Sid

http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2012/10/09/record-wind-power-generation-in-spain/

wind power reached a record of 64.2% of Spain’s electricity demand.

Yeah, that's not really an accurate representation of the electricity generated from wind power in Spain.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/06/wind-power-spain-electricity-2013

It's pointless to talk about a single, windy night. Annual electricity demand coverage gives a much more accurate picture of wind contribution to Spain's electrical needs.

Edit: real-time monitoring of the contribution of wind power to Spain's electrical demand
https://demanda.ree.es/eolicaEng.html

Edit2: Hmm, that link isn't working. Try this one http://www.ree.es/en/activities/realtime-demand-and-generation , then select Wind Power Generation in Real Time near the bottom of the page.

Sid

For the 12 months through November 2013, the electricity produced from wind power in the United States amounted to 168.089 terawatt-hours, or 4.16% of all generated electrical energy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_United_States

and I'm a big fan of wind power.

Which is why I think it's wrong to use deceptive generation statistics to promote it.

I could just as easily make a graphic that says "Wind energy accounts for 4% of Spain's electricity demands", and it would be just as "true" as the graphic in the OP.



On July 7, 2013, during a particularly calm afternoon, only 4% of Spain's electricity demand was supplied by wind energy.



Screencap from real-time monitoring at http://www.ree.es/en/activities/realtime-demand-and-generation


A snapshot of any single moment is a useless measure of wind's contribution to electricity generation. A much better measure is how much of an annual electricity demand was met by wind energy.

For 2013, just over 21% of all the electricity generated is Spain came from Wind energy.

That's impressive enough on it's own. There's no need for misleading graphics like the one in the OP.

Sid

Spain has reneged on those tariffs (i.e. decalred lower tariffs after the fact) and now, most of those projects are underwater.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/09/business/energy-environment/renewable-energy-in-spain-is-taking-a-beating.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The reality is that wind energy in Spain has been a disaster

weather and geographical conditions? We have them in the Southwest. Though they kill a lot of birds and possibly cause cancer.

I read wind farms cause cancer, right here on DU

or close to the land mass of Nevada and Utah combined. The United States has a population of 314 million while Spain has a population of 47 million.

Add to that the resistance of our power industry to change plus the fact that many of the people we elect to office are bought and owned by big industry.

Change is possible but difficult.