Wind Power Pros And Cons | Solar Power Energy Generation

In an American Wind Energy Association report titled "The Benefits of 20% Wind Energy by 2030," we could reduce 7,600 million tons of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and more than 15,000 million tons by 2050. If we increased our alternative wind energy by just 20% consumption, we’d also be able to reduce water consumption in the electric sector by 8% (4 trillion gallons).

We’d reduce natural gas demand and prices by 12%, saving consumers $130 billion. We would expand our manufacturing center and add more than 30,000 jobs. We could also generate more than $600 million in local revenue for landowners and farmers in the creation of wind farms. Wind power pros and cons are currently being weighed to see if America can meet these goals over the next 30 years.

The Benefits Of Turbine Wind Energy

In looking at the wind power pros and cons, let’s first look at the benefits of using turbine wind energy. First off, wind turbines are a clean, domestic source of energy. The wind will never stop blowing, thereby providing an endless source of power if we harness it correctly, with the appropriate back-up generators.

This free source of energy won’t cause green house gases, create radioactive waste or emit pollutants either. So far, our use of sources wind energy has offset carbon dioxide emission by 2.5 billion pounds and reduced other pollutants by 15 million pounds. Compared to solar supply, geothermal and biomass energy, wind energy is relatively cheap. The Department of Energy predicts that alternative wind energy will cost as low as 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt hour in the coming years.

Large Wind Energy Turbines Connected To An Electrical Grid

Wind power pros and cons also look at who benefits from wind power. In this case, it’s not just the government or corporate entities, but large masses of people and population centers that will also benefit from large alternative wind energy turbines connected to an electrical grid.

Citizens can then easily enjoy the benefits of resources renewable energy, without having to worry about the start-up costs or maintenance. Remote cabins, islands and mountainous homes can all benefit from this power. Current innovations are aimed at making new designs so individual citizens and businesses can integrate these systems on their own lots as well.

Selling Unused Power

Ideally, families providing wind purchase power to the community grid would be able to sell some of their unused power and make a profit, in addition to powering their own homes for free. Landowners and farmers may sell off portions of their land to become wind farms, which adds an economic incentive to Americans as well.

Moreover, wind farms and manufacturing centers bring a number of jobs to a community, including administrators, environmental impact assessment surveyors, engineers, truckers, assembly workers, safety personnel, managers, trainers and mechanical operators.

Blades Of The Wind Turbines Can Hit Birds

In continuing our discussion of wind power pros and cons, let’s look at some of the turbine wind energy disadvantages. While the environmental impact is said to be low, some argue that the blades of the turbines can hit birds who attempt to fly between them and that the very height of these wind farms may disturb annual bird migrations significantly.

"Hundreds and thousands of migratory birds, including many that are protected under international wildlife treaties...are killed in growing numbers by man-made barriers," said AEWA secretary Bert Lenten, who points out that power lines, plate glass windows, cell phone towers, TV/radio satellites and current wind turbines are already hurting bird populations enough.

An Increasing Impact On Wildlife

A 2002 study from Spain found that wind turbines killed 11,200 birds of prey, 350,000 bats, and 3,000,000 small birds in one year. According to Brent Lathrop, Southeast Wyoming program director for The Nature Conservancy, "We could be facing a bigger impact on our wildlife than oil and gas ever thought about doing."

He argues that extending wind energy alternative power from Casper to Colorado could result in the sage grouse being added to the endangered species list by 2020. "Is that a landscape we want to see?" he implores. "Wind is not a silver bullet."

About the Author:
J K Hellios has written a number of articles on solar power and renewable energy including Solar Powered Homes, Solar Powered Lights, Solar Powered Cars.
Keep a lookout for more articles available on this website soon.

Little Known Wind Power Facts.....

Wind energy has become a topic for debate. Though it costs quite a lot to initially set up the wind farms to power homes and businesses, in the long run it begins to pay off.

Many cities and countries around the globe are looking at ways they can help the Earth’s environment and using the wind is one of the best answers besides solar power. Fossil fuels cannot be relied upon for future use for heating and cooling your home. It is time to start thinking about using the wind as a source of energy.

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