The clock is ticking toward a deadline to meet renewable-energy standards. But USA TODAY's analysis finds local governments banning wind turbines, solar plants.

Across America, clean energy plants are being banned faster than they’re being built::The clock is ticking toward a deadline to meet renewable-energy standards. But USA TODAY’s analysis finds local governments banning wind turbines, solar plants.

  • @[email protected]English
    10•9 months ago

    The currently existing design of wind turbines is incredibly stupid anyway, I have no idea how we landed on that design. It’s one of the least effective designs possible for it’s use case. We should be using spiral turbines.

    • @Labrad0rEnglish
      38•9 months ago

      The current three blade design of utility-scale turbines achieves about 80% of the Betz limit, are relatively efficient in materials for their output, and the blades’ pitch can be adjusted to control their speed in varying conditions (eg. during storms). I wouldn’t call their design “incredibly stupid”.

    • @BradleyUffnerEnglish
      13•9 months ago

      That looks like it would be hard to manufacture and transport at the size requirements that traditional blades are made. It’s already a massive pita to transport the traditional blades. I’m sure we’ll figure it out eventually, but that’s probably the current reasoning.

      • @PRUSSIA_x86English
        4•9 months ago

        Can you imagine how heavy one of those would be at full scale?