Wind towers could hurt Gerald Gentleman Station, sandy soil

Dear Editor,

Because electricity can’t be stored, when the wind is suitable for making electricity, wind energy is to be put into the grid first, before all other generating methods.

So, if there isn’t increased demand at that particular moment, or week or whatever, other generators have to dial down.

That may mean as more wind energy, or solar is developed, plants like Gerald Gentleman will need to be idled down, which they weren’t designed to do. That may mean a trade off of jobs, both at Gerald Gentleman and the railroad hauling the coal.

I’ve been told by people on utility boards that wind power is more expensive to produce than other methods. Eventually, this may lead to a higher utility bill for power users. I’ve also been told by people who ought to know, that wind and solar generation in too large a share of total production will lead to an unstable grid.

Also, folks who aren’t from around here just don’t realize how much sand can move when it is exposed to wind. Cattle lingering around the base of a windmill for shade often graze that grass harder, and trample it more.

All of the locals have seen 5 feet of sand disappear very quickly. There have been a lot of stock well locations abandoned over the years as a result of bad placement. Even as much as 15 feet of sand can move relatively quickly when the grass that stabilizes it is gone.

Dan Estermann,

Wellfleet, Neb.