[avadodin]

I don't support fossil fuels but wind works a small fraction of the time, it is awful to wildlife and it is an eyesore.

Instead of wasting the already wasteful energy by making fertilizer out of air, these farms could likely much more efficiently re–capture runoff from their waterways that is now being dumped into the sea harming humans and wildlife alike.

[BigTTYGothGF]

> awful to wildlife

I think this has been greatly exaggerated, but even if the claims are true it's as nothing compared to fossil fuel.

[epistasis]

Calling wind power "wasteful" is just silly. We need to be a bit more hard nosed when it comes to energy policy. Not only does wind save tons of money, t is hyper efficient, and anti-correlates with solar in most geographies. Meaning a small amount of cheap battery storage mixed with wind plus solar delivers extremely cheap, reliable energy, with amazing dispatch characteristics.

People get all emotional about views, but most people find it beautiful and a few people's visual aesthetics should not override one of the pillars of the future economy.

Additionally, the fix for runoff from farms into the gulf is mere regulation and fining, but that's not going to stop the need for ammonia! Plus, try to regulate these farmers, they are largely parasites in the country through the farm bill yet still remain one of the most potent political factions in the country.

[avadodin]

The same rare earths and quality steel could have been used on a water or vapor dynamo that runs 24/7 and doesn't have any additional harmful impact.

And even if wind wasn't wasteful at the outlet, you're still using it to turn air nitrogen into the same compounds that you are dumping into the seas, lakes and drinking water.

[ElevenLathe]

Re-concentrating fertilizer from runoff sounds like an energy-intensive activity. Why wouldn't cheap wind power make it easier?

[undersuit]

How are you going to recapture fertilizer runoff.

[avadodin]

There are techniques both at origin and downstream.

I have not reviewed every method but, even if they are energy intensive, they probably beat blasting a carburetor and dumping the compounds.

[undersuit]

I mentioned removing the excess nutrients from the water because removing them "works a small fraction of the time, it is awful to wildlife and it is an eyesore." not to mention the energy requirements which you think shouldn't include wind.

[strictnein]

The runoff from farms in rural Minnesota is being dumped into the sea? There's almost no place farther from the sea in North America than upper midwest rural farms.

[epistasis]

It causes massive algeal growths in the Gulf of Mexico. This sucks massive amounts of oxygen out of the water leading to so-called "dead zones".

[anyonecancode]

It runs into the Mississippi river, which runs into the sea.

[strictnein]

Sure, some small amount of it may go down the 2000+ mile trek from rural MN to the gulf, but that's not what anyone imagines when someone uses the term "dumped into the sea".