By: Khari Bell and Mary Huff

1.The moving air spins the turbine blades. 2.The blades are connected to a low-speed shaft. When the blades spin, the shaft turns. 3.The low-speed shaft is connected to a gear box. Inside, a large slow-moving gear turns a small gear quickly. 4.The small gear turns another shaft at high speed. 5.The high-speed shaft is connected to a generator. As the shaft turns the generator, it produces electricity. 6.The electric current is sent through cables down the turbine tower to a transformer that changes the voltage of the current before it is sent out on transmission lines. Source: science/wind-power2.htm

The result is wind farms do not benefit portable energy. Wind power today is connected to existing city grids of electricity to power homes, businesses, and city lights The largest turbines in U.S. can produce three to five MW, enough electricity to power 900 to 1,500 homes. Only the electricity wind turbines create can be stored not the wind power itself.

 "The average tower generates 4,500 to 5,500 dollars per year, and each tower takes up less than an acre’. That's a good return,“ said Stephan Wilson from Xcel Energy.  It’s Renewable  U.S Department of Energy says wind power has potential to produce twice as much as the energy demand.  But, wind energy is most suitable in rural areas (not big cities)  New Power lines would need to be built.

 Cleaner (no pollution, no fuel)  Cheaper (initial costs, but once installed works great.)  Small businesses are getting tax breaks for using this renewable energy(Through December 31, 2016, individuals can receive a 30 percent tax credit for installing a  Small wind system, up to 100 kilowatts.  Less money to construct than coal or nuclear plant  Looks a little weird  Cause effect to wild bat population  Severe weather could potentially damage turbines.(causing money to be spent for repairs)  Unreliability will cause power plants to remain open just in case.

 Mary Huff  Very likely. It costs less and it’s creating more production then we are consuming so we can store it for the future. Also it’s completely renewable so no fuel is being used to create this energy.  Khari Bell  Not likely. It is a huge economic venture to build enough turbines and new power lines to capture the nation’s wind energy.

 DOE Announces Wind Energy Funding | Wind Power Ninja. N.d. Photograph. DOE Announces Wind Energy Funding | Wind Power Ninja. The Wind Ninja, 19 Feb Web. 21 Mar  Frugal Café Blog Zone. N.d. Photograph. Frugal Caf Blog Zone RSS. Web. 21 Mar  Helman, Christopher. "Why It's The End Of The Line For Wind Power." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 21 Dec Web. 21 Mar  Highways: The Power Plants of the Future - Promoting Eco Friendly Lifestyle to Save Enviornment - Ecofriend. N.d. Photograph. EcoFriend.com. Ecofriend Atom. ESHI INTERNATIOAN PTE LTD. Web. 21 Mar  How Wind Power Works Photograph. How Stuff Works. HowStuffWorks. By Julia Layton Web. 21 Mar  Roach, John. "Wind Energy Boom Sweeping U.S., Industry Watchers Say." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 25 Oct Web. 21 Mar  Wind. NEED. The NEED Project, Web. 21 Mar  Wind Power Services - Michigan Based Grid-Connected Small Wind Electric Systems. N.d. Photograph. Wind Power Services - Michigan Based Grid-Connected Small Wind Electric Systems. Web. 21 Mar