Wind Energy Works! Basics
Clean, renewable wind energy produces pollution-free electricity that powers millions of American homes. Wind power supports energy independence and produces jobs and tax revenue for America’s citizens. America needs more wind energy development for its environmental, economic and energy security contributions to our society. Wind energy works!
Wind Energy Works! because wind...
...is a reliable source of energy.
- All over the United States, a wide-ranging set of consumers and organizations are choosing wind power for some or all of their electricity needs. A small example of institutions and companies that use a sizable amount of wind power for electricity include Johnson & Johnson, The World Bank, Whole Foods Market, Staples, Starbucks, the City of Portland and the City of San Diego.
- In Europe, Denmark receives over 20% of its electricity from wind energy, and in 2007 Germany received around 7% of its electricity from the wind. Both Spain and Portugal had periods in 2007 when wind energy provided over 20% of their electricity. In the U.S., Texas, Minnesota, and Iowa get close to 5% of their electricity from wind energy. These examples show that high penetrations of wind power can be a valuable part of a utility generation mix that supplies reliable electrical service to consumers without interruption.
...is one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources.
- Wind energy development protects air and water quality, helps provide a healthier wildlife habitat, assists in the fight against global warming, and displaces mining and drilling for natural gas, coal, and other fuels.
- To generate the same amount of electricity as today's U.S. wind turbine fleet (almost 20,000 MW) would require burning 29 million tons of coal (a line of 10-ton trucks over 11,000 miles long) or 92 million barrels of oil each year.
- Thirty-six million tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted annually in order to generate the same amount of electricity using the average U.S. power plant fuel mix.
...is renewable, and the supply will never run out.
- Wind energy is an inexhaustible, domestic resource that helps reduce our dependence on imports of natural gas, oil and other fuels, often from unstable countries like Nigeria and Russia.
- Because wind is a renewable resource, it is “inflation-proof.” Once a wind plant is built, the cost of energy is predictable.
...is a domestic energy source that reduces demand for natural gas imports.
- The United States’ wind resource is vast. Using today’s technology, there is theoretically enough wind power flowing across the country to supply all of our electricity needs. North Dakota alone could supply about one third of the nation’s electricity.
- Forty-six of the fifty states contain wind resources suitable for commercial development.
- Natural gas is in short supply in North America, and a huge effort is now under way to import more of it from overseas; wind energy is produced right here at home and is not subject to the whims of other countries.
- By choosing wind energy over natural gas and other fuels used for electricity generation, the pressure on traditional fuel prices decreases. Thus wind can save consumers money, even in regions with low or no wind resources.
- The U.S. currently burns about 13 Bcf/day for electricity generation, which means
during 2007, wind power reduced natural gas use for our generation by approximately 5%.
...creates jobs and increases local tax revenues.
- In Washington State, 1,000 MW of installed wind capacity is estimated to create 2,650 new local jobs during construction, an additional 400 new local long-term jobs during the operational years of the wind farms, and a $1.1 billion total economic benefit over the lifetime of the wind projects.
- In 2007, new tower, blade, turbine and assembly plants opened in Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. In the same year, seven other facilities were announced in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina, New York, and Oklahoma. Altogether, the new and announced facilities are expected to create some 6,000 jobs. Investment in manufacturing capability signals confidence in the market and lays the groundwork for expanded growth.
- Texas consolidated its lead in terms of installed wind power capacity. The states with the most cumulative wind power capacity installed are: Texas, with 4,356 MW; California, with 2,439 MW; Minnesota, with 1,299 MW; Iowa, with 1,273 MW; and Washington, with 1,163 MW.
- At least fourteen new manufacturing facilities opened or were announced in 2007, according to initial AWEA estimates. Companies are creating new jobs and business opportunities across the country, even in states that do not have a large wind resource.
...helps farmers who receive income from having wind farms on their land.
- Wind farms are a valuable source of property tax income for local governments.
- Wind energy helps diversify income for farmers, ranchers and other landowners.
- Leasing the right to harvest the wind over a farm can more than double the annual net income from cultivation or grazing.
|
|
