Changes

== Cost breakdown ==

== Cost breakdown ==

Wind energy from turbines is a power generating loser when compared to other technologies such as [[coal]], hydro, gas and nuclear. One major downside is that when there is no wind, no power is generated. Sources say you need at least a 10MPH wind speed to generate power, and speeds in excess of 50MPH will shut down turbines to prevent damage.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/01/02/as-britain-freezes-wind-farms-take-power-from-grid-to-prevent-icing/ AS BRITAIN FREEZES, WIND FARMS TAKE POWER FROM GRID TO PREVENT ICING, Breitbart.com. January 2, 2015]</ref> Industry promoters often paint a rosy picture of the benefits of wind power when other sources claim as little as 8% of usable generation.

Wind energy from turbines is a power generating loser when compared to other technologies such as [[coal]], hydro, gas and nuclear. One major downside is that when there is no wind, no power is generated. Sources say you need at least a 10MPH wind speed to generate power, and speeds in excess of 50MPH will shut down turbines to prevent damage.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/01/02/as-britain-freezes-wind-farms-take-power-from-grid-to-prevent-icing/ AS BRITAIN FREEZES, WIND FARMS TAKE POWER FROM GRID TO PREVENT ICING, Breitbart.com. January 2, 2015]</ref> Industry promoters often paint a rosy picture of the benefits of wind power when other sources claim as little as 8% of usable generation.

It is not widely known that wind turbines actually use electricity from the grid (coal/gas/hydro/nuclear) to power their hydraulic systems that keep the blades facing in the same direction as the wind. In freezing weather conditions, electricity from the grid is used to keep the blades spinning at low speeds as a method of de-icing.

It is not widely known that wind turbines actually use electricity from the grid (coal/gas/hydro/nuclear) to power their hydraulic systems that keep the blades facing in the same direction as the wind. In freezing weather conditions, electricity from the grid is used to keep the blades spinning at low speeds as a method of de-icing.

{{cquote| A two-megawatt windmill contains 260 tonnes of steel requiring 170 tonnes of coking coal and 300 tonnes of iron ore, all mined, transported and produced by hydrocarbons.}}

{{cquote| A two-megawatt windmill contains 260 tonnes of steel requiring 170 tonnes of coking coal and 300 tonnes of iron ore, all mined, transported and produced by hydrocarbons.}}

Landscape, seascape, and wildlife costs are a major downside to power from wind. Eagles, bats, and birds of all kinds are killed in the thousands by wind blades. Estimates place the number of birds killed by wind turbines at 30 million per year.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/17/why-stefan-the-stork-died-in-vain-wind-turbines/ RIP STEFAN THE STORK – ONE OF 30 MILLION BIRDS KILLED BY WIND FARMS EVERY YEAR, Breitbart, August 17, 2015]</ref>  

Landscape, seascape, and wildlife costs are a major downside to power from wind. Eagles, bats, and birds of all kinds are killed in the thousands by wind blades. Estimates place the number of birds killed by wind turbines at 30 million per year.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/17/why-stefan-the-stork-died-in-vain-wind-turbines/ RIP STEFAN THE STORK – ONE OF 30 MILLION BIRDS KILLED BY WIND FARMS EVERY YEAR, Breitbart, August 17, 2015]</ref>  

In Ontario [[Canada]], every turbine destroys 3 acres of land, roughly 21,000 acres of farmland.<ref>[http://www.windontario.ca/, Wind Ontario]</ref>

In Ontario [[Canada]], every turbine destroys 3 acres of land, roughly 21,000 acres of farmland.<ref>[http://www.windontario.ca/, Wind Ontario]</ref>

== Government Subsidies and Crony Capitalists ==

== Government Subsidies and Crony Capitalists ==

Billions of [[taxpayer]] dollars are being shoveled into this inefficient scheme in order to promote [[Global Warming]] agendas at the expense of real power sources and the tens of thousands of jobs they replace. Government subsidies keep the growth of wind turbine construction alive and keep this technology running after installation. Without government financial involvement, wind turbines become too costly to operate, go idle and start rusting the landscape. Without government funding, investors sell their investments and shelve plans to expand.<ref>[http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2010/02/wind_energys_ghosts_1.html Wind Energy's Ghosts, American Thinker, February 15, 2010]</ref> The UK's Labour party insists that wind turbines can't make a profit without subsidies.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/18/tories-end-onshore-windfarm-subsidies-2016 Tories to end onshore windfarm subsidies in 2016, The Guardian,June 18, 2015]</ref> [[Tax]] credits are given to companies that manufacture, to companies that install/maintain, to municipalities that own the property. The [[IRS]] is giving away $13 Billion per year in wind energy subsidies.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/09/02/the-irs-is-giving-away-13-billion-a-year-in-wind-energy-subsidies-without-congressional-authorization/ The IRS Is Giving Away $13 Billion A Year In Wind Energy Subsidies, Without Congressional Authorization, Forbes]</ref>  

Billions of [[taxpayer]] dollars are being shoveled into this inefficient scheme in order to promote [[Global Warming]] agendas at the expense of real power sources and the tens of thousands of jobs they replace. Government subsidies keep the growth of wind turbine construction alive and keep this technology running after installation. Without government financial involvement, wind turbines become too costly to operate, go idle and start rusting the landscape. Without government funding, investors sell their investments and shelve plans to expand.<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2010/02/wind_energys_ghosts_1.html Wind Energy's Ghosts, American Thinker, February 15, 2010]</ref> The UK's Labour party insists that wind turbines can't make a profit without subsidies.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/18/tories-end-onshore-windfarm-subsidies-2016 Tories to end onshore windfarm subsidies in 2016, The Guardian,June 18, 2015]</ref> [[Tax]] credits are given to companies that manufacture, to companies that install/maintain, to municipalities that own the property. The [[IRS]] is giving away $13 Billion per year in wind energy subsidies.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/09/02/the-irs-is-giving-away-13-billion-a-year-in-wind-energy-subsidies-without-congressional-authorization/ The IRS Is Giving Away $13 Billion A Year In Wind Energy Subsidies, Without Congressional Authorization, Forbes]</ref>  

The world's biggest billion dollar corporations, such as [[General Electric]] and Siemens, are reaping the investments made in subsidized wind turbine construction. The U.S. government has laid the groundwork for an endless welfare system devoted to big wind companies.<ref>[http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/233562-what-do-we-have-to-show-for-government-subsidies-of What do we have to show for government subsidies of wind power?, TheHill, February 24, 2015]</ref>

The world's biggest billion dollar corporations, such as [[General Electric]] and Siemens, are reaping the investments made in subsidized wind turbine construction. The U.S. government has laid the groundwork for an endless welfare system devoted to big wind companies.<ref>[https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/233562-what-do-we-have-to-show-for-government-subsidies-of What do we have to show for government subsidies of wind power?, TheHill, February 24, 2015]</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://dailycaller.com/2016/04/01/busted-wind-turbine-cost-new-jersey-498000-video/ Busted Wind Turbine Cost New Jersey $498,000]

*[https://dailycaller.com/2016/04/01/busted-wind-turbine-cost-new-jersey-498000-video/ Busted Wind Turbine Cost New Jersey $498,000]

*[http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/10/walmart-leaps-towards-100-renewable-energy-wind-deal/  Walmart wind deal]

*[http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/10/walmart-leaps-towards-100-renewable-energy-wind-deal/  Walmart wind deal]

*[http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-named-friend-iowa-wind-energy  Grassley Named a Friend of Iowa Wind Energy]

*[http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-named-friend-iowa-wind-energy  Grassley Named a Friend of Iowa Wind Energy]