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Ever wonder how many wind turbines it takes to replace coal? And, how much US land is required for wind turbines? Here they are!
| Current US Coal Based Power |
| Net Summer Generating Capacity (Coal) |
312,956 |
MW |
| http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epates.html#_ftn7 |
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| GE, US Based and Manufactured, Wind Turbines |
| Largest GE wind Turbine (US Manufactured) |
3.6 |
MW |
| http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/wind_turbines/en/downloads/ge_36_brochure.pdf |
| http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/wind_turbines/en/36mw/36mw_specs.htm |
| Total Wind Turbines to Replace Coal/30% - Wind Turbines are 30% efficient |
289,774 |
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| Peak Wind Peak Output |
1,043,187 |
MW |
| Got US Manufacturing? Can you say electric cars? |
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| US Land Requirements for Wind Turbines for 100% displacement of Coal |
| http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/downloads/ew_manufacturing.mov |
| Height to bottom of Blades (Wind Turbine) |
100 |
ft |
| Wind Turbine Span |
341 |
ft |
| Turbine Height |
441 |
ft |
| Falling Distance 1.5 X Turbine Height (Circle Radius) |
662 |
ft |
| Land Area of a Windmill Required with Falling Code (Pi R Squared) |
1,376,784 |
Sq ft |
| Sq ft in a sq mil |
27,878,400 |
Sq ft |
| Total Wind Turbine in a Square Mile |
20.25 |
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| Total square miles of Wind Turbines needed to completely REPLACE coal fired plants |
| Total Sq Miles of Turbines |
14,311 |
Sq Miles |
| US Land Mass Sq Mi |
3,794,083 |
Sq Miles |
| Total Area of US |
0.38% |
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| http://www.census.gov/statab/ccdb/cc07_tabA1.pdf |
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| For comparison, that is approximately the size of Vermont and Delaware |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 February 2009 22:00 )
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Converting Coal to Wind