3-17-2011---Kamisu Wind Farm 300 km from earthquake epicenter-- photo by Wind Power Ibaraki
In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, with multiple meltdowns and radiation releases, there is little mention of the resilience of Japanese wind power. A major installation at Kamisu is on the same coast as the reactors, but withstood earthquake and tsunami with no apparent damage. According to an official of the Japan Wind Power Association, “...there has been no wind facility damage reported by any association members, from either the earthquake or the tsunami. Even the Kamisu semi-offshore wind farm, located about 300km from the epicenter of the quake, survived. Its anti-earthquake "battle proof design" came through with flying colors.” 1
In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, with multiple meltdowns and radiation releases, there is little mention of the resilience of Japanese wind power. A major installation at Kamisu is on the same coast as the reactors, but withstood earthquake and tsunami with no apparent damage. According to an official of the Japan Wind Power Association, “...there has been no wind facility damage reported by any association members, from either the earthquake or the tsunami. Even the Kamisu semi-offshore wind farm, located about 300km from the epicenter of the quake, survived. Its anti-earthquake "battle proof design" came through with flying colors.” 1
The failsafes designed for General Electric’s Fukushima reactors failed. This was anticipated by some; at least four GE engineers had quit over their reactor vessel safety concerns [see references below]. GE did some retrofitting—but still lost tragically in its bid to “bring good things to light.” There are 23 nuclear power plants with these defects now operating in the United States. 2Wind power has its problems, but miniscule compared with nuclear, and in Japan total wind power provides 1/2 of of the 4600 megawatts that Fukushima had been able to produce. Still that's only 5% of Japan's total megawatts from nuclear, so much more alternative power will be needed if they decide to eliminate nuclear plants altogether. Post disaster the Japanese government asked wind power companies to quickly come back on, as transmission lines were reestablished, to help mitigate the nuclear facilities disaster.
3-17-2011—Kagoshima Wind Farm in Japan—photo by Rjzii
Truly renewable environmentally friendly energy is the world’s ongoing quest. Part of the answer, is blowin’ in the wind. The U.S. has much to contribute to the green effort, if it can renounce its oil resource dependency wars. Our great lake and rivers St. Clair County can help in this conversion--one that technologically and spiritually befriends the earth. We are all called to be caretakers in God’s creation.photo from St. Luke's Church, Diocese of York England webpage
1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-rigg/battleproof-wind-farms-su_b_837172.html
2 http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/13/6256121-general-electric-designed-reactors-in-fukushima-have-23-sisters-in-us
Good resources on Fukusima nuclear disaster.
Best technical description---U of T, Anatomy of a (partial) meltdown- Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CFEQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fptolemy.ph.utexas.edu%2FTalks%2FOrbachR.pdf&ei=3uXrTYC8C8e5tgfImaytAQ&usg=AFQjCNEgkyGj7RiUlG6REjF-0zoruapRlQ&sig2=0Wvcd3a4tadrfM-dQHgWPg
U.S. Was Warned on Vents Before Failure at Japan’s Plant
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/science/earth/19nuke.html?ref=world
Fukushima Mark 1 Nuclear Reactor Design Caused GE Scientist To Quit In Protest - ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/fukushima-mark-nuclear-reactor-design-caused-ge-scientist/story?id=13141287
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