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WIND TURBINES -- POWERING AMERICA
Wind has been used to move ships and grind grain for thousands of
years, but only in the most recent years has wind been harnessed
for producing electricity. While there were some experiments with
desktop wind turbines as early as the 19th century, it wasn't
until modern innovations in rotor design and construction made it
truly economical.
How does wind power work?
Most of us have seen a small desktop wind turbine, and you may
have even built a wind turbine model in science class. The
principles that apply on that small scale still apply on the
larger scale. Wind turns the rotor blades, which in turn rotates a
turbine to produce alternating current. While a desktop wind
turbine may only produce a single volt of electricity or two,
full-sized wind turbines can produce thousands.
How many wind turbines are there in America?
Not counting wind turbine models or wind turbine replicas, there
are enough wind turbines in America to generate 48 billion
kilowatt-hours of energy. 35% of all new power sources produced in
2007 were wind power sources. California has the most wind
turbines, but most of the new turbines are being placed in the
Midwest, where constant winds make them ideal.
What are some of the advantages of wind power?
Wind power is very economical, costing only $0.06 per kilowatt
hour. Additionally, wind turbines do not create any pollutants or
emit CO2, which makes them very environmentally friendly. Wind
turbines are also modular and able to easily be put anywhere there
is wind and open space to accommodate them. Also, while they need
a lot of open space, they take up very little space on the ground,
and the land around them can still be used for farming.
What are some of the disadvantages?
The biggest disadvantage is that wind power can only be used in
areas where wind is constant and common, and there is space for
the turbine. Wind turbines may also pose a hazard to low-flying
aircraft or migrating birds, but research into new models and
better placement seems to be limiting these problems.
Why would anyone not want more wind farms?
Right now one of the biggest complaints concerning wind farms is
aesthetics. Many people have only seen small wind turbine models
or wind turbine replicas and they believe that turbines will
disrupt their view. It may seem silly, but many proposed wind
farms were never built because residents complained. It is
important for people to understand that wind turbines are more
than just a wind turbine replica held up to the horizon. They're
the future of renewable energy!
