Wind: It’s Everywhere

One of the most powerful renewable resources we have is wind. The best thing about it is that it's unlimited and free. But how does the wind become a factor in renewable energy?

People have been using wind power for years, though in far simpler ways than today’s electricity generation. Wind powers sails on ships to propel them forward (without all of the rowing) or turned the sails on windmills, which was then used to mill grain or draw water.

But today’s wind turbines, those huge, white, spinning fans you’ll see in open fields or offshore areas, serve a more general purpose: they produce electricity.

Like all types of electricity production, wind energy has its advantages and disadvantages.

One of the primary disadvantages of wind power is the initial cost. It’s not cheap. Constructing and transporting the component of a wind turbine, with its tall base and long arms of the turbine, can be quite costly. Plus, there’s the cost of the land: wind farms require a lot of room in order to produce enough electricity to power entire communities. And spacious plots of land, away from the rest of the world come at a premium.

There are other disadvantages to consider, as well. There’s the aesthetic impact (Do wind turbines detract from the beautiful surroundings?), harm to wildlife (Are wind turbines a risk to flying animals?), the distance between wind farms and, well, everything else (Is the workforce in these remote areas great enough to keep them functioning?), and noise (Is the sound of a functional wind turbine enough to upset nearby residents?).

On the other hand, let’s consider the advantages. First and foremost, wind is free and unlimited. There’s no need for it to be mined, nor is there ever a possibility that we’ll run out of it.

Plus, wind currents aren’t compromised when we place a turbine in a field. There’s no less wind on the other side of the turbine.

And while the construction of wind turbines does have its initial costs, the price of maintaining those turbines and generating wind power is next to nothing.

And benefit, wind farms are usually built in low or unpopulated areas. There are no buildings to tear down and no traffic is being slowed.

Finally, and most importantly, wind power is clean and doesn’t cause pollution. We aren’t digging up acres of land, hundreds of feet deep, to look for wind. Wind turbines don’t emit air pollutants or greenhouse gases.

Compare that to burning fossil fuels for electricity, which means digging up wildlife reserves, and putting vulnerable plant and animal species at risk. And. of course, there’s the carbon dioxide that’s spewed into the air because of burning fossil fuels – creating greenhouse gases and accelerating climate change.

While the sticker shock of creating wind farms may be off putting, the reduced damage to our environment and the slower rate of climate change make wind power an viable, if not necessary, alternative to fossil fuels.

At Clearview Energy, we provide only 100% pure green energy, from sources like solar, hydro, and, yes, wind. If you’d like to support our green efforts, you can make the switch to Clearview Energy. You can make a difference and switching is easy-breezy.