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.

Each day millions of American’s wake up with the use of an alarm clock, roll out of bed, hit the light switch and start a pot of coffee. Within the first four of five minutes of waking up, it becomes obvious that energy plays a vital role in our daily lives and that is before we start the car, dial our first phone call, start the computer, or turn on the TV. How that energy is produced and then transmitted to our homes, offices and vehicles is seldom; but must be considered.

In America, we use several different kinds of energy.   Gasoline for our cars, diesel for our trucks, heating oil, natural gas and electricity for our homes are the most frequent forms of energy consumed and provide the biggest challenges moving forward in the future. Challenges begin when demand increases faster than production can occur.  We have seen samplings of this when gasoline prices skyrocketed last August and unfortunately that will only be the tip of the iceberg unless drastic improvements are made immediately.

Expanding our current energy producing facilities such as oil refineries, nuclear power plants, and liquid natural gas companies is critical to sustaining a solid energy future. Bringing new forms of energy production online will provide substantial supply for our growing population, decrease our dependence on foreign entities and help increase the security and safety of our nation. 

On the surface it seems like an easy task, build new plants and the problem is solved.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  Companies looking to expand production through new power plants face enormous legal challenges and public outcry from a small but vocal group of environmental fanatics.  Often referred to as NIMBY’S (Not in my backyard), these individuals and groups cause some the biggest headaches for companies looking to expand.

Often times, the groups and individuals doing all they can to stop the projects at home are the same individuals and groups that are calling for new technology on a national scale, it is readily apparent that they desire change but aren’t willing to let it happen.

These NIMBY folks seek to organized local opposition, fight the approval of EPA and zoning permits, file costly lawsuits bleeding projects dry of their financing.  Additionally just blocking new energy producing facilities such as oil refineries, nuclear power plants, and liquid natural gas companies; the truth is that they really don’t want a wind farm or any other energy source either to clutter our landscape.

Citizens for Growth is committed to providing our members with the tools, technologies, and information to fight these NIMBYs, so that we as Americans can have the energy we need for the future.  

So why don’t we produce more at home? Because our laws make much of our domestic supply off limits and the supply that is available, too expensive to bring to market. Of our estimated 112 billion barrels of oil that could be recovered with our existing drilling and production technology, 90% of this is offshore or in Alaska. However, with the advent of new and far more environmentally friendly technologies, the outlook of drilling in these areas looks more encouraging. With the ability to recover this vital resource in an environmentally responsible way, political and environmental opposition should dissipate, freeing up much of this supply to replace a portion of our oil import.

Producing more of our own oil resources and seeking the balance of our global supply from nations that are our stable allies is good policy for our nation. It will not make us immune from global disruption or a rise in oil prices, but it will keep us from funding governments and radical regimes that are diametrically opposed to American principles and ideals.

Latest Statistics on Oil Consumption in the US vs. Domestic Production
(Provided by EIA):

Consumption.   Total petroleum consumption averaged 20.8 million bbl/d during the first quarter of 2007, up 1.9 percent from the first quarter of 2006.  For 2007 as a whole, total petroleum consumption is projected to average 20.9 million bbl/d, up 1.5 percent from the 2006 average.  In 2008, total petroleum consumption growth is projected to slow to 1.1 percent.  In both years, motor gasoline consumption is projected to increase by an average of about 1.1 percent per year.

Production.  In 2007, domestic crude oil production is projected to average 5.10 million bbl/d, down from 5.14 million bbl/d in 2006. EIA’s projection of domestic crude oil production includes a hurricane-induced outage of 13 million barrels for the Gulf of Mexico. The total outage occurs over 5 months (June through October) with the shares distributed by the average historical outage for each month (June 1.7 percent; July 4.3 percent; August 32.8 percent; September 52.7 percent; and October 7.7 percent). With the startup of new deepwater production from the Atlantis platform later this year and from the Thunderhorse platform late in 2008, domestic crude oil production is projected to average 5.33 million bbl/d in 2008.

As you will see below (statistics supplied by EIA), renewable energy is a small part of our overall energy consumption.

However, it is growing and there have been many legislative pushes to increase the production of renewable fuels. The recently passed Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates the increase in use of renewable energy such as biomass, wind, solar and hydroelectric power. The problem is that those that are trying to develop these renewable energy sources are running into the same road blocks as those developing traditional energy resources. Who knew that trying to develop wind and solar plants in this country would be opposed just as heavily as trying to drill for oil?

Citizens for Growth believes we need to explore and develop all sensible renewable and alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, tidal energy and biomass.

As you will see below (statistics supplied by EIA), renewable energy is a small part of our overall energy consumption.

However, it is growing and there have been many legislative pushes to increase the production of renewable fuels. The recently passed Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates the increase in use of renewable energy such as biomass, wind, solar and hydroelectric power. The problem is that those that are trying to develop these renewable energy sources are running into the same road blocks as those developing traditional energy resources. Who knew that trying to develop wind and solar plants in this country would be opposed just as heavily as trying to drill for oil?

As you will see below, the amount of oil we consume daily versus what we produce here at home is wildly out of balance. We currently consume close to 21 million barrels of oil a day, yet we only produce 5 million barrels domestically. Producing only a quarter (1/4 th) of oil we need, we must import the rest. Our leading foreign suppliers are our friendly neighbors to the North and South, Canada at 16% and Mexico at 12%. To a lesser degree, we are also importing, (and thereby enriching) other countries, several of which do not support our way of life.

So why don’t we produce more at home? Because our laws make much of our domestic supply off limits and the supply that is available, too expensive to bring to market. Of our estimated 112 billion barrels of oil that could be recovered with our existing drilling and production technology, 90% of this is offshore or in Alaska. However, with the advent of new and far more environmentally friendly technologies, the outlook of drilling in these areas looks more encouraging. With the ability to recover this vital resource in an environmentally responsible way, political and environmental opposition should dissipate, freeing up much of this supply to replace a portion of our oil import.

Producing more of our own oil resources and seeking the balance of our global supply from nations that are our stable allies is good policy for our nation. It will not make us immune from global disruption or a rise in oil prices, but it will keep us from funding governments and radical regimes that are diametrically opposed to American principles and ideals.

Latest Statistics on Oil Consumption in the US vs. Domestic Production
(Provided by EIA):

Consumption. Total petroleum consumption averaged 20.8 million bbl/d during the first quarter of 2007, up 1.9 percent from the first quarter of 2006. For 2007 as a whole, total petroleum consumption is projected to average 20.9 million bbl/d, up 1.5 percent from the 2006 average. In 2008, total petroleum consumption growth is projected to slow to 1.1 percent. In both years, motor gasoline consumption is projected to increase by an average of about 1.1 percent per year.

Production. In 2007, domestic crude oil production is projected to average 5.10 million bbl/d, down from 5.14 million bbl/d in 2006. EIA’s projection of domestic crude oil production includes a hurricane-induced outage of 13 million barrels for the Gulf of Mexico. The total outage occurs over 5 months (June through October) with the shares distributed by the average historical outage for each month (June 1.7 percent; July 4.3 percent; August 32.8 percent; September 52.7 percent; and October 7.7 percent). With the startup of new deepwater production from the Atlantis platform later this year and from the Thunderhorse platform late in 2008, domestic crude oil production is projected to average 5.33 million bbl/d in 2008.

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