Wind Energy: Benefits of the Breeze

Today more than ever, the debate around the use of fossil fuels is putting out a lot of hot air. With climate change being challenged in Congress via the repeal of EPA regulatory authority, we face a mountainous climb back to ensuring our safety when it comes it air, water, and land quality. Only exacerbating the situation, a barrel of crude has reached $108, causing the cost of gasoline to float around $3.70. Without a doubt, the political climate is a hot one, no pun intended.

Moving forward, both the American people and their representatives are looking for solutions. Because there is no one perfect option, a number of alternative energy strategies are required to combat the ongoing energy crisis. Among them, wind power has grown in popularity.

In fact, according to the Wind Energy Association, “the U.S. wind industry represents not only a large market for wind power capacity installations, but also a growing market for American manufacturing.” All in all, the U.S. wind industry has added over 35 percent generating capacity over the past 4 years, more than nuclear and coal combined. The U.S. pursuit of wind energy is noted in the fact that we represent more than “20 percent of the world’s installed wind power.”

What is Wind Power?

We’re all familiar with what wind is. Caused by the uneven distribution of heat on earth, air is put into motion. As explained by the Department of Energy, “During the day, the air above the land heats up more quickly than the air over water. The warm air over the land expands and rises, and the heavier, cooler air rushes in to take its place, creating wind. At night, the winds are reversed because the air cools more rapidly over land than over water.”

The idea behind wind power is simple – harness this natural force and use it to generate electricity. Just like we learned in school, the movement of an object produces kinetic energy. This energy rotates the blades of a wind turbine, which spin to generate electricity in an electric generator.
Benefits of Wind Power

One of the main benefits of wind power is the fact that it is a renewable resource. Simply put, as long as the sun is shining and we have an atmosphere, we’ll have a breeze. This provides comfort for those that are concerned about the energy independence and security regarding energy disruption here in the United States. Our turbines will continue to generate electricity as long we maintain them.

A second benefit is linked to the concern of climate change. While many forms of energy, namely fossil fuels, produce large emissions, wind energy is – in essence – a clean source of energy. After being installed, wind farms are able to produce large amounts of electricity for long amounts of time, offsetting their initial cost and serving as a long-term investment for communities and private businesses.

Tied to the last benefit, the increase use of wind energy means less fossil fuels are needed for electricity production. This, in effect, means even less carbon emitted into the atmosphere, as well less water use at fossil fuel plants. With the reduction in demand, there is a parallel drop in money spent on fuel, saving tax payer dollars.

In addition to the benefit of clean energy, wind energy also promotes job growth here in the United States. As President Barack Obama acknowledged, “when you only have 2-3 percent of the world’s oil reserves, why wouldn’t you want to develop alternative sources of energy that are cleaner and more efficient and that produce manufacturing jobs?”

Finally, as the Department of Energy points out, because the relative ease of installing wind farms, farmers and other people who live in areas ideal for wind farms can invest in projects to help keep them financially afloat and independent.
Some Obvious Drawbacks

However, in the spirit of even handedness, it’s important to point out some clear drawbacks of wind energy.

First, the installation of wind turbines requires the use of fossil fuels in the first place. Roads may need to be built and ships will have to set sail to build wind farms on land and ocean. This requires energy, the production of resources for building, and the use of heavy machinery.

Secondly, there’s the concern of aesthetics and noise pollution. Many people think of wind farms as “unsightly” things, causing visual obstruction of the natural environment. Likewise, wind turbines are known to make ‘whoosing’ noises – just like the propellers of a plane. Granted most wind farms are not in residential areas, some of the people who do live near them complain about these issues.

Like all things, turbines can also break. Few have caught fire and other have leaked lubricating fluids due to age and harsh conditions, according to the Department of Energy. Usually these instances are very rare, but they occur nonetheless.

Lastly, there have been a number of reported deaths of birds and bats due to wind farms. Because of these instances, “The wind energy industry and the U.S. government are researching ways to reduce the impact of wind turbines on birds and bats.”
So What’s the Conclusion?

Regardless of the downfalls, wind energy should be a part of a large, more comprehensive energy plan. As the DOE argues, “the negative impacts have to be balanced with our need for electricity and the overall lower environmental impact of using wind for energy relative to other sources of energy to make electricity.”

Nothing is perfect, but that’s just the way the wind blows!

Source : http://www.organicsoul.com/wind-energy-benefits-of-the-breeze/