What are the Benefits of Wind Energy?

Written by:  • Edited by: Niki Fears
Updated Dec 15, 2010
• Related Guides: Carbon Dioxide | Wind Energy

This article will focus on the many benefits of wind energy. Such benefits include cost, reliability, efficiency, growth and cleanliness.

The Benefits of Wind Energy: Displacing Pollutants

The wind is an essential element of human life. It is a sustainable energy source and it is the most inexpensive source of energy. It is also clean and safe unlike other forms of energy such as coal and nuclear power. Wind energy, used to create electricity, will not add pollutants into the air we breath. Millions of tons of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and sulfur dioxide are released into the air every year by traditional power plants. Just one single 1-MW wind turbine will eliminate approximately 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year.

The Benefits of Wind Energy: Cost Efficiency

Wind energy is the most inexpensive source of energy because it is a completely sustainable and self renewing resource. Given that wind is free so the only cost incurred will be the building, placement and maintenance of the wind turbines. Building, placing and maintaining wind turbines is also far less expensive than building and maintaining traditional power plants. Wind farms can produce electricity for less than five cents per kilowatt hour in most areas of America. As the wind energy technology improves the cost will decrease even more. Wind energy also helps to lower environmental and healthcare costs because it is a clean source of energy.

The Benefits of Wind Energy: Growth of Wind Energy

As of 2008 there hare more than 25,170 MW wind energy turbines placed throughout the United States. Wind energy has the ability to provide as much as 10,777 billion killowatt hours every year in the United States. This is more than twice the electricity that is currently being generated in the United States.

The Benefits of Wind Energy: It is Local

Wind is found absolutely everywhere therefore using wind energy will keep more money within the local community. Wind energy also creates more local jobs and helps to pay a significant portion of state and local taxes. Wind energy is not affected by international conflicts, so we will always have a constant supply.

The Benefits of Wind Energy: Reliability and Efficiency

Wind energy is the most reliable resource that we have. We will always have wind and nothing will affect that. Not only is it reliable, but it is also efficient. The costs to maintain wind energy systems is very little and they also require very little maintenance. Since it takes such little time to construct a wind turbine, American's can experience clean energy much quicker when compared to traditional power plants.


Comments

Showing all 2 comments
 
asdfr Jan 29, 2011 11:56 AM
ty
thank you this most interesting.
michael Neilson Nov 23, 2010 5:08 AM
Vertical Axis Turbines
Hello I have heard that vertical axis wind turbines are better in a low wind urban environment. Apart from the low wind they also have low noise which is a big consideration in the placement of wind turbines.
 
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