Renewable+Wind+Energy

 =flat By Meena and Nina = =How Wind Turbines Work = The kinetic energy of the wind is harnessed by a wind turbine. The wind moves the blades of the fan, causing a central hub to spin, which in turn moves the gears connected to a generator.  This generator then converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. There are two basic types of wind electric turbines--vertical-axis and horizontal-axis machines--but the latter are most common today. =Pros of Wind Energy =   Though wind turbines require a higher initial investment than fossil fuel generators, operating expenses are minimal and there is no need to buy fuel to power the generators. Wind turbines have been known to kill birds in the past, but recent technological developments have led to a decrease in avian casualties. Furthermore, the energy generated by wind can be stored using batteries, so that it retains a high level of convenience. Wind energy is free, renewable, clean and non-polluting, and it spurs economic development in the short and long run. Also, the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically over the past ten years: the National Resources Defense Council reported that "the cost of wind energy has come down 85 percent in the last 20 years... In 2002, wind power cost 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, a price that is competitive with new coal- or gas-fired power plants."

=Cons of Wind Energy =   Despite the claims of economic efficiency, wind turbines require a higher initial investment than fossil fuel plants. Furthermore, wind farms are an inconvenience for those who live nearby; the rotor blades are very loud and some people find them aesthetically displeasing. Ironically, these turbines have also had a negative environmental impacts, particularly regarding an increase in bird and bat deaths. Wind energy is also an unreliable source of energy, as the wind is often intermittent and cannot meet the timing of energy needs. Cities, who often need the most power, are located far away from good wind sites that are mainly found in remote areas. Wind farms also take up many acres of land that could be used for other purposes, such as farming and housing. Robert L. Bradley, Jr., the CEO of the Institute for Energy Research, argues that wind power “is uneconomic to produce and more uneconomic to transmit. It is unreliable moment-to-moment (the intermittency problem). It is at its worst when it needs to be at its best (those hot summer days). Its aesthetics are bad. It attracts the worst political capitalists (the late Ken Lay, the current T. Boone Pickens). W. S. Jevons was right in 1865 when he concluded that wind power was unsuitable for the industrial age." =Case Study: Denmark's Success =   Before the 1970s, Denmark depended on foreign oil for 98% of its energy. However, Denmark committed itself to renewable energy, forming community-owned wind cooperatives and producing more wind equipment than all other nations combined. Today Denmark is a net exporter of energy and renewable energy technology, and the world's leading manufacturer of wind turbine technology. A major obstacle to installing wind turbines is opposition from residents near proposed sites. Denmark avoided this problem by promoting wind turbine ownership by cooperatives, requiring that the members live within a certain distance of the site. At one time, about 100,000 Danish families owned shares in wind cooperatives.

=Case Study: The Cape Wind Project =  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> The Cape Wind Project is the first offshore wind turbine farm in the world and is located in Nantucket Sound. Its 130 wind turbines have the capacity to harness up to 420 watts of renewable energy, thus providing 75% of the energy used on the Cape and the Islands. Those who support the wind farm believe that it will bring high-paying jobs and year-round employment to the Cape; citing other nations, such as Denmark, who have created offshore farms, they argue that the turbines will not negatively impact boating or fishing. Some residents worry about the aesthetics of the wind turbines, but the location of the farm will be out of sight of most people on the Cape. Opponents argue that because the farm will harm sea animals and birds and will not make a difference on a global level, the costs of installing it outweigh the benefits. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> [|John Stewart and the Cape Wind Project]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">BY MEENA AND NINA!!!!!