The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 02: A Comma (is a Restful Pause)

[Handley_Page]

The goat, or sheep, walked on a treadmill to power the washing machine. It was pre 1950s.

Thanks.
More like 30's I think.

A few years ago I drove north-to-south through eastern Colorado in a late spring storm. It was a surreal experience to drive through wind farms with giant turbines turning beside the road. The blades swung out of the mist of snow and fog beside the road then disappeared again. I'll never forget that, or a number other misty views that I saw that day.

It's comfortable to think that we might extract renewable energy from our environment, but it's impossible to remove any significant part of the energy from an environment without altering that environment. That is tautological. We need to be satisfied with limited consequences and renewability.

We have two shiny, new, giant wind turbines a mile or two from me. The local press were keen to say just how much better it would be with a few hundred extra kW available and making contributions towards less atmospheric pollution and all that.

The other morning, as I drove out, it was very cold, but calm. Drifts of clearing fog gave a somewhat ethereal air to the place as I thought of all them kW now keeping homes warm.
Trouble was, the turbines were not making the slightest contribution to consumption; at all.

 

[TxRad]

Happy Sinday morning all,

The coffee is fresh and the kettle hot.

Where i live there are too many trees for wind power. A friend over on the edge of the lake uses a pair of small ones to power his boat house and pool house. I've thought about solar power but again, too many trees. The trees do their job of keeping the place cooler in the summer.

Most of the lights inside the house are LED. I replace the old bulbs with new as they go out. All the lights in the shop, storeroom, garage, and car port are LED. As well as the outside security lights, which are on infrared detectors and dusk and dawn controllers. I have more lights available but I have noticed a slight drop in my electric bill.

They have power generators at the dam on the lake and a lot of open area along the dam. I wonder why they haven't considered wind turbines as we have a fairly good wind most of the year.

Every bit helps.

 

[oggbashan]

From the balcony of my house, looking out to sea when the visibility is good I can see 5 offshore wind farms.

When the wind is blowing the three closer ones produce enough to power the whole of London.

To the south of me there are several solar panel sites. Between the offshore wind farms and the solar panels the electricity generation companies have had to install a new much larger transmission network of pylons. They can also transfer electricity between England and Belgium. We already transfer electricity between England and France through the Channel Tunnel.

When I turn my kettle on, is the power coming from wind mill, a solar panel, or from another country?

Whichever source it still makes hot drinks.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Wind power is fine - when the wind is blowing and if one doesn't have to live near a large wind farm (many complaints about low-freq noise) and if one overlooks the bird/bat mortality issue. Those praising it's 'green-ness' might however want to research the ecological impact of mining the rare earth metals required. Mongolia's Baotou Lake region is one of the few places which makes the former DDR look good. 'Upline costs' are doubleplusungreen. Ditto solar - it's a possible supplement for other methods, but there are again serious drawbacks (as just one, I'm trying to remember the last time I saw the sun...) Most such methods need to have a backup system if constant, reliable power is required.

I'm still putting my long-term hopes in fusion, frankly.

Anyway, the snow had not grown on my driveway since last night, so I have some faint hope of seeing spring before July. A large black coffee, please, Tex.

 

[TxRad]

Wind power is fine - when the wind is blowing and if one doesn't have to live near a large wind farm (many complaints about low-freq noise) and if one overlooks the bird/bat mortality issue. Those praising it's 'green-ness' might however want to research the ecological impact of mining the rare earth metals required. Mongolia's Baotou Lake region is one of the few places which makes the former DDR look good. 'Upline costs' are doubleplusungreen. Ditto solar - it's a possible supplement for other methods, but there are again serious drawbacks (as just one, I'm trying to remember the last time I saw the sun...) Most such methods need to have a backup system if constant, reliable power is required.

I'm still putting my long-term hopes in fusion, frankly.

Anyway, the snow had not grown on my driveway since last night, so I have some faint hope of seeing spring before July. A large black coffee, please, Tex.

One large black coming up.

The most "green" thing I've seen that had low impact of late is converting all the coal fired power generating systems to natural gas in our area. The waste product is water.

What rare metals are used in wind turbines? Solar cells I could see but wind generators use standard electrical parts or so I thought. I've made several out of fan blades and car alternators. Not the most efficient but they worked.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Rare earth metals are used in the magnets in almost all modern wind generators. (They're also necessary for the fancy wiggly-amp devices we all love like computers, smart phones, etc.)

Around 90% of the world's supply now comes from China, depending on who you want to believe.

Thanks for the brew, sir.

 

[TxRad]

Rare earth metals are used in the magnets in almost all modern wind generators. (They're also necessary for the fancy wiggly-amp devices we all love like computers, smart phones, etc.)

Around 90% of the world's supply now comes from China, depending on who you want to believe.

Thanks for the brew, sir.

Ah, I hadn't considered the makeup of the magnets.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

TANSTAFL, Tex.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Sun! The sun! Houston, we have sun!

It must've been your coffee, Tex. Most grateful, sir.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Sun! The sun! Houston, we have sun!

It must've been your coffee, Tex. Most grateful, sir.

Hahahahaha. Sun? It's gone somewhere else. It is cold, it is snowing. Just when I thought spring had sprung, winter arrives.....

And we were going to go out and watch a movie tonite ...hmmmm, having second thoughts, but then again, only 8 inches ....

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Periods of moderate to heavy snow. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches, with locally higher amounts near the mountains.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM MST Sunday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of snow this evening will become more widespread through the night. Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow, and reduced visibility, on Sunday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. For the latest road conditions, call 5 1 1.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS1i-id6KVTLkDkZjyfPGBFMI-iM3xHTU9Q05yGQhdl19_Zju675Q

 

[Handley_Page]

Wind power is fine - when the wind is blowing and if one doesn't have to live near a large wind farm (many complaints about low-freq noise) and if one overlooks the bird/bat mortality issue. Those praising it's 'green-ness' might however want to research the ecological impact of mining the rare earth metals required. Mongolia's Baotou Lake region is one of the few places which makes the former DDR look good. 'Upline costs' are doubleplusungreen. Ditto solar - it's a possible supplement for other methods, but there are again serious drawbacks (as just one, I'm trying to remember the last time I saw the sun...) Most such methods need to have a backup system if constant, reliable power is required.

I'm still putting my long-term hopes in fusion, frankly.

Anyway, the snow had not grown on my driveway since last night, so I have some faint hope of seeing spring before July. A large black coffee, please, Tex.

Fusion ? yes please.
I've been a fan since 1958 - ish.
(the project was called ZETA; they failed to get it working right)

One large black coming up.

The most "green" thing I've seen that had low impact of late is converting all the coal fired power generating systems to natural gas in our area. The waste product is water.

What rare metals are used in wind turbines? Solar cells I could see but wind generators use standard electrical parts or so I thought. I've made several out of fan blades and car alternators. Not the most efficient but they worked.

Take a look here, Tex: https://instituteforenergyresearch.org/analysis/big-winds-dirty-little-secret-rare-earth-minerals/

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Poor Chloe.

I wonder what's it's like to not be able to exult when spring finally arrives? Deprived indeed are those who never get to see Winter in all her majesty.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Coffee shop in town for a bit to write then home and get weekend work done around the house. Got some done Friday so I freed up some time. Working on poetry today, trying to finish a book.

Happy Sinday

 

[Hypoxia]

Sun! The sun! Houston, we have sun!

It must've been your coffee, Tex. Most grateful, sir.

His blessings don't reach the North Bay, alas. Or maybe they dawdle en-route. We might see Sunshine Over Sonoma tomorrow or Tuesday, before the next (slightly warmer) deluge. Today we'll drive around our old home turf to see remnants and rebuilds from 2017's horrific fires.

But first, a horrific coffee-like drink. Nuke a cup of water (hey, we've paid for this electricity!), spoon in instante Yuban and 'cappuccino', and wash down the morning meds. A couple of 'gourmet' frozen breakfast burritos and then we're out of here for the day. But first, that vaguely coffee-like substance...

 

[ChloeTzang]

Poor Chloe.

I wonder what's it's like to not be able to exult when spring finally arrives? Deprived indeed are those who never get to see Winter in all her majesty.

I think we're getting winter in all it's majesty today...

Outside.....
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/af/a3/78/afa378b93e3a43187b9ba88ab08a1c07.jpg

On the Highway
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d6/c6/0f/d6c60f9e5a6919bec798f9a7a4c607e3.jpg

And down the road a ways...
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c3/f2/b8/c3f2b82e9c384095b0dc2b1023371def.jpg

 

[Handley_Page]

We've had similar troubles (not quite as deep, obviously) but enough to cause consternation & strife to too many folks.

 

[MagicaPractica]

I think we're getting winter in all it's majesty today...

Outside.....
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/af/a3/78/afa378b93e3a43187b9ba88ab08a1c07.jpg

On the Highway
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d6/c6/0f/d6c60f9e5a6919bec798f9a7a4c607e3.jpg

And down the road a ways...
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c3/f2/b8/c3f2b82e9c384095b0dc2b1023371def.jpg

Now that's what I call snow! We've had far too little this year.

A little poem work done today. Cooking and more writing soon.

 

[NotWise]

Now that's what I call snow! We've had far too little this year.

The real deep snow in the last picture is a big drift. You can see nearly bare ground in the distance.

 

[NotWise]

We've exceeded 30mph sustained winds with gusts to nearly 50mph. Dust is blowing and the wind turbines east of here should all be feathered out.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Tuesday I head to my alma mater. The daily highs will be 77º-79ºF. I haven't seen warmth like that in months.

 

[MagicaPractica]

The real deep snow in the last picture is a big drift. You can see nearly bare ground in the distance.

I was reacting to the several inches on top of a car, but it could have been off a plow or tree I suppose. We only got two inches out of the HUGE storm Friday here. Places to the west and east got a foot or more.

 

[ChloeTzang]

The real deep snow in the last picture is a big drift. You can see nearly bare ground in the distance.

Oh yes. It's not that deep but those drifts .... that was all blow into snow that just built up again and again. Just a few inches where we live but it was blowing around....

 

[NotWise]

Oh yes. It's not that deep but those drifts .... that was all blow into snow that just built up again and again. Just a few inches where we live but it was blowing around....

I spent eleven years growing up in western South Dakota. We could get three inches of snow and the drifts would block the interstate.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I spent eleven years growing up in western South Dakota. We could get three inches of snow and the drifts would block the interstate.

You know what it's like then. Those drifts can be crazy - grass on one side like in that photo and then feet deep where the drifts build up. I alway have a survival kit in the back coz you never know.... especially when you go out of town

 

[NotWise]

You know what it's like then. Those drifts can be crazy - grass on one side like in that photo and then feet deep where the drifts build up. I alway have a survival kit in the back coz you never know.... especially when you go out of town

The memories are still too fresh. -20F with 35mph wind; the wind chill is like -60F. Hence the minor frostbite that's bothered me since I was thirteen. Add a few snow drifts to that and it's surprising anyone survives.