Wind Energy, by guest blogger Michael McDonald, a graduate of the Florida Gulf Coast University
Modern society today calls for newer ways to produce energy in an environmentally sustainable way. As the price of foreign oil increases, there is a greater need for energy which is not only cost-effective, but also good for the environment. America is a land mass with several opportunities for clean energy. One such form of clean energy that is abundant is wind energy.
Wind energy has been used for centuries, though until recent years, it has been used on a much larger scale. In 2009, wind energy generated 1.9 percent of America’s electricity. The percentages rise every year. The specific states with the highest wind potential are New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Wind energy is produced by the utilization of wind farms, areas of land where several large structures are assembled. The structures contain one titanic shaft complete with two or three large blades. Wind blows through these blades, causing them to spin, rotating generators to create electricity. These generators are connected into various power grids, providing electricity to cities.
Wind on earth is created because of the uneven heating of the sun, which is mostly due to the seasons and cloud cover. The uneven heating in addition to the earth’s rotation causes warmer air to move toward cooler air. This process creates wind. Wind resources are abundant across three regions of the country: west, Midwest, and the northeast.
The benefits of wind energy are numerous. Wind energy is clean, releasing zero emissions because the process does not require any combustion. The use of wind turbines creates less smog, less acid rain, and fewer greenhouse gases. In the United States, power plants are the largest stationary source of air pollution, which releases large amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide each year.
In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the warming of the climate system is unequivocal and the most observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid twentieth century. There is a healthy debate as to the direct cause of global warming. Some argue that it is part of the natural process, while others claim it is due to human activity, like automobiles, and the burning of fossil fuels. Regardless of individual arguments, the earth’s temperature is rising, which should be a concern for all. Wind energy can help curb the burning of fossil fuels, resulting in lower amounts of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. As with all things, using wind energy does have a small financial investment, like maintaining the wind farms. In more arid parts of the country, the blades have to be sprayed with water to expel any dirt or dead insects that flew into the blades. Having dirty blades can have a negative effect on the overall performance. In order for the blades to function optimally, the blades must be clean in order for the aerodynamics to work.
Aside from the benefits to wind energy, there are also some challenges to using wind. The first challenge is the money involved. Wind farms often require a higher start up investment as compared to creating fossil-fueled generators. Local governments may be less likely to investment money into a wind farm due to the uncertainty of the economical return. Another challenge is the placement of wind farms. The highest producing wind farms are in isolated areas, away from cities. In order to provide electricity to cities, power lines need to be built, which can be costly. This is yet another example of the additional costs that are associated with creating wind farms.
Competition is also another factor that determines if a wind farm is erected. There are some locations that can be competitive in regard to land use. A final challenge for wind farms is the noise and appearance of the farms. People who live close by to these farms complain of the appearance of the structures as well as the noise associated with the turning blades.
Wind farms do not always have to take up land space. In fact, wind farms can be built offshore. One company in America that utilizes offshore wind farms is the Cape Wind Company, which has offices in Boston and North Falmouth, MA. Cape Wind Energy prides itself on producing clean energy from the wind. Through the use of wind farms, electricity is provided to Cape Cod and the surrounding islands. The electricity produced by CWE also offsets the need for electricity for the rest of New England.
Wind is simply one of the many sources of energy in the United States. There are pros and cons to wind energy, as with anything else. Wind energy, in my opinion, is not a viable option in regards to powering the entire nation, due to the sheer size of the country. The Cape Wind Company has proven that wind energy can prove to be a reliable source of energy for small, but moderately populated areas. Wind energy could be a valuable asset to smaller cities, like parts of the Midwest or other parts the Northeast. The United States needs to draw upon all of its resources from coast to coast to help create a more independent America.
