From the US.


Quote:

Stop and THINK about THIS you GREEN WEINERS... Wind Farms North of Casper Report Driver Shortage for Underground Diesel Refueling Operations - CASPER, WY - Several wind energy facilities north of Casper are reportedly experiencing staffing shortages as operators search for certified diesel fuel delivery drivers to service what officials describe as “essential backup power systems” located at the base of each turbine. According to maintenance contractors, each windmill is equipped with a buried diesel storage tank capable of holding approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel. The fuel is used to keep internal motor systems running during low-wind periods, cold starts, routine maintenance cycles, and “extended calm weather events.” “People think these just spin freely all the time,” said one technician who asked to remain anonymous due to ongoing hiring efforts. “But there’s a lot more going on inside these units than folks realize.” Industry representatives say the demand for drivers has increased significantly following recent calm weather patterns across central Wyoming, requiring more frequent refueling schedules at multiple turbine sites. Applicants must have a valid CDL with hazmat endorsement, winter driving experience, and the ability to navigate remote two-track roads while carrying large fuel loads. Pay is described as competitive, though officials noted that drivers must also be comfortable working around large rotating equipment and occasional static electricity buildup. ;D Energy officials emphasized that the refueling systems are a “standard operational component” and help maintain consistent renewable output across the region. Local residents have already begun reporting increased tanker traffic along rural access roads leading into wind farm areas, though operators declined to comment on exact refueling schedules, citing security and operational safety.

Renewable & free ey? ;D

Yet still require fossil fuels to build them, lubricate them & actually run with diesel motors, these giant windmills.

What a farce.

---

Gnads wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 12:42pm:

Stop and THINK about THIS you GREEN WEINERS... Wind Farms North of Casper Report Driver Shortage for Underground Diesel Refueling Operations -

(Whiners?)

I 'smelt' a lot of 'hot air' from Gnads, so I checked:

(google)

No, wind farms do not require fossil fuels to keep them running (spinning) when the wind is not blowing. When the wind stops, the turbines stop, and they simply wait for the wind to return.
While some myths suggest that natural gas or diesel engines keep turbines spinning to prevent damage, this is not true; using fossil fuels to turn turbines would be inefficient and wasteful.

Try again.

Maybe a community not connected to the grid,   relying on a (somewhat distant) wind turbine for power, might choose to power the local grid by spinning the turbine via a deisel generator (hence your photo)  to reduce the noise of a diesel generator located in the community itself, though I'm not sure if that is feasible. 

You are confused Gnads. Wind turbines do not use diesel to generate electricity when the wind is not blowing. They would empty those tanks in a few seconds if they did.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 1:13pm:

Wind turbines do not use diesel to generate electricity when the wind is not blowing.

Yes they do, just not for the grid. It is to stop the bearings false brinelling.

thegreatdivide wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 1:12pm:

(google)

You should stop relying on google.

From Google AI -

"AI Overview
How to prevent false brinelling in rolling-element bearings
Wind turbine brinelling, specifically false brinelling, is a common bearing failure in pitch and yaw systems caused by vibration-induced wear and corrosion during standstill or low-speed oscillation. It causes roller-spaced indentations and abrasive debris, leading to reduced efficiency and component failure. Prevention involves ensuring proper lubrication, minimizing stagnant periods, and optimizing load distribution. "

So how do you minimize "stagnant periods"? ::)

Turbine shafts are usually kept rolling at 3-7rpm with turning motor on a bed of hydraulic oil using jacking pumps, when they do stop then they are turned a quarter of a rotation on a regular basis.

Leroy wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 3:22pm:

Turbine shafts are usually kept rolling at 3-7rpm with turning motor on a bed of hydraulic oil using jacking pumps, when they do stop then they are turned a quarter of a rotation on a regular basis.

i suppose it's better than turning them by hand. ;)

lee wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 2:23pm:

freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 1:13pm: Wind turbines do not use diesel to generate electricity when the wind is not blowing. Yes they do, just not for the grid. It is to stop the bearings false brinelling.

Fair enough, if you want to be pedantic about it, but it is still not the turbine that generates the electricity.

Even conventional power stations require power when they are not generating power. But still not something for Gnads to blow his mind over.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 3:50pm:

if you want to be pedantic about it, but it is still not the turbine that generates the electricity.

So where was that claimed?

lee wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 4:11pm:

freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 3:50pm: if you want to be pedantic about it, but it is still not the turbine that generates the electricity. So where was that claimed?

Gnads was too confused to actually say anything. 

I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down....

Funnily enough, they had the same solution as the wind turbines in the OP.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:25pm:

Gnads was too confused to actually say anything.

So he didn't say it. Ok then.

lee wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:26pm:

freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:25pm: Gnads was too confused to actually say anything. So he didn't say it. Ok then.

He didn't say anything at all. Because he was so confused.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:25pm:

I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down....

Ah so they didn't check the batteries. ::)

thegreatdivide wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 1:12pm:

Gnads wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 12:42pm: Stop and THINK about THIS you GREEN WEINERS... Wind Farms North of Casper Report Driver Shortage for Underground Diesel Refueling Operations - (Whiners?) I 'smelt' a lot of 'hot air' from Gnads, so I checked: (google) No, wind farms do not require fossil fuels to keep them running (spinning) when the wind is not blowing. When the wind stops, the turbines stop, and they simply wait for the wind to return. While some myths suggest that natural gas or diesel engines keep turbines spinning to prevent damage, this is not true; using fossil fuels to turn turbines would be inefficient and wasteful. Try again. Maybe a community not connected to the grid,   relying on a (somewhat distant) wind turbine for power, might choose to power the local grid by spinning the turbine via a deisel generator (hence your photo)  to reduce the noise of a diesel generator located in the community itself, though I'm not sure if that is feasible.

No weiners - as in dickheads. It's a bit of an Americanism but I thought you being a knowledgeable man of the world would get the inference?

Obviously not. 

Then you refute the claim without a shred of evidence.

How typical.


Quote:

Diesel generators are generally not used to turn wind turbine blades to generate electricity, but they are frequently used in the wind industry for temporary construction, maintenance, commissioning, and as emergency backup power for critical systems. They do not "power" the turbine's normal operation but ensure safety during grid failures or cold conditions.

Now dickhead - no one said they powered the wind turbine - that would be just stupid. But they are used for a variety of reasons in the operation of a wind turbine.

That said I stand by the article I posted that they are a part of wind turbine operations whether in temp start up, maintenance or to assist with systems when it's too cold.

There should be no fossil fuel back up or assistance for any part of so called "renewables" operations.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 1:13pm:

You are confused Gnads. Wind turbines do not use diesel to generate electricity when the wind is not blowing. They would empty those tanks in a few seconds if they did.

Never said they did.

But they are used in conjunction with various operational aspects.

You green weiners are all off on a typical tangent of misreading what has been said.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 3:50pm:

lee wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 2:23pm: freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 1:13pm: Wind turbines do not use diesel to generate electricity when the wind is not blowing. Yes they do, just not for the grid. It is to stop the bearings false brinelling. Fair enough, if you want to be pedantic about it, but it is still not the turbine that generates the electricity. Even conventional power stations require power when they are not generating power. But still not something for Gnads to blow his mind over.

Seems to me you're the one who has blown his mind trying prove something that was never said.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:25pm:

lee wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 4:11pm: freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 3:50pm: if you want to be pedantic about it, but it is still not the turbine that generates the electricity. So where was that claimed? Gnads was too confused to actually say anything.  I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down.... Funnily enough, they had the same solution as the wind turbines in the OP.

No green weiner you're the one confused.

They don't use mains power to light a coal fired boiler.


Quote:

Power station coal-fired boilers are lit through a carefully controlled process that uses auxiliary fuels, typically fuel oil or natural gas, to raise the boiler temperature before introducing pulverized coal. Because coal requires high temperatures to ignite, oil or gas burners (igniters) are used to create an initial, stable fire, which then transitions to burning coal once the furnace is hot enough.

lee wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:29pm:

freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:25pm: I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down.... Ah so they didn't check the batteries. ::)

If you are trying to say that Gnads went a little hysterical and started a new thread with lots of crayons over a trivial non-issue, I agree with you. That is the point I was trying to make. If you are trying to say something else, perhaps you should come out and say it. Don't be shy. I'm sure you aren't as confused as Gnads.

Quote:

They don't use mains power to light a coal fired boiler.

You are confused Gnads. Where did I say that?

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:27pm:

lee wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:26pm: freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:25pm: Gnads was too confused to actually say anything. So he didn't say it. Ok then. He didn't say anything at all. Because he was so confused.

;D Sigmund Freud you are not.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 6:07pm:

lee wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:29pm: freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:25pm: I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down.... Ah so they didn't check the batteries. ::) If you are trying to say that Gnads went a little hysterical and started a new thread with lots of crayons over a trivial non-issue, I agree with you. That is the point I was trying to make. If you are trying to say something else, perhaps you should come out and say it. Don't be shy. I'm sure you aren't as confused as Gnads.

A trivial issue for a renewable green numpty like you maybe. ;D

Gnads wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 6:09pm:

freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 6:07pm: lee wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:29pm: freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:25pm: I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down.... Ah so they didn't check the batteries. ::) If you are trying to say that Gnads went a little hysterical and started a new thread with lots of crayons over a trivial non-issue, I agree with you. That is the point I was trying to make. If you are trying to say something else, perhaps you should come out and say it. Don't be shy. I'm sure you aren't as confused as Gnads. A trivial issue for a renewable green numpty like you maybe. ;D

For anyone with half a brain.

freediver wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:25pm:

lee wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 4:11pm: freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 3:50pm: if you want to be pedantic about it, but it is still not the turbine that generates the electricity. So where was that claimed? Gnads was too confused to actually say anything.  I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down.... Funnily enough, they had the same solution as the wind turbines in the OP.

Power stations have diesel generators that make enough power for black starts.

Leroy wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 6:30pm:

freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 5:25pm: lee wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 4:11pm: freediver wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 3:50pm: if you want to be pedantic about it, but it is still not the turbine that generates the electricity. So where was that claimed? Gnads was too confused to actually say anything.  I know of at least one coal fired power station that ran into trouble because they needed mains power to start back up, but the gird was down, because the power station was down.... Funnily enough, they had the same solution as the wind turbines in the OP. Power stations have diesel generators that make enough power for black starts.

Now they do.

Funny thing is, they are just like the wind turbines that Gnads is getting all worked up over, for reasons he cannot bring himself to state.

Gnads wrote on Feb 9^th, 2026 at 5:57pm:

thegreatdivide wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 1:12pm: Gnads wrote on Feb 9th, 2026 at 12:42pm: Stop and THINK about THIS you GREEN WEINERS... Wind Farms North of Casper Report Driver Shortage for Underground Diesel Refueling Operations - (Whiners?) I 'smelt' a lot of 'hot air' from Gnads, so I checked: (google) No, wind farms do not require fossil fuels to keep them running (spinning) when the wind is not blowing. When the wind stops, the turbines stop, and they simply wait for the wind to return. While some myths suggest that natural gas or diesel engines keep turbines spinning to prevent damage, this is not true; using fossil fuels to turn turbines would be inefficient and wasteful. Try again. Maybe a community not connected to the grid,   relying on a (somewhat distant) wind turbine for power, might choose to power the local grid by spinning the turbine via a deisel generator (hence your photo)  to reduce the noise of a diesel generator located in the community itself, though I'm not sure if that is feasible.  No weiners - as in dickheads. It's a bit of an Americanism but I thought you being a knowledgeable man of the world would get the inference? Obviously not.  Then you refute the claim without a shred of evidence. How typical. Quote: Diesel generators are generally not used to turn wind turbine blades to generate electricity, but they are frequently used in the wind industry for temporary construction, maintenance, commissioning, and as emergency backup power for critical systems. They do not "power" the turbine's normal operation but ensure safety during grid failures or cold conditions. Now dickhead - no one said they powered the wind turbine - that would be just stupid. But they are used for a variety of reasons in the operation of a wind turbine. That said I stand by the article I posted that they are a part of wind turbine operations whether in temp start up, maintenance or to assist with systems when it's too cold. There should be no fossil fuel back up or assistance for any part of so called "renewables" operations.

The object is to use the least amount of fossil fuels, however that forms itself.

Quote:

Now dickhead - no one said they powered the wind turbine - that would be just stupid.

What are you actually trying to say Gnads? I see a lot of crayons, but no explanation for your hysteria.