Comments on: Communities, not just corporations, want wind projects too http://www.michigannow.org/2009/11/11/community-wind-projects/ Just another WordPress site Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:00:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tom Gallery http://www.michigannow.org/2009/11/11/community-wind-projects/#comment-527 Tom Gallery Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:38:24 +0000 http://www.michigannow.org/?p=263#comment-527 FAA rules do not permit tall structures next to runways. You need to protect a 10% glide path. Do the math. The wind created by plane taking off is useless turbulent flow. It cannot be captured. Detroit and Grand Rapids have the lowest wind resources in the state. It would take 100 years to repay the cost of a commercial wind turbine there. FAA rules do not permit tall structures next to runways. You need to protect a 10% glide path. Do the math.
The wind created by plane taking off is useless turbulent flow. It cannot be captured.
Detroit and Grand Rapids have the lowest wind resources in the state. It would take 100 years to repay the cost of a commercial wind turbine there.

]]> By: Stephanie Whitbeck http://www.michigannow.org/2009/11/11/community-wind-projects/#comment-526 Stephanie Whitbeck Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:38:39 +0000 http://www.michigannow.org/?p=263#comment-526 In response to this and "Michigan Perfect for Off Shore Wind", I wonder why all the discussion STARTS with considering placing windmills in the Great Lakes - - a subject sure to generate sufficient controversy and questions that is guaranteed to keep the debate going for years. How about talking about a different approach? How about talking about STARTING windmills not in the Great Lakes but rather along side the runways of busy airports such as in Detroit, Grand Rapids and elsewhere. A great deal of wind is created as planes land (and perhaps when they take off). This wind currently goes to waste. This wind is ripe for "recycling" if only it could be captured by a line of windmills. I first experienced lines of windmills next to airport runways in Spain when landing there nearly 20 years ago. It's a concept I have never heard discussed here. Let's start the discussion of building lines of windmills at our airports. Than, perhaps, we can start building windmills. In response to this and “Michigan Perfect for Off Shore Wind”, I wonder why all the discussion STARTS with considering placing windmills in the Great Lakes – - a subject sure to generate sufficient controversy and questions that is guaranteed to keep the debate going for years. How about talking about a different approach?

How about talking about STARTING windmills not in the Great Lakes but rather along side the runways of busy airports such as in Detroit, Grand Rapids and elsewhere.

A great deal of wind is created as planes land (and perhaps when they take off). This wind currently goes to waste. This wind is ripe for “recycling” if only it could be captured by a line of windmills.

I first experienced lines of windmills next to airport runways in Spain when landing there nearly 20 years ago. It’s a concept I have never heard discussed here.

Let’s start the discussion of building lines of windmills at our airports. Than, perhaps, we can start building windmills.

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