Wind Power

Wind power is one of the world’s fastest-growing sources of renewable energy. It uses the force of the wind to spin turbines. These spinning turbines generate electricity. Most wind power is produced at wind farms, which are large groups of turbines in consistently windy locations. A very large wind farm can generate enough electricity for all the homes in a city of about one million people.

Small wind turbines can be used for individual homes, businesses, and boats. They can be used to pump water, or the electricity can be stored in large batteries for use at another time.

Illustration of three turbines for wind power

Pros

Wind power does not produce CO₂ emissions.
Wind is one of the cheapest renewable resources.

Cons

In some places the wind is not strong or does not blow enough of the time.
Some types of turbines can be noisy or can harm flying birds.
Wind turbines can be costly. They can also be large and may block scenic views.

Number Mania

Wind power energy is the fastest-growing energy resource in the world. A study by the United States Department of Energy and the wind industry found that wind power could generate 20 percent of the nation’s electricity by 2030. If we do this, a cumulative total of 7,600 million tons of CO₂ would be avoided by 2030, and more than 15,000 million tons of CO₂ would be avoided by 2050.