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Renewable Energy
Wind
Energy
Whether filling the sails of exploratory
vessels or turning mills to grind grain or pump  water,
the use of wind energy is not a new concept by any stretch
of the imagination. With increased reliance on a dwindling
supply of fossil fuels, attention has again shifted
towards wind as a major source of energy.
The size, efficiency, and capacity of
windmills have developed immensely. Certain nations,
most of which are European, have emerged as leaders
in wind energy. For example, Germany produces more megawatts
of wind energy annually (8,000) than any other nation.
Although Texas and California produce over 1,000 megawatts
per year, numerous states within the US do not utilize
wind energy.
Image
credit:
National Renewable Energy Lab, Photographic
Information Exchange
Recent Developments
in Wind Energy
ABC News reports that "a growing number of scientists and engineers are betting that a huge part of America's struggle with greenhouse gases and dependence on foreign oil can be partly solved by returning to one of the first energy sources tapped by humans — wind." The article cites a recent study, published in Geophysical Research, which found that "offshore wind turbines [along the eastern seaboard] could produce enough electricity to power nine states, plus the District of Columbia, with a surplus of 50 percent for future growth, according to the study. At the same time, carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 68 percent, and all greenhouse gases would be reduced by 57 percent."
From ABC News, Invisible Answer to the World's Energy Problems
For more information about wind energy, see
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