Wind turbines are being used across the country to produce energy.
Wind
Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. A generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity.
Advantages
- Wind energy is a clean fuel source.
- Wind energy doesn't produce carbon dioxide emissions.
- Wind energy is renewable power.
- Wind energy is one of the lowest-priced renewable energy technologies available.
- Wind turbines require only a small area of land.
Challenges
- Wind energy is only cost competitive at a consistently energetic wind site.
- Wind energy requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators.
- Wind energy cannot be stored (unless batteries are used); and not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands.
- Wind energy may not be able to compete with other uses for the land and those alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity generation.
- Wind energy public support issues include concern about noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetic (visual) impacts, and birds killed by flying into the rotors.