by kamran

Created on: May 20, 2007   Last Updated: April 06, 2011

Amid energy concerns all over the world and specially in major industrialized countries, search for and adaptation to alternate energy resources is an important subject to deal with. Relevance of Economy and environment to acceptability of an energy resources is direct. Therefore economic and environmental benefits of Wind Power are described below. It is pertinent however to know that what damage, energy resources, in vogue are doing to ascertain why we need to change them.

Electricity generation is the largest source of industrial air pollution in the United States, China and some other countries. Fossil fuel-fired power plants in U.S. produce more than 40 percent of the total emissions of carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping gas primarily responsible for global warming. They also generate one-fourth of total U.S. emissions of nitrogen oxides (which cause smog and an aggravate asthma) and two-thirds of total sulfur dioxide emissions (which cause acid rain).

About half of all U.S. electricity is generated from coal, and coal power plants emit tons of mercury and dioxin into the air over their operating lives. Mercury builds up in fish, which can cause birth defects when eaten, and dioxin can cause cancer. Wind Power is the perfect solution to all above environmental problems.

Environmental Benefits:

Reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions:
Some scientists believe that global warming is caused by the "greenhouse effect." Greenhouse gases, like CO2, are produced naturally in our environment through volcanic activity and organic matter decomposition. CO2 is also produced when fossil fuels like coal and natural gas are burned to generate electricity. Using wind to generate electricity reduces CO2 emissions. In a study it is noted that Development of only 10% of the wind potential in the 10 windiest U.S. states would provide more than enough energy to displace emissions from the nation's coal-fired power plants and eliminate the nation's major source of acid rain; reduce total U.S. emissions of CO2 by almost a third and world emissions of CO2 by 4%.

Reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions:
SO2 is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels. In the atmosphere it can react with other chemicals to form acidic compounds. Scientists believe that "acid rain" threatens our lakes and forests by raising the level of acidity. Using wind-generated electricity reduces SO2 emissions.

Reduced use of nonrenewable energy:
Wind energy does not deplete natural resources. Wind is renewed every day

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