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The Power of Wind
Why Wind?
Some Pros and Cons of this Debated Power Source
Wind? Yes!
Wind? No!
Clean Wind power offers a non-polluting alternative to fossil fuels: a service to the air and sky.
Efficient Advanced technology allows for an efficiency comparable, if not superior, to conventional sources.
Affordable The cost of wind is now competitive with popular polluters such as oil and natural gas.
Location An average wind speed of 15 miles per hour is needed to sustain a wind farm. The average wind speed in Eugene, OR is 2.5 mph.
Compatibility Migrating birds and scenic beauty are issues that often suspend the building of wind turbines.
Storage Wind varies, and so do energy needs. Effective ways to deal with surplus and shortage are insufficient at best.

A Brief History..

The first known windmill dates as far back as 1180, and in 1850 wind supplied 90% of the power used in dutch industry. In America, wind was used for centuries to pump water and power machinery on farms. At one point, more than 9 million windmills existed on the American landscape. However, as other sources of energy became available, the use of wind declined.

 

More recently, while technology advanced, an environmentally conscious age also brought demand for renewable energy. Wind farms sprung up in many states during the 1980s, primarily in California. Since then, production of wind-generated electricity has increased dramatically, generating as much energy as conventional power plants. Not only has wind become efficient, but also more affordable. As author Paul Gipe concludes in his book on the history of wind power, "Wind energy has come of age".

The Bird Controversy: Wind turbine's impacts on birds are often the most prominent factor limiting the construction of new wind projects. But how big is the problem?
The Story Today: Modern technological advancements have greatly improved the scope of wind power.
How Does Wind Power Work?: A basic explanation.

Did you know…
You can support wind power by purchasing 10, 25, 50 or even 100% wind power from EWEB. For only a few more dollars a month, you can help save the environment! Click here for details.