Stealthy Nature of the Wind Power Revolution

There are a couple of interesting anecdotal facts I’ve come across lately.

1- An aquaintance of mine is doing large load escort.  He said that he’s doing ALOT of large wind tower escort.  Huge business numbers going on.  Interesting in that I do not think any amount of government subsidy can build and sustain any sort of meaningful business.  In order for something to explode it has to be genuinely economical. 

My source also reports that a wide variety of companies are involved in this industry now. 

2- James J. Cramer mentioned on Mad Money that 10% of domestic steel production is being used to build wind power

These 2007 numbers argue against any significant effect of wind power

(one megawatt of wind power produces enough electricity on average to serve 250 to 300 homes)States with most wind energy installed, by capacity (MW)1. Texas 2,768 MW
 
2.  California 2,361
 
3.  Iowa 936
 
4. Minnesota 895
 
5. Washington 818

In year 2000 the Palo Verde nuclear plant generated 30.4 million megawatts of power.  Thus wind power as of year 2007 is 1/10000 of the palo verde nuclear generating station.  We’re using gobs of steel and not really making a dent in our power budget. Yet it seems like its likely that its profitable to generate.  That is until the cost of steel goes up high enough that it shuts the process down the same way corn prices must be squeezing ethanol margins.