Chapter 24 Energy Conservation
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have a contract with the power company, and
they may be credited for the electricity the
turbines on their property put into the grid.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are some sources that say we could
generate over 10 trillion kWh of electricity
every year with wind turbines alone. That
is more electricity than is used in the entire
United States. The major problems with wind
turbines, however, are their cost and the fact
that the wind does not blow all the time. The
wind cannot be forced to match the energy
demand and will not always blow the most at
the time of day when demand for electricity is
highest. In addition, some consider the wind
turbines eyesores and do not want them built
in their community. Others are concerned
because the blades on the wind turbines can
kill birds that fl y into them.
The major advantage of wind turbines
over coal, oil, or other fuel is their ability to
produce electricity without pollution. As coal
and other fuels are burned, they produce
carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur
dioxide, which contribute to air pollution and
other environmental problems. Wind energy
allows for the conservation of other fuels and
does not pollute the air.
If you examine your electric bill, you
will see that the utility companies give their
customers a choice about using green power.
The term green power describes electricity
produced from renewable energy sources.
Since green power generally costs more to
produce, customers can voluntarily pay a
premium of two to three cents more per kilo-
watt. This provides the incentive for the power
companies to use renewable sources.
Another favorable feature of wind
energy is that the wind turbines do not use
much space. The land very near the towers
can continue to be used by the landowners.
Farmers can continue planting and harvesting
Figure 24-19. Lake Benton, Minnesota wind farm is built along a windy ridge.