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Wind for our Future?

October 10, 2007

Patricia M. DeMarcoPresentation to Sierra Club of Pittsburgh

WIND FOR OUR FUTURE?

Patricia De MarcoExecutive Director

Rachel Carson Homestead

Association

October 10, 2007

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www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org

Wind energy advantages

Clean and non-polluting

Suitable for less sunny regions

Wind supply is plentiful

Dovetails well with other systems

Simple technology

Cheap electricitySafe

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Wind Energy - Disadvantages

Aesthetically disturbing.

Inconstant nature of the wind.

Affects the bird population.

Wind farms generate noise in quiet, rural sites.

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Economics

Wind power = 8 per kilo

Watt hour (kWh) Hydro power = 5 per kWh

Nuclear power = 15 per

kWh

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Global Industry

The global wind power industry is a $2-billion-a-year business

expanding at a rate of 25% per year.

India, China, Europe have thousands of windturbines

Cost comparable to new coal-fired power plants.

10,000 new jobs in German wind industry since1990

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Incentives for development

India fourth-leading userof wind power

investment tax credits

guaranteed purchaseprice for wind-generatedelectricity.

government loans and

grants for renewableenergy development

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Political Issues

Inconsistent and often conflicting federal and state

energy policies

Regulatory pricing uncertainty:

Regulated (27 states) and de-regulated (23 states)

utilities differ

Inconsistent site and zoning policies

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Regulatory issues

Pricing of wind power for consumer

Technical Interface with the utility system for safety

and reliability

Pricing of power for sale to

the utility or grid

Backup or standby power cost

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Human /Environment Relationship

Ecosystem

Production System

Economic System

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Make Informed Choices

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Do what you canWith what you have

Where you are..

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Be creative

Do what you can

With what you have

Where you are..

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Innovative designs

14 Micro WindTurbines

on the roof of

the Palestra BuildingBlackfriars Road,

England

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Align peoples actions

with the laws of nature:

Consider the global implications of US energy

policies and practices

Incorporate the precautionary principle into

personal choices

Incorporate sustainability concept into personal

choices

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What can we do?

Can we reduce what we use?

Can we improve the systems for delivering what

we NEED? Can we drive the market for better options?

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The Rachel Carson Legacy Challenge

MAKE A COMMITMENT!

For example: if every American household

changed out four incandescent light bulbs withenergy efficient fluorescent ones of the same

lumen output, we would save the equivalent of

the output of 32

1000 MW power plants.

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The Earth can heal.

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We can help!

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Rachel Carson Homestead Association

613 Marion RoadSpringdale, PA 15144

(724) 274-5459


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