When you are having a nuclear power problem, who do you call? Your wind farms, of course! Japan's wind farms are stepping up their power generation to cover for the ailing nuclear plants.
I ran across this and just had to spread it around. The wind farms in Japan not only survived the earthquakes and tsunamis, they did so without any problems at all!
Colleagues and I have been directly corresponding with Yoshinori Ueda leader of the International Committee of the Japan Wind Power Association & Japan Wind Energy Association, and according to Ueda there has been no wind facility damage reported by any association members, from either the earthquake or the tsunami. Even the Kamisu semi-offshore wind farm, located about 300km from the epicenter of the quake, survived. Its anti-earthquake "battle proof design" came through with flying colors.
Well, sounds like Japan would be well served to go as much as possible with the alternatives that won't ruin huge areas of land, run people out of their homes, and go kaput when there's earthquakes and tsunamis.
Not only that, but it's good for the market too:
While shares in the Tokyo stock market have fallen during the crisis, the stock price of Japan Wind Development Co. Ltd. has risen from 31,500 yen on 11 March to 47,800 yen on 16 March.
Not much else to say, but right on, wind!