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At present wind energy is the most available, technologically mature, and economically viable renewable energy resource we have. While the U.S. is one of the world leaders in wind generated electricity production, vast untapped potential still remains. Does wind energy have some limitations and drawbacks? Of course it does, but the benefits far outweigh the less desirable consequences of increasing wind energy production.

Opponents of wind energy are often critical of its intermittent nature, contending that it's unpredictability will always render it a minor contributor to our electricity needs. This argument sounds logical, but it is based on information that is at best, semi-accurate. Experience in Europe (e.g., Germany, Denmark, and Spain) has shown that it is entirely feasible for the electricity grid to tolerate a large percentage of wind generated electricity. In some regions in Germany, wind energy penetration into electricity markets exceeds 30% of consumption while Denmark as a whole generates roughly 20% of its electricity from wind turbines. Several U.S. studies have indicated that regional electricity grids in the U.S. could tolerate 20% wind energy generation with only minor expansions and modifications. The associated costs of this would amount to fractions of a cent per kilowatt hour.

Some opponents also claim that wind energy is too expensive. Again, this contention is based on misleading information. New wind energy generation is more often than not cheaper than natural gas generation and in some areas of the country is comparable to coal-fired generation. Moreover, there is a difference in the generation costs of old coal fired generation compared to new coal-fired generation. Old coal plants have been grandfathered in to old emission regulations and hence, have cheaper operating costs than any newly built coal-fired plant which must comply with more stringent air pollution laws. The difference between the cost of wind in good resource areas (to say nothing of the excellent to superb areas found in many spots in the Great Plains) and new coal-fired generation is minuscule. So again, wind is an extremely viable energy resource.

Finally, in terms of environmental friendliness, wind emits no carbon dioxide (i.e., climate change impact), so nitrous oxides, no sulfur dioxide, and no mercury. Moreover, it avoids the frequent environmental destruction associated with oil and gas drilling and with coal mining. Yes, wind turbines do occasionally kill birds, but the frequency and overall importance of this potential impact have been dramatically overblown. Serious bird mortality issues have arisen from only one project in California while serious bat mortality has similarly been confined to one project in Tennessee. The vast majority of wind projects experience no such problems, and as a result of the publicity associated with the California problems, extensive environmental impact studies are typically required for years before a project is built and frequently afterward as well in order to make sure that impacts remain minimal. Avian mortality is almost entirely avoidable with proper study and project siting and most wind developers recognize that wind energy's status as an environmentally friendly energy source hinges on avoiding such adverse environmental impacts with proper planning. On the balance, there is little question that wind energy is as technologically and economically viable as fossil fuel generation and has a much smaller environmental footprint.

Learn more about this author, Justin Barnes.
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