Wind Energy

Of all renewable energy sectors at our disposal, wind energy is in the forefront.  Wind was one of the first resources of energy used by people to provide power. Using windmills were the original technique of garnering power from wind energy.  Used on farms between the 12th and 19th centuries to pump water and grind corn, windmills can be considered the forefather of today’s modern wind turbines.

In the 1990’s, wind energy production through the use of wind turbines began to take off. Today’s wind turbines work in much the same way as windmills did in the past.   Taller and with long blades similar to airplane propellers, these turbines are capable of producing significant amounts electricity.  With technology innovations over the years, wind turbines have become the most efficient and cost-effective green energy source alternative available today. 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, turbines can produce electricity with low wind speeds starting at 8 to 16 miles per hour.  Most of the time, wind turbines are built in groups on wind farms where wind is the strongest.  The largest wind farm in the United States consists of 420 turbines scattered across 47,000 acres near Abilene, Texas.  

In addition to the economic and environmental basis for wind energy’s growth and popularity, many states are enforcing guidelines that require that a certain percentage of the state’s electricity be made from renewable energy sources.  The Department of Energy said that “if a series of challenges are met, then the United States should be able to derive a full 20 percent of its electric demand from wind power alone by 2030.”  This is compelling utility companies to invest in wind farm ownership to meet these minimum green energy requirements and generate an increase in wind energy capacity by eight times as much as it is now over the next 12 years.

Although to be expected, the development of wind turbine farms has faced some intense criticism.  While wind energy is clean, renewable and can generate income for land owners, people who live near proposed wind farms have voiced concerns.  Large turbines take over the landscape view and can be very noisy.  Some have even been vocal about the damage it does to birds.  This outlandish thinking completely negates the positive effects of wind turbines. The use of wind turbines does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or radioactive waste like other forms of energy production. Additionally, in the event of natural disasters, those with that receive electricity from wind energy production will not likely lose their power supply.
The call for alternative energy is strong and being pushed hard by those of all sides of the fence.  Citizens for Growth believe firmly in the continued development and production of wind turbines to produce electricity.  Our views are substantiated by a national wind resource inventory taken by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) which reported that North Dakota, Kansas and Texas combined had enough controllable wind energy to supply America’s entire electricity needs.  

The fight for increased wind farms begins when those close to construction areas fight corporations and individuals trying to reduce our dependence on my disruptive types of energy production.  Although the cleanest form of energy production, some will fight to save a crow’s life, versus accepting the reality that wind turbines have a bright future for meeting America’s energy needs.