Editorial: Wind-Farm Activity Picks Up, Interest Grows

For those who may not understand why we are interested in wind-farm activity, we point out that the fossil fuels wind-farm power would replace moves by barge: oil, coal, etc. This is not to suggest that it will impact barge traffic. The demand for power is overwhelming.

Wind energy is being touted as the most promising carbon-free, nonnuclear alternative to fossil-fueled power. Interest in it is picking up, and there is evidence that some involved with fossil fuels sometimes stand in the way, which probably is not necessary, because growth will not be that fast and furious.

Investment in wind-power projects is growing, however, and some projects underway are large enough to make an impact in areas where power is now produced using fossil fuels. This battle to become free of dependence on foreign oil for energy has been going on half-heartedly for 35 years or more.

Coal interests have fought to stay in business and clean-coal technology has emerged, making the use of coal less troublesome than it once was. Coal is our largest source of energy in the United States. Shutting down the mines would put hundreds of thousands out of work and in the long run be a foolish move.

Oil producers have been under pressure for years, not the least of which comes from regulations about where they can drill for oil and where transporters can or cannot carry it. The world of oil is growing smaller, though there are, no doubt, large undiscovered deposits. Oil is also under other pressure, as is the auto industry. From time to time the country demands more efficient cars, especially when fuel prices are high.

Our thoughts on wind power reminded us of the 450-megawatt Cape Wind installation that has been in the works for five years off Cape Cod. A Wired Magazine blog by John Georghegan, a San Francisco writer, reminded us that “property owners, including green-energy backers like U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) are leading the fight against Cape Wind, for fear it will mar the environment off Martha’s Vineyard.” Another project off New York’s Long Island Sound is running into similar difficulties, Georghegan wrote. “Not in my backyard!” opponents say.

More importantly, we learned from Wired that Gulf Coast oil rigs are now being “repurposed” to be used in building the first offshore wind farm in the United States. One such rusting rig was stripped, refurbished and returned to sea in December to begin a new mission—it carried wind-monitoring equipment as well as radar to track migratory birds, Georghegan wrote.

For years, tugboats from the Port of Iberia, La., have been moving oil rigs to and from their anchorages in the Gulf of Mexico. The platforms soon to follow will not be topped with drilling rigs but with wind turbines—turbines that can be lowered when the threat of large storms is present. The project will cover an 18-mile-square area 10 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas.

The blog said, “Formed in 2004, Wind Energy Systems Technology (WEST) is on track to commercialize offshore wind power well ahead of more established and better funded contenders with greener credentials.” The project is a modest one at $240 million and will produce 150 megawatts of peak power, enough to power only 45,000 homes.

The undertaking is the baby of two Gulf Coast men, Harold Schoeffler, a Cadillac dealer; and Herman Schellstede, the chairman of a local Sierra Club chapter. They have been working together since 1984 to upgrade environmental standards for oil rigs. By 2004, Schellstede was dismantling old rigs, hauling them back to shore and selling them for pennies on the dollar. The two men got their heads together. Instead of planning and designing new, specialized offshore wind equipment, they decided to mount regular windmills on oil platforms and use hydraulic lifts on the rigs to lower turbines in the event of squalls.

The men have signed a contract with the Texas General Land Office to deliver 50 windmills to the site this summer. According to the blog, a test windmill should be in operation by summer and the rest spinning by 2008. If demand warrants it, another 50 could be delivered by 2010.

Needless to say, the project has caught the attention of investors and other big projects are in the planning stage, a 500-megawatt project by an Australian investment firm for example.

Wind farms have proven themselves in the Midwest, but it is not economically feasible right now to move the power via transmission lines to coastal areas where it may be needed. On the other hand, with shallow-water oil reserves running dry, using the offshore rigs for wind-power projects appears practical.

It seems to us that with all of this activity going on to develop wind farms both inland and along coastal areas, there should be more enthusiasm within government for doing so. In fact, since conditions in some areas are perfect for these projects, one would think the projects would be the talk of the town. Perhaps they are, and we just have not heard about it.

Let’s face it: wind power, good as it is, cannot take the place of fossil fuel. But added to the improved mileage President Bush wants for new cars, and other forms of renewable clean energy, it can make a huge difference in our energy-independence efforts.

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