02-13-2008, 12:20 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 15,712
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Not Ranked
Hawaii has had wind power up and running for years, a lot of the machines are now abandoned how ever. On Maui a wind power company is suing the local Electric power company because they won't buy wind power. Problem is the wind power is so inconsistent and spotty. Wind power says they will use banks of batteries to smooth out the flow of power.
They tried Geo Thermal on the Big Island, that got shut down. To many 'leaks' letting out the sulphur compounds and causing a big 'stink'.
Recently there is a HUGE push from local government to do SOMETHING about the oil problem (we have to import about everything we use). So Wind power is back on the table, Geo as well. The 'new kid' on the block is wave power from the ocean, that looks promising (until the first hurricane takes it out). Cold water from DEEP in the ocean for use in air conditioning is moving forward with more vigor. I was involved (software) with one of the first applications of sea water air conditioning on Kaui about 15 years ago. THAT project is still doing well (Hyatt Regency) but upkeep costs have been far higher than expected. Seems the sand in the water tends to eat everything up (pipes, valves, pumps, filters, etc).
Increased fertilizer run off from the corn boom is killing the Gulf big time, a problem mostly swept under the carpet at this point.
There is no free lunch...
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