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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:18,643 Points:1,611,470 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:2,768 Points:593,695 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 24, 2012 10:48:39 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then.
ss70 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,677 Points:1,872,050 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:11,733 Points:1,663,740 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 24, 2012 12:05:23 AM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse Good to see.
Eugenian Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,872 Points:364,080 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:3,493 Points:734,300 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:7,559 Points:1,173,100 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:2,440 Points:519,050 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:1,160 Points:544,750 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 3:57:10 PM Ignore Tucker16 Report Abuse Good stuff.
evowner Champion Author Salem Posts:2,192 Points:361,210 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:3,561 Points:1,920,735 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 1:36:40 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse ok
Fitwit Champion Author Stockton Posts:6,404 Points:1,356,845 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 12:13:38 PM Ignore Fitwit Report Abuse And uglier?
Soglaos Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:2,771 Points:741,905 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:4,298 Points:1,161,235 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:111,295 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:397,145 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 11:15:15 AM Ignore sdiddydaddy Report Abuse Well duh . . .
TXryder Champion Author Texas Posts:2,720 Points:434,680 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:2,358 Points:2,379,320 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:5,171 Points:1,654,695 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:4,665 Points:266,040 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:3,990 Points:1,475,025 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:42:17 AM Ignore zaq001 Report Abuse ok
QuagmireLA Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,079 Points:160,365 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:6,131 Points:1,912,805 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:41:23 AM Ignore SUPERQUACK Report Abuse WOW !!!!!
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:16,611 Points:2,141,430 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:835,760 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:369,500 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:34:26 AM Ignore ROSYMI Report Abuse to expensive
toxigas Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,222 Points:408,490 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:1,509 Points:789,085 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:2,311 Points:422,975 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:4,264 Points:1,512,290 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:32:04 AM Ignore Car54BC08 Report Abuse Bigger is better
fieldt Champion Author Lansing Posts:3,940 Points:731,450 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:2,144 Points:319,380 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:2,925 Points:739,820 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:8,496 Points:1,631,365 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:3,858 Points:1,947,620 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:4,959 Points:1,018,570 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:1,905 Points:622,625 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:1,130,615 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:2,194 Points:1,105,130 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:2,655 Points:777,755 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:6,420 Points:1,298,370 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:707 Points:163,930 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:24:00 AM Ignore FedupwithGreed Report Abuse OK
BudsterMO Champion Author Kansas City Posts:3,720 Points:705,130 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:214 Points:23,870 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:3,506 Points:681,190 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:1,013 Points:277,340 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:20:52 AM Ignore Topshopper2011 Report Abuse Yeah
MightyDude Champion Author Minnesota Posts:10,360 Points:2,650,695 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:2,875 Points:478,365 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jul 23, 2012 10:20:42 AM Ignore fatfed Report Abuse ok