Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

NNadir

(36,741 posts)
1. One wonders why these news items can never be correct as to basic scientific units.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 07:50 AM
Sep 29

This statement is illiterate:

The district has more than 255 turbines producing nearly 511 megawatts of energy, says a third-party report commissioned last year by the town and district.


The "megawatt" (sic) is not a unit of energy; it is a unit of power, represented, almost always, dishonestly, since it is really a statement of peak power which is almost never obtained with so called "renewable energy."

The unit of energy is the Joule, not the Watt.

It is telling that 255 turbines spread across the landscape cannot reliably produce as much power as a thermal plant - the only sustainable case being a nuclear plant - can reliably produce in a relatively small building.

We're in deep shit because our media can't understand even the basics. I used to joke that one can't get a degree in journalism if one has passed a science course with a grade of C or better. I'm not sure it's a joke.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Renewables go from boom t...»Reply #1