Relying only on wind and solar would be a mistake

The chair of the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club wrote last month renewable energy and battery storage are a better alternative than restarting the Duane Arnold nuclear plant. This shows a fundamental misunderstanding of renewable energy generation.

First, wind turbines and solar are, by their very nature, intermittent and require dependable energy sources for backup. Since 2020, Iowa has gotten about 50% of its electricity every year from wind and solar and about 50% from coal and natural gas. The addition of more wind and solar generation has not changed this.

Second, wind turbines kill hundreds of thousands of birds and bats every year. This requires farmers to increase their use of pesticides to control the increased number of insects. This should be of concern to the Sierra Club.

Third, the average power produced by wind turbines is about 35% of rated capacity and is available only when the wind blows. Solar produces about 25% of its rated capacity and is available only when the sun shines. Duane Arnold produced an average of 90% of its rated power and was available under all conditions — rain, shine, night, day, fair weather and foul.

Fourth, once the wind turbines or the solar panels are built, it takes few workers to maintain them and none to actually operate them. Duane Arnold gave steady employment to over 500 people.

It would be a risky mistake to try to depend only on wind and solar for our energy needs.

Chet Sullivan

Marion