Wind+Energy

= = =Wind Power= = = =Wind exists only because movement of air and the sun unevenly heating the Earth. The wind only blows when the sun shines. When hot air rises and cooler air moves it fills the void. A void is a hole. People use wind to power their everyday lives. Farmers used to use windmills to grind their grain and pump water. Today, people use wind turbines to power electricity from the breeze. For a while, wind turbine use has been increasing more than 25% a year. Today it still provides a little fraction of the world's energy.= = = = = =How it works= media type="custom" key="25309390" width="116" height="121" Pros of wind energy 1. Wind energy doesn't cause pollution and is green 2. The potential of wind energy is big- 20 times more than what the whole human population needs 3. Wind power is renewable and we can never run out of it. 4. The operational costs associated with wind power are low. 5. Residential wind turbines yields energy savings and protects homeowners from power outages. Cons of wind energy 1. Wind is changing source of energy and is not suited to meet the base load energy demand unless some form of energy storage is utilized. 2. The manufacturing and installation of wind turbines requires heavy up front investments. 3. Wind turbines can cause a threat to wildlife 4. Noise is regularly reported as a problem by neighboring homes. 5. How wind turbines look is a legitimate concern for some people. Fun Facts * Wind energy is a pollution- free energy source * Wind energy is a renewable energy source * North Dakota has the most wind energy in The United States * Denmark has the most wind turbines