Wind Energy Chelsea King National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database

History of Wind Energy 5,000 BC – Egyptians harnessed wind to cross the Nile River 200 BC – Windmills used to pump water in China Modern day – popularity of wind energy fluctuates with price of fossil fuels

The Problem As population rises, so does the need for energy We rely heavily on fossil fuels Fossil fuels – Contribute to global climate change – Nonrenewable – Mostly imported

Coal Dependence

Prime real estate?

Oil Dependence /Used_Oil_Refinery.html

Wind: A Sustainable Solution Switch to wind as an electricity-generating source Wind as an energy source is: – Abundant – Domestic – Low cost – Renewable indefinitely National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database

The top ten windiest states: 1. Texas 2. Kansas 3. Montana 4. Nebraska 5. South Dakota 6. North Dakota 7. Iowa 8. Wyoming 9. Oklahoma 10. New Mexico National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Notable Facts Harnessing 1/5 of the Earth’s available wind would provide seven times the energy we currently use North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas have enough harnessable wind to run the entire U.S. economy The U.S. has the potential for harnessing 1,900 gigawatts of wind energy off-coast – 1 gigawatt = 1,000 megawatts – 1 megawatt supplies 300 homes Brown

Progress In early 2009, the U.S. had over 28,000 megawatts of wind generating capacity and 38 projects still underway Current wind farm development in Texas is predicted to exceed 53,000 megawatts when completed Maine, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Rhode Island are currently investing in wind energy projects Brown

Profiting Farmers and Ranchers Turbines take up only 1% of the land on which installed Landowners can receive $3,000 – $10,000 in royalties yearly per turbine In rural communities, competition for wind farms is intense National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database

Increasing Land Value An acre of corn land in Iowa used to site a turbine could generate $300,000 in electricity per year but only $960 of ethanol National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database Brown

Manufacturing and Installation The need for labor would create more employment opportunities Production could be completed in idle automobile factories National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database

What about the birds? National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database

A Feasible Action Plan American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has proposed reaching 20% generating capacity in the U.S. by This would help: – Avoid 7,600 million tons of CO 2 emissions – Reduce water consumption by 4 trillion gallons – Save consumers $130 billion in natural gas – Create at least 30,000 manufacturing jobs – Generate over $600 million for landowners in rural areas National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database

What Can YOU Do? Stay informed – The WINDPOWER 2010 Conference & Exhibition in Dallas, Texas May Encourage state legislators and campus officials to invest in wind energy Use products that are manufactured by sustainable sources Minimize your overall impact by choosing a more sustainable lifestyle

Works Cited " About WINDPOWER 2010." WINDPOWER 2010 Conference & Exhibition American Wind Energy Association, Web. 28 Feb Blair, Nate, et al. "Renewable Energy and Efficiency Modeling Analysis Partnership (REMAP)." National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Sept U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 26 Feb Brown, Lester. Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. 1st ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., Hylleberg, Jan. "Profile of the Danish Wind Industry." Denmark - Wind Power Hub Danish Wind Industry Association, Web. 1 Mar "Installed U.S. Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations." Wind Powering America. 17 Feb U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 26 Feb "Project at a Glance." Cape Wind Cape Wind Associates, LLC, Web. 1 Mar "Sector's Yearbook: Analysis and Data." Wind Power Spanish Wind Energy Association, Web. 23 Feb "Wind energy makes sound economic sense." Global Wind Energy Council. Global Wind Energy Council, Web. 27 Feb "Wind Energy - The Facts." Executive Summary. 13 Feb Global Wind Energy Council, Web. 1 Mar "Wind Research." National Renewable Energy Laboratory. U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 1 Mar "Year End 2009 Market Report." American Wind Energy Association. Jan American Wind Energy Association, Web. 1 Mar