Am I getting goofier looking in time for Japanese TV?

[hanksterz]

On Friday the 20th, I hosted a Japanese film crew preparing a news feature on residential wind energy systems for November broadcast in Japan by Nippon Television.

After they interviewed David Colley, one of my all-electric home customers, they asked me to take them out to a wind farm I do some work for. As the wind gently blew, they inviewed me

Comments

[madamealexis]

That is too cool!

It makes me very happy there are people like you in the world working on worthy projects like wind farms. Thank you for making life better for all of us.

[hanksterz]

You are too kind and much appreciated. Thank you! Very much!

[impdujour]

how many wind turbines are out there? It looks like quite a few.
How much electricity is harvested from them per month or per year?
The contrast between the blue sky and the sand colored ground is really cool I bet the sunrise and sunset is awesome in that area.

[hanksterz]

I've heard reports of up to 5,000 wind turbines in this area. But over 25 older 65/75 kW turbines on replaced by a new 1.5 MW model. So, I'd say it's more like over 2,000 for sure. Another consideration is that this area was bottlenecked at 670 MW since the 80s. Studies by the CPUC and California Energy Commission, however, showed a good 40% of the state's renewable energy needs can be met here. As a result, another 4,000 MW of transmission capability has been mandated from Southern California Edison. That should clearly re-establish Tehachapi's title as Wind Capital of The World. As it is, even with the bottleneck, we are the number 1 producer of renewable electricity in the state, creating enough electricity to power up the city of San Francisco.

As for sunsets and sunrises, I have shot many lovely ones. In fact, I began this journal with a Mojave sunrise from the day SpaceShip One made history.

The clear skies also make for jewelled night skies. :~)

[basefinder]

Very nice, Hank. Lots of free wind and sunshine in this world, might as well use some of it. :-)

Out in your area, are birdstrikes a big issue with the wind turbines?

[hanksterz]

Yes indeed, it's a God-given gift which can also help us save this planet. Which would be nice since neighboring planets aren't exactly rentable.

As for birds, I honestly have never seen a single dead bird by any wind turbine. Maybe it's because these newer ones move gracefully slow.

Hope all is well out your way.

[hanksterz]

Hey, Dean. Good to hear from you again. You know we'd love to see you again and I'm ready to assist if you want to proceed with your film idea.

[katya_doll]

Very neat!

[hanksterz]

Thanks! Feel free to ask for a personalized tour whenever you are out this way.