4 of 7

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 3

the earth heats and cools. We save about one pound of coal for every kilowatt-hour generated by wind.

The energy needed to build wind turbines is quickly recovered:
The energy generated by wind turbines balances with the energy used to make them in a matter of months. Much of the energy used to manufacture turbines is contained in the rotor and nacelle. One-third of the total energy is consumed in making the concrete foundation and tower.

Wind power uses less land:
About 5% of a wind farm site contains the turbines, equipment and access roads. Existing land uses, such as farming and grazing, can continue unaffected. Conventional electricity generation requires larger "footprints" to obtain the fuel (mining, pipelines, transportation) and to generate electricity (power plants).

Wind power environmental benefits compared to automobile use:
Walking, biking, car pooling or using mass transit rather than driving saves 20 pounds of CO2 for every gallon of gasoline saved. One block of wind power, about 25% of an average customers use can:
cut CO2 emissions by 249 pounds each month.
offset the CO2 output from burning 12 gallons of gasoline.
annually offset the CO2 produced by driving your car 2,930 miles.

Wind power environmental benefits compared to recycling:
One block of wind power cuts CO2 emissions by 2,988 pounds each year. Recycling all of an average household's newsprint, cardboard, glass and metal for a year cuts CO2 emissions by 850 pounds each year. One block of wind power achieves 3.5 times the reduction achieved by recycling. Purchasing one block of wind energy for a year avoids the same amount of CO2 emissions each of the following:
Recycling 4,500 glass jars
Recycling 6,900 aluminum cans
Recycling 1,150 pounds of steel

Economic benefits:

Tax Effects:
Taxes are a redistribution of benefits from wind power production to the federal, state, and local government jurisdictions in which the wind power production and sales occur. Local town governments receive tax revenues or annual payments in lieu of tax from project owners; as operating a wind farm does not require town services such as water or sewage, these payments can be used for other town needs or services. Wind turbines can provide electricity at a fixed cost to municipal utilities that own them, or to towns or groups of customers that sign long-term contracts for their electricity. This benefit enables a town to project its energy costs in budget planning and to be less affected by sudden changes in fossil

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Understanding wind power's economic and environmental benefits?
We want to hear your view. Write now!