Wind Energy - Clean and Abundant Power For America
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by: JerryD. | Total views: 166 | Word Count: 520
We are beginning to recognize that our dependence on fossil fuels is hazardous to our environment and getting more and more expensive every day. Everywhere alternative energy sources are being considered and even put into production. Take wind for example. It is always blowing and always free. We have begun to put it to use to generate power. It is not clear yet how much wind power will be a part of our future energy use and production.
Studies are being conducted by the US Department of Energy as they attempt to evaluate the situation. They report that in twenty years as much as 20% of our energy needs could be supplied by wind power. In fact, it has the potential to produce one fifth our electricity by the year 2030.
The D of E report looked at a scenario with wind playing a major role in energy generation by 2030 and also looked at the opposite scenario where we make zero investment in wind energy. The initial findings show that the country has even greater wind energy potential than would be needed to reach the twenty percent mark.
In order to generate 20 percent of our power from wind energy by the year 2030 the construction of new wind generation stations would have to pick up its pace. If you increase the rate of production to the point where in nine years we could produce 16,000 MW per year then we would then be able to reach the twenty percent mark by 2030.
The wind energy industry has the potential not only to decrease the cost of electricity but to generate new jobs and a new growth industry, something our economy could use in its recovery efforts. The growth potential needed to maintain the level of production thought to be possible would mean as many as 150,000 new jobs in the wind power industry. Adding in peripheral jobs created by the growth of this industry, such as electricians, steel workers, accountants, and lawyers, the new job number would reach a half million.
One huge benefit to the USA and a major factor in the decision to implement this plan, is that not only is wind power environmentally friendly, it is a domestic resource which means that we would have significantly more control over our power supply then we do now with an oil based system.
Another benefit is that wind power and wind generation does not have an impact on the surrounding environment. The stations will need to be located many places throughout the country, but the land that they used can be shared with other purposes, such as farming or grazing livestock. It does not damage the environment the way oil drilling and coal mining does.
Wind power also consumes no water, which is something that will be of increasing importance by 2030 or even sooner as many states will experience water shortages that may verge on a crisis in the future. The fact that wind power can provide for our electrical needs without destroying habitat or taking up lots of a precious natural resource makes it a very attractive alternative to the current system.
About the Author
About the author: Jerry Dyess specializes in the Texas Electricity segment. He has published many articles on Texas Electric prices.
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