Wow -- The Dutch Pull the Plug on Off-Shore Wind Energy -- Spain Suspends All Renewable Energy -- London Array Way Over Budget -- A Candidate For Top Story of the Year

Updates

February 15, 2012: I don't know how many times I've been told that "wind is free." Wind advocates suggest that once the wind turbines are up, wind energy is dirt cheap because "wind is free."  Although the story below doesn't say it outright, the writer suggests the Dutch are getting out of offshore wind completely. One would assume that since "wind is free" they might as well keep using that "free electricity" and not mothball those offshore turbines. It appears that "wind is not free." Something tells me is is expensive to keep those turbines maintained. In addition, I assume, blades have to be replaced periodically. Very, very interesting. Something tells me all those school districts who invested in wind are going to find out their wind costs exceed current natural gas costs. Just saying. Especially if the president imposes tariffs on "cheap" windmill turbines coming out of China.

Later: with the story that the Netherlands is pulling the plug on off-shore wind, I was curious how the world's largest off-shore wind project, the London Array, was coming along. This is the update; it sounds like this project is way over budget and when it's completed, if it's completed, there will be some questions whether it is worth it, especially in light of the Netherlands' decision. This story is dated January 30, 2012.

Meanwhile, the European country that may have been the most aggressive with renewable energy, Spain, has called a "time-out" on all renewable energy. All renewable energy. This story is dated February 9, 2012.

Original Post

Here's the story:

Link here to "the Heartlander" via CarpeDiem.com (both links will get you to the story).

The nation known for its iconic windmills is throwing in the towel on offshore wind power, as Dutch officials have determined the Netherlands can no longer afford large-scale subsidies for expensive wind turbines that cannot produce electricity at economically competitive prices.

The decision is a powerful blow against renewable power advocates who have long asserted Holland proves renewable power can be practical and economical.

Offshore Wind ‘Very Uncompetitive’

“Offshore wind remains a very uncompetitive option,” Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Maxime Verhagen told Wind Directions: The European Wind Industry Magazine.

“Offshore wind remains a very expensive option in the near future. The Dutch government is willing to invest in innovation to bring down the costs of offshore wind energy, but prices must come down considerably before large scale investments can again be supported,” Verhagen was quoted as saying.

Wow.

It's not just countries like the Netherlands learning this lesson. Massachusetts is now learning how much their wind-generated electricity is going to cost them: monthly utility rates will go up 15 to 30 percent if one signs up for wind-generated electricity in Massachusetts.

[The big question: will the Netherlands join Canada in pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol?

I assume the Netherlands was/were able to buy and sell a lot of credits with their wind program. The Netherlands was/were a relatively late signer to the protocol, being accepted as the 67th country; Canada was accepted as the 99th country. The first ten countries to be accepted as signatories: Fiji, Antigua and Barbuda, Tuvalu, Maldives, Turkmenistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Bahamas, Niue, and Georgia. You have to go down the list a bit to get to a country that has a significant energy profile. Just saying.]