David VanHorn wrote: >> I wonder... if you extract energy from the wind, then the wind contains >> less energy, doesn't blow as hard/far. What are the unintended >> consequences of extracting energy from the wind? Change in weather >> patterns causing famine? Is it really a "WONDERFUL" choice or is it >> just another choice with attendent negative consequences? >> > > > Extracting as much energy as a few trees might.. > Out of an airstream that might be a mile high. > The most a given mill can extract is something like 30% of the available > energy within it's swept area. > Then can wind power produce enough energy to replace a significant amount of energy produced from fossil fuels? Maybe there's a physical law that says "...for X amount of energy you extract from the total Earth ecosystem, you cause Y damage to it no matter how you extract the energy (coal, wind, waves...)"??? -- *Carey Fisher* -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist