Advocates of the Lake Erie wind turbine project avoid negative realities

Today, the wind provides less than 1 percent of the world’s energy demand. Electricity, less than 20 percent of what is called “final energy”. To consider the financial viability of wind turbines, studies have shown that large turbines require an average wind speed of 16 mph; small wind turbines with an average wind speed of 12 mph.

These metrics are not possible on Lake Erie. Wind power is also reported to be unreliable, producing only about 30 percent of the planned capacity of the wind turbine!

World energy demand is estimated to grow by approximately 2 percent annually. To meet this growth, using wind power would require 350,000 new wind turbines per year. To meet this volume of wind turbines would require huge amounts of rare earth steel, concrete, electronics, and metals that are not available in the United States.

It would be difficult for wind energy to make a significant contribution to the global energy supply. Many experts also believe that wind power will do nothing to reduce emissions or alter climate change.

Today, gas, liquid and solid fuels provide primary energy for transportation, manufacturing and healthcare needs. The answer, in my opinion, is to continue obtaining and investing in natural gas, oil and nuclear energy.

And then there is the aesthetic downside to wind turbines on Lake Erie. I think most people who appreciate the beautiful view of the Lake Erie horizon don’t want to see the first six (and then possibly hundreds) of wind turbines dotted on the horizon, especially at night, when flashing red lights are needed to warn ships and air traffic from their presence.

And lastly, anyone who believes that wind turbine production will create a demand for job skills in Northeast Ohio and locally produced and produced component materials, must gain a clearer understanding of where they will actually come from.

Robert Bade

Lakewood