According to the AWEA (American Wind Energy Association), the number of wind energy turbines (windmills) are at an all time high. At Yale University a study was conducted by AWEA and they concluded that 9 out of 10 Americans would like more wind energy now. A single 1.5 MW turbine offsets 13 tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, and more than 1,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Imagine what we can do with hundreds of these turbines.
Wind energy is a completely renewable energy source that can really affect our carbon footprint for the better. They are a bit expensive right now, but one must prioritize when it comes to the future of our only home, the planet Earth.
There can be financial benefit to this as well. With the energy output of a large, advanced wind turbine churning out about $100,000 worth of energy a year, a 3% yield would be a $3,000 profit plan for farmers with a lot of extra land that could fit a few of these turbines. As a result of this, farmers in areas such as New England and the midwest are raising their eyebrows a bit and finding themselves asking for more information.
Sources: Earth policy institute, 2006 ; AWEA, 2007
Thanks, good post. You may want to check out the latest bright idea in anti-clean energy legislation in the U.S. Congress: Subtitle D of H.R. 2337. This legislation would make it a crime, punishable by a $50,000 fine or a year in jail, to build a new wind power plant without a certificate from the federal government.
More background information, including our written testimony on the bill (we were not asked to testify on it in person) and a list of state wind siting regulations already in place, here. To take action to oppose this misguided legislation, go here.
Regards,
Thomas O. Gray
American Wind Energy Association
http://www.awea.org
risingwind.blogspot.com
isn’t it true that someone could put a truck or something in one of those turbines things?
thats just what i heard.
It is possible. But it is easy to avoid.
There are many other ways to cause terror, with higher potencial for publicity.