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U.S. Wind Power Output Increases as Turbine Blades Grow Longer

OIL Price -- The US Department of Energy has compiled a report which states that energy generated from wind turbines in the US has grown by 27 percent over the last year alone. The majority of this increase can be attributed to the size of the wind turbine blades that are now being installed.

The report noted that wind turbines in the 1980’s used blades that averaged a mere 19.81 meters in length, whereas nowadays turbines are erected with an average blade length 45.72 meters. Blades are constantly growing longer, and it is predicted that in the future they could measure over 100m.

Niketa Kumar remarked in her article on the Department of Energy’s website, that “any new wind turbine technology is only as good as the tests it undergoes.” With that in mind the DoE has been investing heavily in wind tur

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Submitted Jul 23, 2012 By: mastermariner

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,811 Points:1,635,270 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 6:17:02 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse very few places use wind. We could utilize a lot more and be less coal and oil dependent for our heating and cooling needs.
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,888 Points:617,495 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 24, 2012 10:48:39 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then.
ss70 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,918 Points:1,895,250 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 24, 2012 9:28:45 AM Ignore ss70 Report Abuse US is not using wind potential at all.
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,856 Points:1,687,540 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 24, 2012 12:05:23 AM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse Good to see.
Eugenian Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,001 Points:388,855 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:27:25 PM Ignore Eugenian Report Abuse It's good to see that wind energy technology is progressing.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,604 Points:756,970 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 8:50:00 PM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Are the made in the USA and bought here?
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,681 Points:1,196,290 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 8:49:16 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Wind, solar and other renewable energy sources is the future.
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,561 Points:542,850 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 4:59:21 PM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Renewable energy sources will be even more important with China buying into North America.
Tucker16 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,191 Points:563,450 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 3:57:10 PM Ignore Tucker16 Report Abuse Good stuff.
evowner Champion Author Salem Posts:2,313 Points:385,010 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 3:37:06 PM Ignore evowner Report Abuse The more applications of a technology the greater the chance of improvement. To sit on a chair rocking back and forth wondering "what if" just wears out chairs.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,651 Points:1,940,845 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 1:36:40 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse ok
Fitwit Champion Author Stockton Posts:6,518 Points:1,378,030 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 12:13:38 PM Ignore Fitwit Report Abuse And uglier?
Soglaos Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:2,846 Points:763,680 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:58:20 AM Ignore Soglaos Report Abuse Hmm Is that not common sense well we have seen that Common Sense is lacking in most people
Bigtex09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:4,417 Points:1,184,915 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:51:23 AM Ignore Bigtex09 Report Abuse wow
TRYWI All-Star Author Appleton Posts:898 Points:282,150 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:39:13 AM Ignore TRYWI Report Abuse I agree with ARCO.
Rich_L_65 Rookie Author Virginia Beach Posts:11 Points:112,045 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:25:36 AM Ignore Rich_L_65 Report Abuse 100 meters!!! OMG, that is about the length of a football field. And that's just one blade. These things are going from huge to colossal.
sdiddydaddy Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,101 Points:415,445 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:15:15 AM Ignore sdiddydaddy Report Abuse Well duh . . .
TXryder Champion Author Texas Posts:2,849 Points:459,535 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:09:35 AM Ignore TXryder Report Abuse 100 meter blades that would be 200 meters diameter plus about 100 meters up off the ground so 300 meters would make a good lightning attractor plus knock out a few buzzing low flying planes.
ARCO Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:2,468 Points:2,401,170 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:05:41 AM Ignore ARCO Report Abuse NOT IN MY DACK YARD
Cakes77 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:5,280 Points:1,676,320 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:00:13 AM Ignore Cakes77 Report Abuse A very helpful article here. Thanks for posting this.
bobsalwaysmt Champion Author Long Island Posts:4,704 Points:268,015 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:56:59 AM Ignore bobsalwaysmt Report Abuse Too many NIMBY's with too much money, power & influence!
tes283 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:865 Points:368,850 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:43:57 AM Ignore tes283 Report Abuse Wind is free and safe for the environment, so spend now to get cheaper latter,
zaq001 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,109 Points:1,498,805 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:42:17 AM Ignore zaq001 Report Abuse ok
QuagmireLA Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,081 Points:161,230 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:41:25 AM Ignore QuagmireLA Report Abuse The wind blows almost constantly offsore in the gulf om Mexico. Also yuaers od oil and nat gas drilling has left hundreds of abandoned platforms. These could be used to mount wind turbines. As to the call of the wild bird lovers.... There aren't all that many birds miles offshore. Nothing for them to eat. nowhere except on the water for them to sleep. So bird kills should be minimal. What birds (seagulls and pidgeons mostly) that might run afoul of these platforms ar largely trash birds far from being endandered. Besides it will give sharks something to munch on instead of surfers. So the offshore wind farms may be a viable idea. It just makes me wonder how much power we lose over the transmission run from way offshore to inland usage.
SUPERQUACK Champion Author Sacramento Posts:6,247 Points:1,937,380 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:41:23 AM Ignore SUPERQUACK Report Abuse WOW !!!!!
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:16,743 Points:2,165,455 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:36:07 AM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse OK
bullfrog69 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,304 Points:849,260 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:35:38 AM Ignore bullfrog69 Report Abuse Per blade length, then you'll have to raise tower height! So be it!
ROSYMI Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,028 Points:387,100 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:34:26 AM Ignore ROSYMI Report Abuse to expensive
toxigas Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,323 Points:431,050 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:34:10 AM Ignore toxigas Report Abuse Horizotal blades are getting longer, true. But improved vertical blade design is happening as well. Verticals are useful in locations where the clearance required by large horizontal designs is unavailable.
F81M Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,630 Points:812,885 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:32:34 AM Ignore F81M Report Abuse The bigger they are the more birds can be killed.
ktbaeohana Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:2,412 Points:442,125 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:32:26 AM Ignore ktbaeohana Report Abuse watch and see.
Car54BC08 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:4,384 Points:1,536,090 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:32:04 AM Ignore Car54BC08 Report Abuse Bigger is better
fieldt Champion Author Lansing Posts:4,045 Points:753,850 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:31:07 AM Ignore fieldt Report Abuse Still pretty expensive. Wondering if it will ever be truly affordable.
deaconjones Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,249 Points:324,505 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:29:44 AM Ignore deaconjones Report Abuse STILL A PIPE-DREAM.....
VernonOR Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,008 Points:757,030 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:29:11 AM Ignore VernonOR Report Abuse I'm all for alternative energy.
unicornpmb Champion Author Buffalo Posts:8,621 Points:1,655,265 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:29:00 AM Ignore unicornpmb Report Abuse The cost has to increase also.
Stevedog Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,983 Points:1,971,725 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:28:01 AM Ignore Stevedog Report Abuse imagine an airplane with blades like that!
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,079 Points:1,042,370 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:27:51 AM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse Love these modern day windmills.
Samo1961 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,025 Points:646,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:27:36 AM Ignore Samo1961 Report Abuse It's one option, we need more.
91Explorer All-Star Author Dallas Posts:634 Points:1,152,390 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:27:24 AM Ignore 91Explorer Report Abuse so the tower get taller & heavier
IMLURCH Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,314 Points:1,128,930 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:25:17 AM Ignore IMLURCH Report Abuse Watch they will find some way to tax us for the free wind.
flatrock14 Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,780 Points:802,530 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:24:58 AM Ignore flatrock14 Report Abuse will energy prices go down
goalie1950 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:6,540 Points:1,322,170 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:24:11 AM Ignore goalie1950 Report Abuse There should be wind turbines installed around Washington DC with all the hot air that comes out of that location.
FedupwithGreed All-Star Author Victoria Posts:733 Points:174,225 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:24:00 AM Ignore FedupwithGreed Report Abuse OK
BudsterMO Champion Author Kansas City Posts:3,840 Points:729,680 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:23:26 AM Ignore BudsterMO Report Abuse Coming soon, coming soon, ZZZZZZZZZ. What about using different materials for the blades? With computers and calculators available R&D is supposed to take less time.
stueyAZ Sophomore Author Phoenix Posts:222 Points:25,005 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:22:27 AM Ignore stueyAZ Report Abuse ... and the population is increasing as well.
mikesr11 Champion Author New York City Posts:3,632 Points:705,965 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:21:21 AM Ignore mikesr11 Report Abuse SURE THE WIND POWER OUTPUT HAS INCREASED - OBAMA IS GIVING MORE SPEECHES ABOUT BS.
Topshopper2011 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,067 Points:290,625 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:20:52 AM Ignore Topshopper2011 Report Abuse Yeah
MightyDude Champion Author Minnesota Posts:10,486 Points:2,674,495 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:20:49 AM Ignore MightyDude Report Abuse hope it pans out
fatfed Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,995 Points:502,165 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:20:42 AM Ignore fatfed Report Abuse ok