The article below about windfarms caught my eye as I grew up in California, near the Altamont Pass, which has a HUGE windfarm. Supposedly the Altamont Pass Windfarm was one of the first in California, and I know its been around for a long time since I don't ever recall seeing the green (or brown) hills without them being covered in huge turbines. When we were little, we just referred to the pass as "The Windmill Hills." Moving to Utah and hearing people talk about how the turbines might be an "eyesore" always seemed odd to me as my brother and I always thought they were so beautiful and our favorite part of the drive to our grandparents house. By the way, there are over 4900 windmills covering the hills.
Here is a picture of the Altamont Pass Windfarm (photo credit).
Now, on to the KSL Article......
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The first set of blades on the first of 97 planned turbines has been hung at a wind farm under construction near Milford.
Officials with First Wind LLC say the first turbine tower went up in early June and the blades were attached late last month.
More turbine towers are expected to go up in the coming weeks. Company officials say the project is on track to be finished by mid-November.
The turbines are initially expected to generate 300-megawatts of electricity.
Electricity from the project will go to California.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
_________________________________________Isn't that great? I'm excited to see this alternative energy source becoming more popular here in Utah. Hopefully driving through Milford will now remind me of home.
I'd also like to note that there are issues with the windfarms harming wildlife (especially birds), but as I understand it, the newer larger turbines spin more slowly and are high enough to be out of the general path of the birds.
Anyone have any insights? Do you think windmills are pretty too?
1 comment:
I've been seeing the enormous blades of these machines heading south on I-15 for a few months now. I had no idea how large these things are! Now that I know where they're headed I can check 'em out. Too bad the power is heading to CA. Does anyone know if the transmission system already exists or if it needs to be built?
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