William Kamkwamba and his Windmill

Comment

Comment by garrett jones on November 22, 2009 at 4:57pm

thanks for sharing.

Comment by V. H. Hammontree, D. Min. on November 12, 2009 at 1:03pm

Can we get him into Congress?

Comment by Joyce Johnson on November 11, 2009 at 10:15pm

Necessity is the mother of invention. Our decision makers are feeling no "need" or any discomfort to prompt them to make the changes for a new energy plan. Their lives are good and they seem to have little concern for future generations. Thank goodness we have Mr. pickens!!

Comment by Jo Wahdan on November 11, 2009 at 12:10am

Here is a young man who said, "Yes I can", and he did. What perseverance! He had a vision and pursued it like Mr. Pickens. So if William with such limited resources was able to accomplish what he did, it puts the decision makers in America to shame. They need to clear the roadblocks and move forward with the Pickens Plan.

Comment by DubleDeuce on November 10, 2009 at 7:33pm

Great story. A true "up by the bootstraps" local boy makes good.

The third world is a caldron of needs, and teeming with humanity whose first rule of thumb must be 'applied practicality'. Notice that his FIRST application (after some expermintation) was for practical needs like electricity for accessing information (radio) and for pumping water. Nothing new here.

Of course, we in the West, as an advanced society, are also struggling with applied practicality. Our problem is not one of motivation, ingenuity, money, or basic infrastructure. our problem is lack of leadership and lack of influence on the body politic. (yes we can raise holy hell when we feel threatened) Our ability to find the right answers is FLAWED. William Kamkwamba's is not.

If William Kamkwamba's solution at this early age and degree of sophistication is to develope and build a sucessful windmill, than his future can hold greatness if is he is educated. He can use this experience as a touchstone to build the future. But that future WILL NOT BE WIND TURBINES.

Let's hope that the William Kamkwamba's of the world will maintain an open mind and keep enough intelectual innocence about themselves to develope the next world wide enegy source...devoid of special interests, existing failed technologies wanting to piggyback their way onto a future govt dole, and fantasies of solar powered beeny caps.

It could well be that the next energy "source" ain't really a source at all, but rather, a lifestyle. It will take brave and mentally unencumbered individuals like William Kamkwamba to accomplish that.

Great story, but don't go getting all warm and wet over what he has created. Look at what he CAN create.

The Deuceman

Comment by David Scott on November 10, 2009 at 11:44am

I'm inspired by his can do attitude. I've worked on many technical projects and led a few. It was always interesting to see the death squad mentality. We can integrate renewable sources of energy into our society. We can provide serviceable sources of renewable energy through hydrogen and other sources. In the long run it will be cheaper. A good plan, one of many, is the idea of solar roadways. This created by a fellow engineer. This is not about politics and it is extremely practical.

Comment by joe h. brown on November 9, 2009 at 6:17pm

i'm also humbled,,,i'm compassionate,,,and i'm dumbfounded by the gross ignorance of the liberals who want to put this coutry and its future on wind and solar,,pardon me, but you are hearing it from an engineer who has worked in energy for 52 ,,,that's right 52 years,,,,five two,,,,the limitations of wind are big,,,the wind don't always blow, did you forget?

the solar, has its own set of limitations,,the sun does not always shine,,you know that ,,and yet you plunder on,,,like put a solar panel on your roof,,,not mine,,,then find a leak in your roof and replace it....you will not put solar panels back on the roof....calif,,,has some fame and glory,,,but you're talking about reporing the us of a with 24 hours per day,7 days per week,,and 366 day per years,,,???think,,,think,,,,do you want the electricity un innerruptible or maybe only want power when you plug in you coffe in the morning,,,?what time do you get up,,,and what time do you want to shut the pot off??
think,,,,think,,,,david,david,,,,you've got some great ideas,,,,but its the solution most feasible that needs to comeforth,,,,like geothermal,,,,like NUCLEAR,,,LIKE GEO THERMALL,,,,LIKE POWER PLANTS,,,JUST LIKE THE ONES WE FUN NOW,,ROUND THE BLOOMING CLOCK
LIBERALS,,,YOU'RE MESSING WITH AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM ,THAT YOU KNOW LITTLE ABOUT,,IT SEEMS TO ME...
GO FLY A KITE
JOEHAROLDBROWN,,,,,,,,,,TELL BOONE, HE'S GOT A GOOD PLAN,,,,IT WILL COST THE TAXPAYERS A TON TO PLACE AND PAYFOR THE TRANSMISSION LINES TO GET HIS WIND POWER TO THE POPULATION FOR EFFICIENT USE..
JHB,,,,,THINK,,,,PLS TELL NANCY TO GO BACK TO SAN FRAN,,,AND TEND TO THE GARDEN

Comment by david@PickensPlan on November 9, 2009 at 2:55pm

I too was very humbled by this story. Truly proves that anything is possible if you want to make it happen.

Comment by Ronald Connal on November 9, 2009 at 1:47pm

If a young man like William can figure out how important it is to be self reliant, developed nations should take heed in this message and break down the political barriers that prevent them from pursuing and accomplishing a self reliant agenda ...

Comment by allen bauman on November 9, 2009 at 9:43am

Wow what a great story it makes me feel inadequate and inspired at the same time. We all should have this video on our PP page. Viewing it over and over again will keep us motivated when it seems we are not making progress. It's also a great tool to add new members. Thanks David for bringing this to my attention.

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last