Yes, it is hard to know what is truth and what is non truth.
Those with vested interests will always manipulate the figures to prove they are correct. Mrs comes from the Corporate world with her Science/Bio-medical Doctorates, MBA's etc, but can only just change a plug. But she now admits, now she is freelance, that sadly the Corporate business World is not what it is made out to be.
Regarding Wind Turbines, ROI, return on investment. Years ago we sat down and did a cost analysis of a Big One, and obviously it all depends on what rates they are getting for power produced. We reckoned that pay back was 20 years, that's if the original investment came out of your own pocket.
Even our own highly efficient and simple, robust 3.7m diameter windturbines, (the Hugh Piggott design) is no longer cost effective, It costs me $1500 to construct and put up for a guaranteed 1kW output, Sadly i now advise PV on static arrays is now far more cost effective, and it needs very little maintenance. Where my Turbines need a yearly service. I keep them going, as the Mrs says, "Its a statement".
PV, yes agreed manufacturing it has some nasty processes. But up until 5 years ago a German company here in Europe was manufacturing some good quality stuff all within environmental regulations, i have some. But they ceased trading as they said, "we can not compete with the Chinese on cost" , but i suspect that there is more to that, as most companies here in Europe want a large staggering return on there Investment.
You just got a love that Chinese man/Prof who got trained in Australia, studied PV went back to China, got state funded, built factories and started producing good efficient PV, with better and better output characteristics. And he stuck a finger up to the western world oil companies that held PV patent rights.
I am just a boring Mechanical Engineer that actually has skills to make stuff, but sadly I know far to much, and the above is just a snap shot.
For us here, i was happy pottering along, then the last few years folk have really been getting interested in our endeavours, and hence the books.
As i get older, I now state reality and that upsets the Commercial business World, so I keep a lot to myself, unless asked face to face. As My French Eco Warrior friend in the next village, off grid in his built Log Cabin said, "Well that LI-ION battery engineer i brought to meet you has gone away to reassess his career when you showed the ROI documents you have".
Good to have friends like my Eco warrior, "that Government official coming to see your specialist works, " yes, i said, "Do not show him more than he is there to see, he can not cope with stuff outside his remit". Very wise advice.
But as i said before, at least folk are talking.
Now, best get back to installing another PV array getting us up to 20kW.
Look after yourself lighthunter.
2007, Cedar carved blades, for No1, 3.7m diameter wind turbine.