The cost of subsidizing, manufacturing, transporting, erecting, maintaining then removing and disposing of just one wind turbine eyesore bat and bird killer would take six hundred subscribers to energy self-reliance.
Microgrid technologies enhance tribal sovereignty, free communities from electric monopolies and net-metering only gives control back to the utilities enabled by moral hazard. And, since utilities are not your friends don’t tie your photovoltaic system to the grid but if you use it as a backup keep your own electricity completely separate from the grifter that reads your meter.
NextEra Energy is suspending its $1.85 billion Glendive Wind Project originally scheduled to break ground this year due to the company not securing customer contracts. NextEra plans on maintaining contact with local governments and landowners participating in the Glendive Wind Project as it considers the future of the project. [Glendive Ranger-Review]
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The cost of installing, maintaining, and decommissioning a single utility-scale wind turbine is substantial, with decommissioning alone estimated at $400,000 to over $500,000 per turbine. While proponents argue that wind energy is cost-competitive with conventional power, critics often point to the high upfront capital costs (up to $9.5 million per land turbine, according to some sources) and the heavy reliance on subsidies.
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Based on your prompt, here is a breakdown of the factors mentioned regarding the "true cost" of a single wind turbine and its comparison to residential energy alternatives:
Decommissioning Costs: Removing, disposing of, or recycling turbine components is expensive. For example, Xcel Energy estimated the decommissioning cost for its Nobles Wind facility in Minnesota to be approximately $445,000 to $532,000 per turbine.
Total Lifecycle Costs: Including manufacturing, transportation, and maintenance, the total investment for a large-scale turbine is in the millions of dollars.
Subsidies and Taxpayer Cost: Critics argue that the industry relies heavily on subsidies. Federal and state policies add an estimated average of $23 per megawatt-hour to the cost of wind power.
Comparison to Energy Self-Reliance: While 600 subscribers for one turbine is a specific claim, the comparison highlights a shift toward distributed energy. For example, residential solar systems (roughly $15,000-$30,000) offer a more direct path to personal energy independence, often with lower long-term maintenance than small-scale wind, which can have high repair costs for gearboxes and blades.
Environmental Concerns: Wind turbines do pose a risk to bird and bat populations, particularly if not sited properly, a point of contention for environmental critics.
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Alternative Perspective: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other analyses state that wind energy provides significant economic benefits, including tax revenue, land lease payments, and lower electricity rates. The industry claims that modern turbines, which are growing in size and efficiency, can pay back the energy used to create them in less than a year.
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