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Cara Costanzo
Dr. Semih Eser
EGEE 101H
6 March 2014
The Potential of Wind Power
Due to the rapid depletion of conventional energy resources, alternative resources
are gaining momentum and hold great potential for a more sustainable energy future.
The implementation of alternative technologies will not only foster an economy of
renewable energy, but it will also reduce the environmental degradation humans currently
create. Though it presently only produces about one percent of the United States
electricity, wind technology is growing exponentially; At the end of 2013 there were
more U.S. wind power projects under construction than ever in historyWhen
completed, these 90+ projects will generate enough electricity annually to power 3.5
million households (AWEA 3). Wind power, in conjunction with other renewable
energy sources, has the potential to evolve the energy market, increase job opportunities,
and decrease the human impact on the environment, all while maintaining quality of life.
The advantages of wind power are vast in economic terms. Wind power is the
least expensive renewable energy technology that is currently available. It also has the
quickest construction time in terms of alternative technologies, making it a feasible
contender for rapid expansion in the near future. In 2012, 13,131 megawatts of wind
power were constructed, resulting in a 28 percent expansion in the industry, and allowing
the United States to be at the forefront of construction in 2012 (AWEA 3).
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Due to its clear potential for growth, the wind energy industry also can increase
job opportunities in the nation. Currently, the wind industry employs 85,000 people and
contributes approximately $17 billion to the US Gross Domestic Product (US Department
of Energy 1). The American Wind Energy Association is pursuing a goal of 20 percent
wind energy use in the domestic grid by 2030. If this goal is achieved, it is estimated that
the industry could create and maintain 500,000 new jobs, 180,000 of which would be
within the wind sector itself (US Department of Energy 1). It is also predicted that
landowners and farmers would receive over $600 million in yearly leasing revenues and
local government would assume over $1.5 billion in annual tax revenues (US Department
of Energy 1). Therefore, wind energy has great potential to boost employment as well as
the revenue of already-established industries and could prove to be an important factor in
reviving the economy.
While wind energy has vast potential, there are many concerns about heavy
reliance on the resource. Because of the variability of wind energy supply, concerns
about incorporating the technology into the grid exist. The level of energy that wind can
provide is largely dependent on the time of day and area in which the turbine is located.
Wind is created by an atmospheric convection system, due to an uneven heating of the
Earths surface. The unevenness causes some areas to produce more wind than others.
Wind is also produced less at night when the Sun is not heating the ground (Robbins
492). It is argued that said variability has the potential to raise the cost of generating
electricity (Robbins 493). There is also a worry for incremental operation reserve, or
the capacity available to a system within a short period of time in the event that a
generator goes down. If systems begin to rely seriously on wind power, there may be
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need for backup conventional plants that can be implemented in the case of a wind power
shortage. This causes many to question the reliability of wind power and its ability fulfill
the growing energy demand (Robbins 493).
There are also some environmental concerns surrounding the use of wind power,
but these are minor in relation to the conventional energy sources that are currently used.
The primary worry is for that of birds and bats, as they can be killed due to collision with
the wind turbine. It has been estimated that between 10,000 and 40,000 birds die
annually because of wind turbines, and this number would rise with an influx of wind
technology. However, wind power advocates charge that the danger to birds is far less
than that of other non-renewable sources, largely because of air pollution that is produced
from conventional use (Robbins 494).
Though wind energy has some setbacks, it is a renewable technology that has the
potential to revitalize the energy industry globally. Wind technology may not be the sole
future for renewable technology, but when integrated with other alternative resources,
such as solar and hydroelectric power, it can lead to a self-sustaining energy future.
Humans have a responsibility to invest in alternative energy technologies as a means of
creating a sustainable energy climate for future generations, and wind technology is key
to promoting this energy revolution.





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Works Cited:

AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2013 Market Report. Rep. N.p.: American
Wind Energy Assoication, n.d. Print.
Robbins, Paul. Wind Power: Green Issues and Debates an A-Z Guide. By Howard S.
Schiffman. Thousand Oaks: SAGE, 2011. 491-94. Gale Virtual Reference
Library. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.
U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Wind Power
Today: Building a New Energy Future. N.p.: n.p., n.d. National Renewable
Energy Laboratory. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.