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Wind Energy

The document discusses the environmental benefits of wind energy, including that it is renewable and produces zero carbon emissions, and its use significantly reduces air pollutants and saves billions of gallons of water each year. Wind energy also has a small land footprint while the land beneath turbines can be used for other activities.

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lorena gartisani
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423 views5 pages

Wind Energy

The document discusses the environmental benefits of wind energy, including that it is renewable and produces zero carbon emissions, and its use significantly reduces air pollutants and saves billions of gallons of water each year. Wind energy also has a small land footprint while the land beneath turbines can be used for other activities.

Uploaded by

lorena gartisani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name Wind Energy

Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy


Wind energy is both free and renewable. It works by harvesting the kinetic
energy of the wind without interfering with wind currents or wind cycles.
Wind energy also has a lower environmental impact than many other
energy resources.

Wind energy produces zero carbon emissions, which means it doesn’t


contribute to carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution. Using wind energy instead
of other forms of energy amounted to a reduction of 189 million tons of
carbon pollution in 2017.

The use of wind energy also means a significant reduction in sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the air. These pollutant are responsible
for creating smog and triggering asthma attacks. In just 2017, wind-
generated electricity avoided pumping 188,000 tons of SO2 and over
122,000 tons of NOX into the air.

Using wind energy also means an annual savings


of billions of gallons of water. While thermal
conventional power plants need water to
produce electricity or to cool power generators,
wind plants do not. This is a significant
advantage, as the power industry uses more
water than any other industry, including
agriculture! The more we employ wind energy,
the more water we can save. In 2017, the use of
wind energy saved 95 billion gallons of water.

Wind energy is also notable for its small footprint. It does not disturb natural
habitats or human economic activities. With an average of 98% of the
land on a wind farm left undisturbed, that land can be put to other uses.
Thus wind energy has the lowest impact on ecosystems and their
inhabitants of any large-scale method of producing electricity.

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Name Wind Energy

QUESTIONS: Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy


Circle the correct answer.

1. Wind energy works by:


A. manipulating wind currents
B. harvesting the kinetic energy of the wind
C. manipulating wind cycles
D. all of the above

2. Wind energy produces ___________ carbon emissions.


A. 0
B. 189 million tons
C. 188 thousand tons
D. 122 thousand tons

3. Using wind energy also means a significant reduction of ___ in the air.
A. CO2
B. SO2
C. NOX
D. all of the above

4. Using wind energy also saves:


A. billions of gallons of water
B. hundreds of gallons of water
C. thousands of gallons of water
D. millions of gallons of water

5. Wind energy is also notable for its:


A. large footprint
B. small footprint
C. pollutants
D. water consumption

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Name Wind Energy

Wind Power and Economic Development


The development of wind power in rural areas of the United States has
many economic benefits. In fact, according to Nebraska’s Omaha World-
Herald, the change in low-income rural areas is nothing less than a
transformation comparable to what took place following the Homestead
Act of 1862.

Farmers and ranchers are able to earn an extra stable


income from leasing the use of their land. This amounts to
over a quarter of a billion dollars in leases annually. For
some farmers, this means they can continue to farm, even
in years when drought and the fluctuation of commodity
prices make farming otherwise untenable.

Schools in rural areas also benefit from wind farms, since they expand
local tax bases. As local school budgets derive from tax revenue, this
allows schools to improve their services and facilities. For example,
according to Oklahoma State University, wind farms will generate over a
billion dollars for Oklahoma schools over their lifetimes. This allows schools
to offer services and opportunities that they would not have otherwise
had the resources to provide.

But schools aren’t the only things in rural areas that are benefiting from the
expansion of wind energy. Increased tax revenue also means money to
maintain roads and adequate law enforcement without having to raise
taxes on citizens. In Sheldon, NY, local taxes were actually eliminated for
eight years, since it was able to meet it budget from the proceeds of wind
power alone.

Finally, wind energy creates jobs. Today there are over 114,000 Americans
working in the wind industry across all 50 states.

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Name Wind Energy

QUESTIONS: Wind Power and Economic Development

1. What has the change that wind energy is brining to rural areas in the
U.S. been compared to?

2. How does wind energy benefit farmers and ranchers?

3. How do schools in rural areas benefit from wind energy?

4. How much money does Oklahoma State University estimate that wind
farms in the area will generate for Oklahoma schools over their lifetime?

5. What else does increased tax revenue mean for rural areas?

6. What has been the impact of wind energy in Sheldon, NY?

7. What else does wind energy create that impacts local economies?

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Name Wind Energy

Advantages of Wind Energy


Wind power is generated by harnessing the energy of the wind through
the use of large windmills called turbines. In order to power entire
neighborhoods or cities, large “wind farms” containing many, many wind
turbines are needed. An ideal location for a wind farm is some place
where it is always windy. Sometimes wind farms called offshore wind farms
are built out in the ocean. Wind energy has many advantages.

Wind power is considered a renewable source of


energy because the wind cannot be used up,
like coal and oil. Wind power is also “clean” or
“green” because using wind energy to generate
electricity does not cause pollution. Coal and
gas, on which we currently rely heavily does not
offer either of these advantages.

Wind energy also has a lot of potential. Across the whole world, multiple
independent research teams have determined that it is possible to
produce over 400 terawatts of energy from wind alone. Wind energy can
also be harnessed from almost anywhere. Today, wind energy represents
only about 2.5% of total worldwide power generation, but it is growing at
a rate of 25% per year, and the price of establishing a wind farm has
dropped by 80% since 1980.

Wind energy is also an efficient use of space. Wind turbines can’t be


placed too closely together, so wind farms can encompass many acres.
However, unlike solar panels, which make exclusive use of the land they
occupy, the land between wind turbines can be put to other uses.
Currently many farmers and ranchers are earning extra money leasing
their land for wind turbines with little to no impact on the activities taking
place beneath them.

Generally, once wind turbines are built and erected, they have a low
operational cost.

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