Is Wind Power Green
Is Wind Power Green
Julia Hoke
SCI 207
Cynthia Collins
December 10, 2012
1
Is Wind Power Green? As people around the world feel the sting created by the energy crisis, many electric companies and private individuals are seeking to find alternatives to fossil fuel contingent energy. Along with other renewable sources of energy available currently, wind energy is growing at a pace that is surpassing that of solar energy. With all the alternative energy resources, wind power does have its setbacks. Even with setbacks, wind power is becoming a competitor for other energy sources. Wind energy produces no carbon dioxide emissions and is considered one of the cleanest energy alternatives available, but can it really be considered green? I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wind power and provide evidence to support that wind power is a green energy source. These three advantages will show that wind energy is a renewable green energy source. The first advantage is that wind energy is a renewable green source of energy. By the term wind energy, we mean the kinetic energy (motion) in the wind. There are several methods we can use to harness this energy. Wind power is converting wind energy into useful types of energy. Wind turbines convert kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy (rotating turbine blades), which again is converted into electricity by a generator sitting inside the hub of the structure. Harnessing wind energy does not pollute the environment as fossil fuels, coal and nuclear energy does. Other than construction and installation, generating electricity with wind energy does not involve any emissions of climate gases. Wind energy is a renewable source of energy. Wind is naturally occurring and there is no way we can empty the resources (it naturally comes back). Wind energy can be source back to the nuclear fusion processes that takes place on the Sun. In
2
other words, as long as the sun keeps shining, we can
Julia Hoke
SCI 207
Cynthia Collins
December 10, 2012
1
Is Wind Power Green? As people around the world feel the sting created by the energy crisis, many electric companies and private individuals are seeking to find alternatives to fossil fuel contingent energy. Along with other renewable sources of energy available currently, wind energy is growing at a pace that is surpassing that of solar energy. With all the alternative energy resources, wind power does have its setbacks. Even with setbacks, wind power is becoming a competitor for other energy sources. Wind energy produces no carbon dioxide emissions and is considered one of the cleanest energy alternatives available, but can it really be considered green? I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wind power and provide evidence to support that wind power is a green energy source. These three advantages will show that wind energy is a renewable green energy source. The first advantage is that wind energy is a renewable green source of energy. By the term wind energy, we mean the kinetic energy (motion) in the wind. There are several methods we can use to harness this energy. Wind power is converting wind energy into useful types of energy. Wind turbines convert kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy (rotating turbine blades), which again is converted into electricity by a generator sitting inside the hub of the structure. Harnessing wind energy does not pollute the environment as fossil fuels, coal and nuclear energy does. Other than construction and installation, generating electricity with wind energy does not involve any emissions of climate gases. Wind energy is a renewable source of energy. Wind is naturally occurring and there is no way we can empty the resources (it naturally comes back). Wind energy can be source back to the nuclear fusion processes that takes place on the Sun. In
2
other words, as long as the sun keeps shining, we can
References: Energy Informative: Wind Energy Pros & Cons: Retrieved from energyinformative.org/ online 2012 Snyder, C. 2012 Crain’s Detroit Business: Arbor Wind Readies Turbine with A Twist: Retrieved from www.crainsdetroit.com / online 2012 Goffman, E. 2008 Capturing The Wind Power For The 21st Century: Advantages & Disadvantages of Wind Energy: Retrieved from www.csa.com Bassi, S. & Hicks, N. 2012 Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment: Onshore Wind Energy, What Are the Pros and Cons Turk & Bensel 2011 Contemporary Environmental Issues, Bridgepoint, CA