In the wind (Albuquerque, Taos: rent, credit, house)

[Idunn]

Just noticed Al Gore throwing out the challenge that America commit itself to producing all its electricity from renewable and truly clean carbon free sources within 10 years. It was mentioned that among other things this would require updating America's power grid and building new transmission lines.

But in who's backyard? Maybe in some places it won't matter, but few people seem to like the aesthetics, not to mention the electromagnetic fields of these are patently unsafe in close proximity.

I recall seeing several instances of wind generation just outside of Taos, NM. One of these was beautifully shaped, probably quite efficient, and likely expensive as well. At another residence out in the middle of nowhere the infrastructure was much simpler, just a small (about 3 foot diameter) 3 bladed prop attached to the edge of the roof. I didn't inquire about the exact specifics of either of these, although knowing that in many cases whether it is from solar or wind that this the sole source of electricity for the dwelling.

Sometimes, in more modest applications, this amounts to more theory than practice and people sometimes go to inordinate lengths in conservation in order to be off the grid. However I did just learn of new solar panel technology near completion that should increase efficiency of these collectors by a factor of 10. If the general consensus is to get with it such technologies might improve rapidly.

As well, possibly, as antiquated ideas of how to apply new technologies. Perhaps it does make a lot of sense to place large fields of solar collectors in suitable desert locations, maybe resultant costs would be less than if borne on an individual basis. But as at least some citizens of New Mexico have demonstrated, it is possible to entirely forsake a grid. And maybe in some applications it might even make more sense.

[GregW]

There are some places on this planet where you could set up solar collectors and rent the shade.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Idunn

Just noticed Al Gore throwing out the challenge that America commit itself to producing all its electricity from renewable and truly clean carbon free sources within 10 years. It was mentioned that among other things this would require updating America's power grid and building new transmission lines.........

It will take a lot longer than 10 years...and I think he just likes to hear himself talk. The idea is good, but the man is a rabid hypocrite.

His huge mansion uses more energy in a month (and standard sources, too) than many other places use in a YEAR.

He's also one of the NIMBYs!

[james57]

No need to trash an innovative thinker like Al Gore. We need to look at all alternative energy sources as we transition to a new economy. After all, crude oil is the basic source for all our plastic materials. In the future oil will be used for these sources rather than for basic energy. So we need the alternatives like wind, solar, nuclear and others.

Please don't shoot the messenger. There are so few.

[Lovehound]

I would love to see a wind mill high above my house creating energy for me, and for me to share and sell back to the grid. Just think about the beauty of it, pure energy and no toxic byproducts.

I hope to explore renewable energy when I retire soon and perhaps may add renewable energy sources to my retirement home.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by james57

No need to trash an innovative thinker like Al Gore. We need to look at all alternative energy sources as we transition to a new economy. After all, crude oil is the basic source for all our plastic materials. In the future oil will be used for these sources rather than for basic energy. So we need the alternatives like wind, solar, nuclear and others.

Please don't shoot the messenger. There are so few.

I agree with you that we DO need to look at alternative energy sources....AS WELL as doing more domestic exploration and drilling!

In a nutshell, Al Gore does not practice what he preaches, and that bothers me about the man. I can't stand the hypocrisy.

[EnjoyEP]

<MOD MESSAGE: OK folks...this thread is going to be allowed to stand and the OP had the intention it seems to talk about the vast potential resources New Mexico could offer in terms of solar and wind power (in comparison to many other states) due to its beautiful geography.

However, ol' EnjoyEP has been around the CD Forum block long enough now to know that topics like this almost always result in deleted posts, edited posts, locked threads, etc.

Thus, as a friendly pre-cursor, if you wish to participate in this thread, by all means do, but YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED to stay within forum Terms of Service. Otherwise, your post will be deleted and more.

This thread already teeters dangerously close to being needed to be moved to the Politics & Other Controversies forum.

We know that many here are going to be pro-Al Gore's ideals and likely (note I didn't say "always") on the liberal side of political ideology, and there are going to be many here anti-Gore's ideals and likely (not I didn't say "always") on the conservative side of political ideology. We already likely all know the arguments on both sides of those dockets, and if we wish to debate them, we need to do so in the Politics & Other Controversies forum.

On this thread, the discussion should relate to what I believe the OP's main purpose was to discuss: solar / wind energy potential as it relates to NEW MEXICO.

Keep things cordial, non-personal, and adult-like.

Thanks.

[Idunn]

Al Gore reminded of this, but is not the topic.

There is some very innovative use of technology towards sustainable energy in New Mexico. Suggestions and ideas?

[catman]

I agree that Al Gore is something of a hypocrite, but the idea he is promoting is a good one, if unlikely to come to pass in only ten years. Perhaps he's just giving us something to shoot for, and trying to keep us from putting off whatever we can do toward it.

[ziaAirmac]

There's an existing, relatively easy way to jump on the bandwagon in New Mexico. PNM's Sky Blue program lets you effectively choose to buy wind generated energy at cost. Because they have the advantage of generating from large fields with the benefit of scale and extensive site studies for average winds and the like, they can almost always beat the efficiencies achieved by a single home setup. It's obviously not an answer for those that are looking to completely remove the grid's umbilical.
PNM Sky Blue : Wind Energy for New Mexico | Renewable Energy | Electricity Power
For the average home owner, it's actually pretty tough to live off of wind power. Anyone who's ever considered it has listened to the winds howling outside their house and thought there's got to be enough to power a house's needs. Especially the East Canyon winds! But the problem is the fleeting nature of wind in most areas. I've read somewhere that a particular area needs to average about 12mph of wind over the entire year to make wind energy viable. That's a lot of wind! Also, the wind energy available goes up markedly with the height of the turbine about ground level, meaning a little prop spinning off your roof is no competition for one of those big rotors spinning on a tower.

We definitely need to get off the NIMBY thing. I'm sure it's just me, but I personally think large wind rotors are one of those objects that combine beauty and function perfectly. Maybe it's just the thought that each rotor represents a commitment to change. We just got back from a vacation in Pennsylvania and as we were leaving I noticed a series of rotors along the ridge line of the valley we had been in for the whole time. They just became part of the background, and were there generating clean, quiet energy day in and day out. Consider the blight that the structures required to refine, store and distribute gasoline create and come back to me about those darned panels on your neighbors roof. I think one of the things we're all coming to terms with is that it doesn't matter what we think is eye appealing. What we're doing isn't sustainable and therefore can't continue in the long run. I think in general New Mexicans are open to new ideas, designs and structures required for alternative energies. The southwest has always struck me as a hotbed for passive and active solar design. Anyone who enjoys the benefits of thick adobe walls can attest to that.

I'd love to know your source for the factor of 10 breakthrough in solar panel output. I wonder if they were solar cells (to generate electricity), or solar collectors (to generate heat, usually for water). Solar cells are actually quite inefficient, with 8-12% efficiencies being the standard. They're a semiconductor product like computer chips, so a factor of 10 breakthrough would be a real engineering feat and would really boost solar powers potential. We have two solar firms going into the new Mesa Del Sol development:
Home - Advent Solar
and
SCHOTT Solar Breaks Ground on Manufacturing Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico
I consider it a real feather in New Mexico's green (felt?) cap.
Also, there's a firm called Emcore that's been here for years that manufactures very high tech cells, used in critical applications like satellite solar panels and solar race vehicle cells.

Finally, the State of New Mexico offers tax incentives and has 'net metering' laws. The 'net metering' laws are a huge benefit. They basically say that you, as the small time residential power producer, can sell your excess properly produced energy back to the grid at the going rate for any major power company feeding the grid. You could actually start turning your meter back and assuming you kept adding to your production, could end up getting paid (or building a credit.). This means that New Mexicans don't have to take the plunge all at once. They can enjoy the current benefits of the grid, and slowly chip away at their monthly costs with addition investments in energy production equipment (wind, solar, tethered chickens on a Rube Goldberg contraption, what have you.).