Apr
22
2009
Windmill Poles
Author: Steve Martin
The craze these days is to green up our lives. We are supposed to buy hybrid cars, put solar panels on our roof, buy more energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, in addition to buying only organic food (thanks John and Kate plus 8). I think it’s great. I am not a tree hugger or anything like that, not that I have a problem with those of you that dedicate yourselves to saving the planet. I think we really should be good to the planet that we all enjoy. I am just not fanatical about it. I do my part by recycling, but only because our city charges me for it whether I actually do it or not. And it doesn’t take any extra effort really. So yes, I’m doing my part.
I have been working on a project for a new company recently. The company is looking to distribute a brand new windmill technology that is much more efficient than the ones we are accustomed to seeing all over the place. So, I’ve had windmills on the brain and have had to do a little research into the benefits of wind electrical generation. It’s pretty interesting stuff.
Anyway, I was standing on my back deck looking out at the Salt Lake valley since the weather has been so nice. I looked out at the west part of the valley and noticed a big long line of power poles which I assume carry our electricity across the state, possibly into neighboring states. These aren’t the little utility poles we see in the neighborhood, these are the giant ones that are really tall and have lots of power lines on them similar to the ones in the picture.
It made me think of a GREAT idea. When a windmill is installed somewhere, a big chunk of the cost is the big tall pole that must be installed in order to get the windmill high enough to reach the higher, faster, more consistent winds. Well, why not use those poles that are already there? Lets stick a smaller sized windmill on each and every power pole out there. They are already pretty darn tall and typically in less populated areas with less wind obstructions. AND, you have a bunch of power lines to tap into right there. Each of those towers should be generating a bit of electricity as they carry the power to their various destinations.
I am guessing that there is at least a little power loss trying to send power over such long distances. By placing a highly efficient windmill on each tower, you could compensate for that loss and probably end up with more power at the destination than you initially put in at the source. The first portion of building a wind farm is already in place which means a lot of the initial cost is eliminated. And with the new generation of free power, we will all save some change each month on our power bill (my favorite part).
Now, all I need to do is get an investor or a grant from the government and make it happen. Anyone want to invest in my idea? It sounds like a winner to me.
