Post from Christopher Thompson's Blog:
How much will it cost to convert to clean energy in Minnesota??
| By Chris - Jul 21, 2008 4:35:07 PM ET |
| Also listed in: we Twin Cities | Taking Action |
Answer: 0.00 dollars.
Based on the facts outlined by the federal government's Energy Information Administration, Minnesota spends about 1/2 billion dollars annually on coal to pay for electrical generation. Back of the napkin calculations show that generating electricity by wind instead of coal would cost 10 billion dollars. (This is the amount needed to build roughly 7,000 turbines.) This is similar to the price of a huge mountain of coal-- a mountain that Minnesota would consume in 20 years, which is the lifespan of a wind generator. Because turbines could be located closer to sources of consumption, it's likely that less power would be lost due to resistance. Currently about half of the power generated by coal is lost to resistance. About 12 plants service the entire state. My calculations do not take into account this aspect of wind generation, but it could provide an additional boon.
Based on the facts outlined by the federal government's Energy Information Administration, Minnesota spends about 1/2 billion dollars annually on coal to pay for electrical generation. Back of the napkin calculations show that generating electricity by wind instead of coal would cost 10 billion dollars. (This is the amount needed to build roughly 7,000 turbines.) This is similar to the price of a huge mountain of coal-- a mountain that Minnesota would consume in 20 years, which is the lifespan of a wind generator. Because turbines could be located closer to sources of consumption, it's likely that less power would be lost due to resistance. Currently about half of the power generated by coal is lost to resistance. About 12 plants service the entire state. My calculations do not take into account this aspect of wind generation, but it could provide an additional boon.
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