I had figured there were technical limitations and my question wasn't meant as "why don't they get off their lazy asses and do it" but more of a "I think it'd be really cool if we figured out how to put them all over the ocean", though I realize now how my wording could be confusing.
I would so love it for the US to adopt them more, but we have reality-star presidential candidates that are telling us their an eyesore with huge applause.
There are floating wind farms. The world's largest (according to [0]) is due to be built off the north east coast of Scotland next year.
Incidentally, this is not far from the site of another offshore wind farm which a certain Donald Trump waged a lengthy legal battle to try to prevent, because he thought it would spoil the view from his golf course[1].
Bear in mind that you can already see large numbers of offshore oil rigs off the coast of parts of north east Scotland.
[0] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/16/worlds-l...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_International_Golf_Club_...
Re:America’s First Offshore Wind Farm
by sandworm101 on Tuesday August 23, 2016 @04:29PM
(#12347292)
Which brings up the great physics question: Does a floating turbine need to be anchored, or can it harvest enough energy to keep itself stationary? Does the turbine create enough energy that it can overcome its own drag? Enough to have some spare energy for moving around?
Because of that 75 74.999999 of it is too deep to be practical. The cause of so much conflict is the need for these turbines to stand in the relatively shallow water, often within sight of expensive ocean-viewing residential properties. If we could place them just anywhere, they'd be just over the horizon from everywhere.
The real issue isn't lack of viable location but the legions of old people for whom a windmill in their view is an ugly reminder that times change. In europe they are part of the landscape. Where I am (BC Canada) they are fought against tooth and nail by retired landowners who blame them for everything from night terrors to cancer. Vancouver has _one_ visible turbine and even that rarely actually turns. It's more disney ride than power generator.
https://www.grousemountain.com/eye-of-the-wind