Wind turbines in cities

[thoth]

I've had these questions on my mind for awhile now. I was wondering why large wind turbines are not built inside cities? Are there laws against this or are there too many problems logistically?

I have always thought that it would be really amazing to see a section of large wind turbines along the river or in a large open space near downtown. I think they would be an amazing and recognizable landmark for the city and they could power it at the same time. I know nothing about this topic and I have never seen any discussion about it. So I have come to you all for any knowledge that you might have on the subject.

[Brandon_sharp]

I heard they're really noisy. Not to mention HUGE! But it would be cool to see some wind powered generators along the river.

[gmwise]

I understand some buildings can be fitted with "micro wind turbines" affixed on the buildings themselves, the total of output equal with the lighting needs.
As for its HVAC and other power needs is much higher then can be satisfied by the "micro wind turbines".
The wind turbines we read about is huge has a negative same mentality of "not in my backyard/in my neighborhood", this is usually reserved for prisons/apartments/housing for battered women.
I think we need to do what we can and encourage investment into transmission lines.
Tax rebates of 50% of the cost of homeowners/businesses if they build green and add wind/solar generation to meet their needs, and if it happens to produce even a little more for others.

[Pete]

I believe the main reason is that for them to be most cost effective, they need to be set up in large farms -- at least several dozen and usually hundreds.

The turbines I've seen have always been in massive groupings.

[hipsterdoofus]

maybe they are afraid of this:

[OKCMallen]

Not an awful idea, but maybe not the huge kind. I can attest to how amazingly windy it is on the 14th floor of leadership. It's almost constant.

[Heyuri]

From what I have read, cities have erratic wind patterns that cause wind turbines to not work. There was a pretty famous one a while ago (cannot remember where) but the turbine was such an embarrassment that they actually pump power /to/ it so it doesn't just sit up there motionless.

[PennyQuilts]

Mu husband deals with aviation bird strikes. He says the corpses of birds cover the area beneath the wind farm blades. The things fly right into them, apparently. Just thought I'd mention that as a by the by...

[gmwise]

A pigeon killer??!
Where can we get one NOW?
lol

[PennyQuilts]

A pigeon killer??!
Where can we get one NOW?
lol

But we have a deal!! (Seinfeld episode)

[ndmoore]

But we have a deal!! (Seinfeld episode)

[thoth]

Hmm, I see how the bird thing and noise could be an issue. I would think though that they would be able to find a way to control the noise.

I wasn't thinking that we need a giant wind farm. I was thinking more along the lines of a few turbines or more being a landmark that would give us the added benefit of producing power for the grid or a specific thing. They would iconic and I think people would definitely come and see them.

As for the turbine exploding. I'm sure they have a lot of safety measures to keep million dollar wind turbines from doing that, but of course that's an assumption.

[benman]

Well I was hoping this thread was a joke, but apparently not. I cant beleive anyone wants to have these wind turbines in a city! They are incredibly ugly and they do not produce as much electricity as everyone thinks. Im not a hippie or environmentalist by any means, but it does bother me that people want to see wind farms and solar farms everywhere. They take up tons of space and ruin what used to be nice views. Sure, you can still farm until them and what not, but come on, I dont beleive anyone wants to sit and stare at a windfarm and consider it "a nice view."

[mugofbeer]

Mu husband deals with aviation bird strikes. He says the corpses of birds cover the area beneath the wind farm blades. The things fly right into them, apparently. Just thought I'd mention that as a by the by...

PQ - I have a good friend who is involved with wind turbines and he has told me the only time in his knowledge there has ever been a large killing of birds by a wind turbine was when a flock of migrating birds went into one. This is why you would now have trouble building a wind farm in a known migratory bird path. As long as its not in a known path you shouldn't have mass killings - except for starlings of which there are too many of anyway. Occasional killings will happen but that happens when you build a tall building. This is 2nd hand info so someone else may have something to add.

[PennyQuilts]

He's been involved with doing the bird strike part of the Hudson River accident and has been dealing with the wildlife people. That's what they told him. So it is third hand on my part.

[mugofbeer]

I bet it also depends on what part of the country. Back east they probably have a lot more birds than in the great plains where turbines are so common now.

[PennyQuilts]

You are on to something on the migratory paths. The one at the Hudson is in the path of migrating geese. They have problems in OKC, too, for that matter. That pelican that took down the plane at Wiley Post a couple of years ago was doing its thing.

[mugofbeer]

Hah! I wasn't here at that time. I never heard of a pelican in OKC.

[thoth]

I think some of the big wind turbines are pretty elegant and impressive looking, but I can see how people might think they're ugly.

[PennyQuilts]

Hah! I wasn't here at that time. I never heard of a pelican in OKC.

It caught us by surprise, too. Wiley Post is over by some wetlands. I bet the folks over there weren't nearly as astonished.

[PennyQuilts]

I think some of the big wind turbines are pretty elegant and impressive looking, but I can see how people might think they're ugly.

I'm with you. Can see both sides but you have to admire the strength and clean lines. They are like a force of nature. A little like a dam.

[mugofbeer]

I dont know, any right minded pelican who leaves the gulf coast to hang out by Wiley Post may deserve a whack from a wind turbine.

[gmwise]

I dont know, any right minded pelican who leaves the gulf coast to hang out by Wiley Post may deserve a whack from a wind turbine.

Maybe it was a left minded pelican willing to die for birds everywhere. lol

[mugofbeer]

Or a left-minded pelican that couldn't resist the draw of a buzz from the eye-hypnotizing, mind-numbing whirl of the roters - flying closer and closer squawking "It's so beautiful, I can't resist it...." BAM!

[CuatrodeMayo]

Large wind farms are located in area with the highest wind energy potential, which in our case is western Oklahoma. I agree that they would look great around the city, however, the ground clutter of building, trees, etc. would slow the wind down substantially.

Building-mounted wind turbines can work, however buying wind power from larger farms is still by far more cost-effective.

As for noise, they are not really that loud, must less noisy than an interstate.