Monday, January 26, 2015

Two windmills



We were out walking through Carsington Pasture today. It’s a somewhat barren landscape above Carsington Water, pockmarked with old mines and spoil heaps and now home to four huge wind turbines which can be seen for miles. You may be able to judge their size from the trees and the ruined stone windmill in the foreground.

The sound made by these things has been the subject of much debate, but I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. In the stiff breeze we had today, they make a low thrumming noise rather similar to the sound and the rhythm of a dishwasher. I wouldn’t want to live nearer than a couple of miles though; the sound must carry at night.

Big wind turbines are an impressive sight, especially up close on a windy day. What strikes me is the power behind the technology, the power of greedy and ambitious men. Women too no doubt, but let us leave the main responsibility where it belongs.

One is left with an acute reminder of the formidable realities of power, the ability to manipulate and persuade, the power to promote unworthy causes and harness worthy people to them. Voting will never change that.

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7 comments:

CherryPie said...

To a photographer they sometimes look majestic in the distance.

But on balance they are a waste of natural resources.

Paddington said...

More than a power station?

A K Haart said...

Cherry - even more majestic up close but as you say, a waste of natural resources - and research effort.

Paddington - much more. They dominate the landscape.

Paddington said...

I was actually going to put one on my property, but we unfortunately have the region of lowest wind in the State.

CherryPie said...

There is a difference between these big commercial windmills and the smaller ones used by individuals.

The large ones do not store any excess power they generate and it is wasted. The smaller ones are linked up to the national grid and any power not used is fed into there.

That is my understanding of it but you would need to ask an expert to explain it properly.

Paddington said...

If they are hooked to the grid, then they are equivalent.

James Higham said...

Did I not see this somewhere?