365 Ways to Save the Planet

Day 166 – It’s Global Wind Day!

“It is a day for discovering wind energy, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonize our economies and boost jobs and growth.” – globalwindday.org

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy created a list of benefits that wind power offers.

1. Wind power is cost-effective. Land-based utility-scale wind is one of the lowest-priced energy sources available today
2. Wind creates jobs. The U.S. wind sector employs more than 100,000 workers, and wind turbine technician is one of the fastest growing American jobs.
3. Wind enables U.S. industry growth and U.S. competitiveness. New wind projects account for annual investments of over $10 billion in the U.S. economy.
4. It’s a clean fuel source. Wind energy doesn’t pollute the air like power plants that rely on combustion of fossil fuels.
5. Wind is a domestic source of energy. The nation’s wind supply is abundant and inexhaustible.
6. It’s sustainable. Wind is actually a form of solar energy. For as long as the sun shines and the wind blows, the energy produced can be harnessed to send power across the grid.
7. Wind turbines can be built on existing farms or ranches. Wind power plant owners make rent payments to the farmer or rancher for the use of the land, providing landowners with additional income.

Even though wind energy has many benefits there are also challenges.

1. Wind power must still compete with conventional generation sources on a cost basis. Some locations may not be windy enough to be cost competitive.
2. Good land-based wind sites are often located in remote locations, far from cities where the electricity is needed.
3. Turbines might cause noise and aesthetic pollution. Concern exists over the noise produced by the turbine blades and visual impacts to the landscape.
4. Wind plants can impact local wildlife. Birds have been killed by flying into spinning turbine blades. Most of these problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technology development or by properly siting wind plants. 

Overall, the pros of windy energy outweigh the cons.

Take a little time today to celebrate the wind as a renewable resource and learn about how it is helping in the fight to decrease greenhouse emissions.

Tomorrow, recycling those giant turbine blades.