Here’s a perfect example of a slick marketing tool utilized by the wind industry: According to the latest data from the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), 1400 megawatts of wind power capacity was installed in 2011, more than doubling 2010’s output.  Notice the smooooooooooth transition from “capacity” to “output?”

Does anyone else find it intellectually insulting that this industry assumes we common folk are too stupid to understand that installed capacity is not the same as output?  I mean, who would actually fall for that con time and time and time again?

Oh … right!  I forgot about “news” reporters.

By the way … if, in the REVE article, you happen to find a reference to the actual electricity generated from the 1.4 GW of installed capacity – I’ll buy you a bologna sandwich.  That’s a pretty safe bet for me actually … the wind hucksters don’t like to talk about performance.

Be sure to visit our friends at Wind Concerns Ontario.  They’ll be happy to let you know how the wind business is really working out in their part of the world.