The emptiness (of Montana) is populated by bison, buffalo and horses that seem to roam wild and look upon their human guests with gentle curiosity.
First off, I though bison and buffalo were the same critter, why are they listed as two separate critters here? Second thing about this statement is the fact that the stock of "wild" bison/buffalo is exceedingly sparse in Montana. That has to do with the Brucellosis issue and keeping Montana free from it. So where did this reporter see all these "wild" bison/buffalo?
Like a traveling circus the governor, his dog and Eric - the bedraggled right hand man - flew us to a place called Judith Gap.
Here in a sweeping valley framed by the Crazy Mountains, 90 giant wind turbines revolved lazily in the robust Montana wind, providing the state with all the electricity it needs - with plenty left over.
Now I know for a fact that my electricity doesn't come from the wind farm at Judith Gap and a little looking around informs me that the wind farm produces 180MW of power which is enough to supply approximately 50,000 households with electricity. Census figures show that there is over 365,000 households in Montana. So where does this reporter get the information that the Judith Gap wind farm is "providing the state with all the electricity it needs - with plenty left over?"
I know the British speak the English language But something was lost in translation here. I don't know where the breakdown was, but it is apparent.
I want my words to survive translation. I know when I write a book now I will have to go and spend three days being intensely interrogated by journalists in Denmark or wherever. Kazuo Ishiguro
UPDATE: I see in todays Billings Gazette that they list the Judith Gap wind farm at 135MW which is even less than I found making it even less likely to power Montana.
You are absolutely right about the number of households, that's a definite goof by the reporter. But, how do you know for a fact that some of your electricity doesn't come from the wind farm? I think it might . . .
Regards,
Tom Gray
American Wind Energy Association
www.awea.org
www.ifnotwind.org
I know for a fact that the REA that supplies my house buys all it's power from a coal fired power plant in Wyoming and the contract extends for at least another 10 years.
If I was unsure where my power came from I would have qualified the statement. I understand you are all for wind energy but don't doubt my word. I take that personal.
Utilities have been operating on the power trading system for years. A utility pays for X amount of electricity, and X is indeed delivered to the transmission system, but that most certainly does not mean that it flows only to the utility's customers and no one else.
Tom
Don't lecture to me asshole. Up until now I had nothing against wind power but you sophomoric attitude might cause me to change my mind. I can't stand holier than thou people who think they can lecture me about topics I am familiar with. Just take you and your cause and shove it where the sun don't shine.