Wind Power Could Help U.S. Significantly Decrease Greenhouse Gases
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, May 13, 2008
The U.S Energy Department has released a repot that states that windmill farms have the potential to produce 20 percent of the U.S electricity by the year 2030. This shift to wind energy could supply the U.S with roughly the same amount of electricity as nuclear power plants, but without releasing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Windmill farms are one of several renewable energy sources that many experts hope can provide a cleaner source of electricity. California was the first to recognize the environmentally friendly potential of wind power and currently produces 1.8 percent of the state’s electricity via windmill farms. Unlike nuclear power plants, windmill farms emit zero pollutants when converting wind power into electricity. However, critics point out several flaws in this environmentally friendly initiative. Construction of wind farms would have to drastically increase and there is the concern of reliability. Advocates counter that these expenses would be reasonable and that natural gas powered plants could be used to back up the windmill farms.
“There are those who said it is marginal and always will be, and yet the statistics say other wise” said Andy Karsner, the department’s assistant secretary for renewable energy.
This report is the first to highlight the potential of implementing wind power as a major energy source for U.S. The initiative could play a significant role as policy makers continue pursuing strategies to reduce greenhouse gasses and other forms of air pollution that threaten public health.
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