Are Wind Power Generators the Future of Alternative Energy?

The debate continues over what is the best form ofsome noise pollution. Couple that with multiple turbines
alternative energy source and what is the moston a "wind farm" and the noise can be deafening.
efficient method of creating energy. There is not aThe good news is, those are the older generation
doubt that the depletion of the natural resource of oilwind turbines. The new version of wind generators
is coming. Everyone agrees on this issue. So what isare far less noisy and much more efficient, needing
next?less to create the same amount of electricity.
Just look around to see what is most abundant onWind turbines are sight pollution - There is something
the Earth? Air and Water are resources that can beharmonious about a bunch of fans spinning in
tapped to provide our growing population withsynchronicity along the side of a mountain or
energy. Along with this, the most powerfulmountaintop. But having a large windmill in the middle
"generator," the sun. The question is, how do weof a neighborhood could pose some problems. But
harness the power in an efficient, economical, andwhat is the trade-off? I would trade the addition of a
environmentally friendly way?windmill for a lower electric bill and better air to
To date, wind power has added over 2% of thebreathe, would you?
power to the United States power grid. For otherThere is never consistent wind - There are very few
countries, this number is higher. The initial investmenttimes when there is no moving air in some areas. The
of adding a wind power generator is minimal whenSouthern California desert areas consistently have
compared to a coal, oil, or nuclear generating plant.airflow. Sides of mountains consistently have breezes
The footprint of a wind turbine is also much smaller.and the central United States has constant air
Sounds like this is the answer, however....circulation. The issue is where, not if.
The issues that come with wind power generatorsNever-the-less, there will always be debate about
are many. Some of the opponents have the followingany new idea or possibility of change. There are pros
arguments:and cons to everything. But in the case of wind
Wind turbines are noisy - This is somewhat true. Thepower being a large part of the electricity producing
older generation windmills were definitely noisy. Theframework, we are already there. We just need to
constant spinning of a huge fan will definitely createmove farther and faster.