Designing North America's first offshore wind farm

Professor Habib Dagher is building the first offshore wind farm in North America that will float off the coast of Maine - a state that some consider to be the Saudi Arabia of wind power.

Test models have performed well in the laboratory, but the farm's real turbines will need to stand up to the region's bleak weather. If they do work, experts believe that they can generate enough electricity to power the US four times over.

Critics, however, worry that the cost of such a development will be passed on to consumers, as the US has no formal energy policy.

Al Jazeera's John Terrett reports from Maine.

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News & Politics

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• Windmill
• wind power
• Maine
• turbine
• Habib Dagher
• green energy
• University of Maine
• Gulf of Maine
• Monhegan
• alternative energy
• Policy Institute
• Al Jazeera
• aljazeera
• americasnews
• John Terrett

[plumeria66]

Republicans = Oil, Pollution, Destruction, War, killing people and wildlife except for fetuses that have more of a right to life than anyone.

[klinkaeorungsunhot]

Designing North America's first offshore wind farm 

[kurtilein3]

@yourtreat2

But how could republicans stop this? As i see it, its a private company using its own private money to invest in this research and development. Isnt the right wing all for businesses making their own decisions and no government interference?

[kurtilein3]

3 times the cost of oil.....  Phasing in over the next 20 years.....

What do you think the oil prices will be in 20 years? Also, costs of wind energy will come down. Also, if you dont want to pay for US companies having the technology, you can just ask a foreign company that already successfully mass produces wind turbines for offshore wind parks.

[Bo7sainAlenizi]

haha hes an Arab 

[yourtreat2]

@sckchui Every attempt to go Green is blocked by the R's, as they are primarily elected to ensure the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. They're not amenable to seeking ways to decrease the profits of their major campaign contributors, nor do most of them even recognize global warming as anything based on any evidence.

[damania]

3x the cost of oil is still a bargain. just ask the people of fukashima

[Di0genesus]

The funny thing is that even repubs ostensively oppose science and progress when performing lip service to their constituents. The thing is, all sides, right left, public and private are incrementally investing in alternative energy. Texas has been doing it since the 1990's. They ensure that the public pays for the development, and when the new grid is set up, the public isn't grid-tied or autonomous in any way, thus willing to keep paying high prices per KWH. 

[Urhoboman5]

00:27 But that gonna overpower the electrical grid and wind NEVER seems to generate the amount of electricity that people consume. Sorry but this seems like a fail!!! :-(

[schlagerhansi]

@OurFadedGarden

I'm afraid it is :-(

Look at that guy, he looks like a windbag ;-)