The Benefits of Wind Power

There are several major benefits to wind power.

• One of the most important is that wind power is the least expensive of all other forms of alternative energy.  Wind turbines generate electricity at around 5 cents per kWh (Kilowatt Hour), which is comparable to the new coal and/or oil burning power plants.  The costs are projected to decline even more as technology improves, and this is very important because most of the cost with wind power is in manufacturing.  Once the wind turbines are in place there is little cost to maintain and wind power is free.

• Another tremendous benefit of wind power is that it is a sustainable source of energy and a clean source of energy.  Wind power generation produces zero carbon dioxide emissions, which is important with our concern over climate change.
• Wind energy is also a renewable energy, meaning it does not deplete our natural resources like coal or petroleum based products.

Unfortunately, the potential in wind power remains largely untapped as less than one percent of the world’s energy is derived from wind power.  However, there are positive indicators as the use of wind power use has increased by more than 400 percent since 2000.  Denmark leads the world in wind energy generating 20 percent of its energy from wind power.  The European Union is looking to increase the use of wind power generation along with other forms of alternative energy to 22 percent by 2010.  Currently the United States is third when it comes to using wind power at 9,149 MW (Mega Watts).

[Image of Wind Turbines by Shutterstock]