Hacker News Reader

Just to add some numbers; we(Texas) have over 31,000MW of installed wind energy capacity. No other state comes close.

Probably a lot of things people find shocking about Texas when compared to its reputation lol.

Driving through Amarillo on I-40, the number of windmills on the plains compared to even two years ago is mind-blowing. Saw lots of trucks carrying new blades etc. as well.

Where do all those blades go when they reach end of life?

Currently they go in landfills, but there are programs[1] starting up to recycle them.

[1]: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ge-announces-first-us-wind-...

A giant graveyard outside Sweetwater, Texas. It's a blight in every way. You cannot recycle this stuff.

Are you talking about this?

Global Fiberglass Solutions Of West Texas https://goo.gl/maps/od4YB3MubUqT5B6a9

It’s a field about 600x600 feet. I wouldn’t call that “giant”, it’s about the size of a typical warehouse and certainly smaller than most landfills. And according to some brief searches on the internet, they are indeed being recycled.

I didn't know they can be recycled, and that is not the only graveyard. I appreciate the fact that we have differing opinions on the size of giant!

Iowa comes close. Sure it is a third, but on vastly less land area.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com