We can harness the power of moving air on a large scale and use it to produce electricity with wind turbines. When the wind is strong enough, the blades of a wind turbine turn, which spins a shaft connected to a generator. The generator converts the mechanical energy of the spinning shaft into electrical energy that can be transmitted to homes and buildings through power lines. Wind energy doesn’t directly produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases that can cause damage to the climate. The wind itself is a free resource, and although it costs money to build and operate wind turbines, advancements in technology have significantly reduced these costs over time. Wind energy also doesn’t cause pollution. (California Academy of Sciences)
Interesting Wind Power Facts:
- The United States’ wind power capacity was 105.591 megawatts at the end of 2019, making it the largest renewable energy source in the United States. That’s enough electricity to offset the consumption of 29.5 million average American homes. (Department of Energy)
- There are more than 500 wind-related manufacturing facilities located across 43 states, and the U.S. wind industry currently employs more than 114,000 people. (Department of Energy)
- Wind energy provides more than 10% of total electricity generation in 14 states, and more than 30% in Kansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. (Department of Energy)
- By 2030, wind power is expected to save around 30 trillion bottles of water in the U.S. (Opus Energy)
