Posted by Daniel Loomis on January 30, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Images from a trip to Northwest Oklahoma in July. Windfarms are becoming a striking feature of the local landscape.
Posted by Daniel Loomis on January 30, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Halo at the tip of the blade is from the Sun.
Posted by Peter Jalkotzy on January 30, 2009 at 12:35 PM
nice photos, I am curious why of the three one is pointing in opposite direction?
Posted by Daniel Loomis on January 30, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Very observant Peter. The one in the foreground was not turning. When off, they tend to rotate away from the direction of the wind. The two in back were facing into the wind and spinning.
Posted by Brad Mangas on January 30, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Striking is putting it way to nicely Daniel. An image of the times for sure. Beings wind power makes up approximately 1% of total energy produced, to become a viable source of energy sights like this will need to become more common than trees in the landscape. You may have just photographed the future of our landscape.
Posted by Darren Huski on January 30, 2009 at 6:55 PM
T Boone would be proud! I see more and more of them out around Sweetwater and I believe they will become the norm from there north into the Dakotas.
I think it will be the growth industry for years to come.
Posted by Tom Kennon on January 30, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Nice capture Daniel, do you know the blades are produced in Little Rock?
Posted by Daniel Loomis on January 30, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Yes, the blade manufacturing facility is doing reasonably well. They closed one part down for a while because of the economy, investments are off a bit. Still, one unit is going strong.
Being a bird fan, I was concerned with how they will impact various avian species, but now that I have seen them in operation, the rotation is slow enough for birds to see and avoid the blades with ease. They may indeed become as ubiquitous as trees in years to come.
Discussion
7 repliesI think it will be the growth industry for years to come.
Being a bird fan, I was concerned with how they will impact various avian species, but now that I have seen them in operation, the rotation is slow enough for birds to see and avoid the blades with ease. They may indeed become as ubiquitous as trees in years to come.