After my less than subtle attack on those standing in the way of actual change, it comes as a nice surprise and relief to write on something else. In particular, it brings great joy for me to be able to bring you news of what could be the world’s largest wind farm.

Back in 2004, James Dehlsen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clipper Windpower of Carpinteria, Calif., told The Associated Press that the company intended to build a $3 billion wind complex with 1,000 turbines that could produce 3,000 megawatts of power, based in South Dakota.

Well, according to the senior vice president, Bob Gates, Clipper hope to double that output to 6,000 megawatts.

Currently, FPL Energy holds the number one spot for largest wind farm. The Horse Hollow 1, 2 and 3 projects add up to a sizeable 735 megawatts produced. Running 421 turbines and stretched across three counties of Texas, it will be dwarfed by the Clipper project.

In fact, according to Gates, each preliminary stage that is built — the plan will be to build the entire complex in stages — will be larger than the Texas plant.

There seems to be a bit of a barney going on as to who takes the cake for America’s windiest state. A study more than a decade ago placed South Dakota at number 4 in such a list. However, many critics and industry officials believe that South Dakota is the windiest of them all. (It also proves that you can find a critic for just about anything!)

The re-envisioned wind farm will cost $6 billion. But even at such a large cost, another question arises: what cost do you put on your future?

A 6,000 megawatt wind farm could, on average, provide enough power for about 1.6 million homes, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The current model of turbine being produced by Clipper are 2.5 megawatt turbines. However, the firm is also involved in a project to develop 7.5 megawatt turbines.

With the 2.5 megawatt turbines, it would take 2,400 to create the 6,000 megawatts of electricity. However, with 7.5 megawatt turbines, the need for as many would be lessened. The question is would Clipper be willing to produce the same amount of turbines, and thus produce more power?

This also suggests to us that the world of renewable energy sources, in specifics, wind, is a field that is not as far away from reality as we once feared. No longer are the scare tactics working, claiming that one would need cover entire states to provide enough power.

Now if only my people would stop complaining about them being a giant eyesore. I’m sorry, but in all the photos I see, they look kinda pretty!

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Mammoth wind farm slated for South Dakota

Clipper Windpower

American Wind Energy Association

Photo Credit - Clipper Windpower