Biden Proposes 500,000 Acre Wind Farm Off Galveston Coast

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by  Katy Drollinger | July 25, 2022

The project will cover an area larger than the city of Houston.

As Texas’ power grid struggles to keep up with record-breaking heat waves, the Biden Administration unveiled plans to build a 546,645 acre wind farm 24 miles off the coast of Galveston.

President Joe Biden designated the massive acreage as a “Wind Energy Area” and directed federal officials to lease the expanse to a wind energy company. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a branch of the Department of the Interior, claims the project will produce enough energy to power 2.3 million homes.

In October 2021, the Department of the Interior highlighted 30 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico as potential wind farm sites. After listening to public comments and reviewing possible impacts on marine life in the gulf, the department cut the proposed area down to 734,688 acres.

The updated plan also includes a 188,023 acre wind farm 56 miles off the shore of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Both initiatives are part of President Joe Biden’s recent push to shift U.S. energy reliance away from oil and natural gas. Last year Biden set a goal to produce 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, which the administration claims could power 10 million homes, a mere 7 percent of the total number of U.S. homes.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/federal/biden-proposes-500000-acre-wind-farm-off-galveston-coast/

[andy58-in-nh]

I can't think of a more appropriate use for a vast amount of taxpayer funds.

Yes, let's place a colony of fragile mechanical devices in the path of hurricane-force winds, 40-foot waves, frequent lightning strikes, and endangered bird species.

That way, we can generate an insignificant and unreliable amount of electrical power, but make rich elitists with their own power generators feel noble while jetting between mansions.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Designating the area does not mean these things will be constructed.

Absent from article is exactly who will be building these.

Will Joe get Chinese support?

[DefiantMassRINO]

Will they be hurricane-resistant?  Historically, Galveston has been hit by major hurricanes.

The choice of location is interesting ... in Governor Abbott's backyard and in the backyard of the oil and natural gas industry.

Could the area disgnated for windfarms still be available for oil and natural gas development?  This could be a move to block more offshore oil and gas development.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Will they be hurricane-resistant?  Historically, Galveston has been hit by major hurricanes.

The choice of location is interesting ... in Governor Abbott's backyard and in the backyard of the oil and natural gas industry.

Could the area disgnated for windfarms still be available for oil and natural gas development?  This could be a move to block more offshore oil and gas development.

Interesting thought.  Likely to be the case knowing this motley crew of misfits directing things.
China scores once again.

[Bigun]

I can't think of a more appropriate use for a vast amount of taxpayer funds.

Yes, let's place a colony of fragile mechanical devices in the path of hurricane-force winds, 40-foot waves, frequent lightning strikes, and endangered bird species.

That way, we can generate an insignificant and unreliable amount of electrical power, but make rich elitists with their own power generators feel noble while jetting between mansions.

  

[libertybele]

Designating the area does not mean these things will be constructed.

Absent from article is exactly who will be building these.

Will Joe get Chinese support?

More than likely.

[catfish1957]

So what happens when a Cat 5 storm surge brings those things ashore like high speed water driven bull-dozers?

Stupid envirowhackos never think things through worth a damn.

[Kamaji]

Viz. storms and hurricanes:  one of the basic problems is that too much wind will overspin these things, so they have to be shut down, which means they won't be a source of power at one of the times where power is needed.

[catfish1957]

Viz. storms and hurricanes:  one of the basic problems is that too much wind will overspin these things, so they have to be shut down, which means they won't be a source of power at one of the times where power is needed.

That's true.  And another storm related hazard, they haven't thought of......

Those turbines and standing structures that aren't washing ashore are going to be be subsurface shipping hazards.  Just wait until a ship or a barge snags one of these and a 100,000 gallons of product leaks out.

[Kamaji]

Interesting.  Here's a paper on the hurricane risks associated with offshore wind turbines.  The paper notes that along the Gulf Coast, the risk of a wind turbine farm being destroyed by a hurricane is 30%, as compared to the 10% risk for much of the Atlantic coast.

In other words, this designated area is in one of the higher risk areas for hurricane damage.

The paper:  https://www.cmu.edu/ceic/assets/docs/publications/working-papers/ceic-12-01.pdf

[catfish1957]

Interesting.  Here's a paper on the hurricane risks associated with offshore wind turbines.  The paper notes that along the Gulf Coast, the risk of a wind turbine farm being destroyed by a hurricane is 30%, as compared to the 10% risk for much of the Atlantic coast.

In other words, this designated area is in one of the higher risk areas for hurricane damage.

The paper:  https://www.cmu.edu/ceic/assets/docs/publications/working-papers/ceic-12-01.pdf

Amazing, back when we were conducting RMP's and hazard assessments, 1/10,000 risk was often not acceptable if it meant catastrophic results.  Usually forcing further mitigation.

And 3/10 cuts it?   

[cato potatoe]

Windmills?  Really?  Construction should be underway on several nuclear plants.  I can't believe the energy situation has been so mismanaged in Texas, and it's about to get much worse. 

[Hoodat]

The only thing dumber than wind power is offshore wind power.

[Bigun]

Windmills?  Really?  Construction should be underway on several nuclear plants.  I can't believe the energy situation has been so mismanaged in Texas, and it's about to get much worse.

  I very much agree with you @cato potatoe

[Kamaji]

Windmills?  Really?  Construction should be underway on several nuclear plants.  I can't believe the energy situation has been so mismanaged in Texas, and it's about to get much worse. 

[Smokin Joe]

Interesting.  Here's a paper on the hurricane risks associated with offshore wind turbines.  The paper notes that along the Gulf Coast, the risk of a wind turbine farm being destroyed by a hurricane is 30%, as compared to the 10% risk for much of the Atlantic coast.

In other words, this designated area is in one of the higher risk areas for hurricane damage.

The paper:  https://www.cmu.edu/ceic/assets/docs/publications/working-papers/ceic-12-01.pdf

Build it off Rehoboth Beach instead.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Build it off Rehoboth Beach instead.

Yep, it will certainly improve the view for these mansions, won't it?

[catfish1957]

Yep, it will certainly improve the view for these mansions, won't it?

From a risk managment perspective, it'd make more sense, since these areas are (1) less prone to hurricanes on a frequency basis, and (2) Less prone to Major Hurricanes (Cat 3 or larger) than areas in the GOM.

We'll all hold our breaths to that happens though right?....   

[catfish1957]

I know a few beach house owners down on Crystal Beach.  Think I'll put the seed in the minds to organize and initiate a class action suit to prevent this by stressing the safety concerns (mentioned above) and the property value loss (scenic degradation).

I think for the rest of my life,  I am going to be an Anti-GND warrior, and do everything in my power to obstruct and destroy their efforts.

[mountaineer]

Did they ever install windmills off of Hyannis? Or did Ted Kennedy's loud NIMBYing pay off for the Kennedys and their neighbors?

[DefiantMassRINO]

Cape Wind is still a twinkle in someone's eye.

Economics (electricity too expensive) and NIMBY's conspired against it.

Good riddance.  It was a terrible idea because of the location and expense.

[Kamaji]

Wind turbines and extreme weather:  https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/wind-turbines-extreme-weather-solutions-hurricane-resiliency

[Free Vulcan]

And when there's not hurricanes, isn't the Gulf known for going stretches without alot of wind?

[roamer_1]

And when there's not hurricanes, isn't the Gulf known for going stretches without alot of wind?

DC sure ain't Maybe that's a better place.