Wind is one of the oldest forms of energy but it is referred to as alternative energy because it has not been a common use of energy for a long time. Americans attitudes toward wind energy fluctuate like the wind, the general opinion changes depending on “supply, demand, and pricing” (Deal, 2010). An example of public panic was the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 which spurred a rebirth for “alternative energy” and wind power was reintroduced as a renewable resource. Over the next ten years California and Texas would become the wind farm capitols of the U.S. With the critics in the back ground complaining that wind energy was not cost effective without government subsidies even if the wind was free and environmentalist opposing the turbines because the possibility of death to migratory birds, the noise they created, and that they were just plain ugly wind turbines still have a long haul to prove themselves as an acceptable source of energy (Deal, 2010).
The deaths of migratory birds and bats have been another hindrance for wind turbines putting some wind farms at a halt during inspections and studies. January of 2012, this month, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is scheduled to pronounce new guidelines for wind farms to monitor the safety of wildlife. The guidelines would be optional, but those who do not make changes will most likely face fines or penalties if their turbines kill a federally protected animal. John Anderson the director of siting policy for the American Wind Energy Association agrees to the guidelines from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, but thinks if the wind farms are following the guidelines they should not get stuck with large fines for accidental wildlife deaths. The Fish and Wildlife services agreed (Tracy, 2011).
With wind farms complying to wildlife regulations the positive aspects of freeing humanity of their reliability on fossil fuels starts to become a reality. Over the last ten years turbines have been able to increase the electricity they make by 25% and in Europe from 1994 through 2005 their wind power went from producing 1,700 MW to 40,000MW. The U.S.’s wind power has grown just over the last five short years making a 36 percent increase. With the push to develop more efficient sources of energy “the wind industry has developed increasingly large and efficient turbines, each capable to yielding 4 to 6 MW. And in many locations, wind power is the cheapest form of new electricity, with costs ranging from four to seven cents per kilowatt-hour” (Turk & Bensel, 2011).
Wind farms will open the field for new jobs for engineers, mechanics, and meteorologists to find the most ideal locations for the wind farms and to take care of them after development. The cost of running wind turbines are minimal to the possibilities of energy they can produce. The necessity to start drawing energy from renewable sources reopens the door to expanding wind farms and even creating off shore farms. The U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Energy are working together on renewable resources offshore. “The goal is to facilitate the development of offshore clean energy” (Deal, 2010).
Wind power would have a positive impact on the environment because it would lessen the need for fossil fuels and therefore would reduce the amount of green house gasses being emitted into the air. It could negatively affect avian wildlife, but with research that could be very minimal and worth the risk. The debris left behind by an unused windmill would be minimal if any compared to the dangers of abandoned oil rigs. Turbines are powered by wind naturally and do not need any supplemental fuels making the energy collected virtually free providing electricity at a very low cost which would improve the economy also helping with sustainability.
Renewable energy is a necessity that must be invested in to improve the lives of not only the current population, but for the generations to come. The impact of pollution from refineries to separate fossil fuels into usable energy is not worth the risk of polluting the air and water humanity needs to survive. Wind energy could be a very capable replacement although studies are still being done to determine how green wind power really is there has been a step toward making the world a little cleaner through renewable energies.
References
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Protect Bats and Birds Create Uncertainty in Growing Industry. Wall Street Journal
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