim.

The "where we can or can't place windmills" debate makes me think that we're listening to a debate for TP&Z instead of for Governor. "I oppose traffic lights in the historic district." Yawn, small time.

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 12:07:51 PM UTC

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thanks Matt... (0.00 / 0)

since CTLP was laid to rest, I coincidentally got buried at work and have been backing away from even my blog... def still lurking though!  It's in my blood.

And I tend to agree that it's sounding more like a P&Z meeting than a run for Guv.  I still like Dan though.

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by: Tim White @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 18:53:43 PM UTC

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also... (0.00 / 0)

backed away a bit because I've been disgusted with both parties... the banking stuff and the war have me tired of both Dems and Rs... did love the Frank / Paul piece on HuffPo though that got highlighted by Olbermann last night.

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by: Tim White @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 18:58:48 PM UTC

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. (0.00 / 0)

http://www.windpoweringamerica...

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 12:24:25 PM UTC

Problem with this map... (0.00 / 0)

is that it does not take into account altitude. In our town we have a strong river of wind just 100 feet in the air going over a large part of our area. We are presently exploring how we might let private parties capture it for the production of electricity. Malloy had my vote up to now, but for him to make this knee jerk NIMBY position, no more.

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by: KillingworthDem @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 18:00:18 PM UTC

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I stand corrected... (0.00 / 0)

this map is at 50m but we have energy engineers in our town that have convincing info that makes many of us believe that there is the proper amount of wind here and in other parts of our state. We will see how this plays out, but for Malloy to take this position on CT wind energy is not what I had hoped for this subject.

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by: KillingworthDem @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 18:14:05 PM UTC

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it's science! (0.00 / 0)

Give grants to put it where it's most effective (whether by improving the maps or requiring a min kWH for the project.) Towns can take up the challenge or lose the money.

If I understand the use of Branford as the locale correctly, this is supposed to be a gesture to Broadwater. Otherwise it'd be baffling as to why someone would campaign on this kind of absurdly minute issue.  

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 23:40:20 PM UTC

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