Live data from Hacker News

US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

arstechnica.com

141–150 of 585 posts

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#141

We don’t need offshore wind or onshore. Wish the US focused more on Solar. Seems to be the smartest path forward. China understands and is gunning for Nuclear and Solar. Geothermal and wind are nice but too location dependent.

The big solar plant they made in between Cali and Las Vegas one, it wasn't online more than a few years? It shut down...

It shut down because it can't compete cost wise with ... solar. Specifically solar photovoltaic.

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#142

What the... It seems we crossed into the realm of intentionally doing damage. I'm reminded of threatening tariffs to successfully derail global carbon levy on ship emissions. Meanwhile China runs away with all the clean energy tech (solar, wind, batteries, etc, etc.) while we hold to fossil fuels to save less than 200,000 jobs.

What? They've been intentionally doing damage for a long time. Pardoning criminals is one that comes to mind.

Pardoning criminals is one that comes to mind.

Seriously, the pardons alone make this the most pro-crime administration in my lifetime. Probably ever.

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#143
post #103

All the more reason for me to invest in a personal windmill.

Sadly wind turbines don’t really scale down like PV panels. The energy produced by PV panels is a linear function of their surface area. For wind turbines, it scales with the square of the blade length.

This is true, but if you already have a battery, getting an extra 200-400w when the sun isn't shining is really useful. (for a UK based house. Not so sure about the USA.)

The cost isn't as good as solar though. a 1kw turbine is expensive.

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#144

This is a road to serfdom (and/or a road to 1789 France) situation with what's happening to energy prices in the past couple years[1]. The price of new solar+battery and wind should be pushing fossil fuel energy prices off a cliff right now, unless you live in a petrostate. [1] https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU000072610

The UK has tons of wind power but prices there are exceptionally high. Offshore wind isn't as cost effective as solar, it's the poster boy for high-cost, low-value renewable energy

Uk energy costs are high because the highest cost marginal producer sets the rate i.e. gas powered stations

Many of the new wind farms get a fixed price for energy and when the wholesale price is about that the excess gets channeled into a fund that is used to reduce consumer prices

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#145

This is a road to serfdom (and/or a road to 1789 France) situation with what's happening to energy prices in the past couple years[1]. The price of new solar+battery and wind should be pushing fossil fuel energy prices off a cliff right now, unless you live in a petrostate. [1] https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU000072610

The UK has tons of wind power but prices there are exceptionally high. Offshore wind isn't as cost effective as solar, it's the poster boy for high-cost, low-value renewable energy

UK energy prices are set by the most expensive energy source in the mix that contributes to the National Grid, which happens to be gas.

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#146
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like "national security" has become a phrase that can be used to circumvent many laws, facts, and balance checks. Just like the word "terrorist." It seems like if these ever get challenged to the Supreme Court the current judges will rule with something like it being at the president's discretion. So obviously the government can spend some of that $1T military budget on fixing their coastal radar. I thought Mas…

> Seems like "national security" has become a phrase that can be used to circumvent many laws By has become, you mean always has been, right?

Since 2001 at least.

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#147
post #107

Occam's Razor: offshore wind requires a lot of rare earths for their magnets and whatnot. US military-industrial complex needs the little remaining global supply not under China's export controls.

Occams Razor: Trump openly hates windmills and green energy

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It would be cheapest, and 100% in our control, to construct coal plants. Close, but one minor correction. Multiple studies have found that it would be cheapest to DEstruct coal plants. Literally demolishing them and replacing them with battery + solar is more cost effective than continuing to operate them in 99% of cases.

In New England, where the offshore wind is being shut down, there is very little sun right now. How will solar + battery help in New England?

Germany is mostly north of the 49th parallel and has deployed over 100GW of capacity. New England would do just fine.

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#149

What the... It seems we crossed into the realm of intentionally doing damage. I'm reminded of threatening tariffs to successfully derail global carbon levy on ship emissions. Meanwhile China runs away with all the clean energy tech (solar, wind, batteries, etc, etc.) while we hold to fossil fuels to save less than 200,000 jobs.

Intentionally doing damage started with DOGE. So, roughly day 1.

[flagged]

Re: US blocks all offshore wind construction, says reason is classified

#150

I looked into this a little because I was curious. I guess the ostensible "national security" rationale (which clearly is not the only reason!) for this is that turbines severely degrade the utility of radar surveillance along the coastlines. This is particularly relevant for low-altitude incursions and drones. Now, other large governments (UK) have resolved this in several ways, including the deployment of additiona…

Taiwan strait is filled with offshore wind turbines from both sides. This is not an issue for PRC nor Taiwan.
Post reply on HN