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Climate Science Coalition Executive Director Steve Goreham on the limits of alternative energy in today’s utility needs.
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Thanks for much yesterday on -- and company right -- these Sierra club's executive director would not answer this question let's.
What is the national percentage nationally the percentage of electricity supply in America by wind it today.
I'll break it up by state for god gave you ten states Iowa -- And I don't and nine that zero point 5% I thought that back what he would not answer the question so let's bring in someone who will.
Joining us now is Steve Gorham -- climate science coalition.
Executive director -- -- state the question was -- up posted all over again.
Why is the percentage of electricity.
In the United States supplied by went -- -- great to join -- Stewart well the answer is in 2011.
There are 39000 wind turbines operating in the United States and they produced two point 9%.
Of our electricity.
And and that is compared to coal that was 42%.
That that's good point 9%.
Is absolutely minuscule.
If they get if the environment has yet their druthers and we subsidize wind power -- the was due for another ten years.
What proportion of the electric supply might eat go all -- supplied by wind.
Well it's hard to tell if we build a million wind turbines I don't know that we have enough subsidies to do that.
But you know there's one big secret that they don't tell you about.
And that is -- wind turbines don't reduce emissions.
And the reason is that wind turbines only put out output about 25 to 30% -- time mad at -- Max output.
And so behind them you have to have a coal or a gas plants.
And -- the wind goes up and down very fast the coal in the gas plant have to go up and down very fast and they run inefficiently.
Just like you're -- just like your car when you go when you go ten miles and stop and go traffic or ten miles on a freeway.
It is much more energy and stop and go.
And you pollute you put -- much more emissions -- kept so by building wind systems we are creating stop and go utilities okay caught us like -- got a second question on this again up this was a statement from out at Sierra Club guy yesterday.
And he said.
That using green energy.
He's chief the cost of green energy is cheaper than fossil fuel costs he made that blunt statement what are -- -- Well it's not correct.
And -- prices are difficult to determine.
The best estimates are done by the US Department of Energy.
They do a thing -- level -- cost.
Which states takes into account all the capital costs in the variable costs of various plants.
But they indicate that you can't really compare.
Solar and wind to traditional forms of electricity because they come.
The weather and -- sun cycle.
But their estimates for 2011.
Placed -- wind at about ten cents per kilowatt hour.
-- -- about nine cents per kilowatt hour gas at seven cents per kilowatt hour now let me add something all.
The Department of Energy added -- artificial carbon costs.
Two gas and coal.
Which are really -- today unless the senate passes -- carbon tax bill.
And in addition.
You have to -- have you have to build the coal and gas plant along with the wind system so winter really only replaces a variable cost of these plants.
The variable cause for coal is about three cents per kilowatt hour.
And for -- about five cents per kilowatt hour.
So wind -- envoy and wind is about 32 to three times as expensive.
Offshore wind is way up at about twenty cents per kilowatt hour or more solar -- the twenty to thirty cents per kilowatt hour much more expensive.
And by the way -- mr.
Bruno thinks -- competitive.
Why does -- keep pushing for subsidies and mandates.
So that though wind and solar adopted -- -- we hear you and we thank you for the objective opinion and -- the facts behind this story Steve we do appreciate -- being with -- -- come back again.
Because this is going to be an ongoing conversation -- becoming a model state -- -- lots of.
