| With energy costs continually on the rise, more and | | | | 4. Virtually limitless. Wind occurs naturally as the Earth |
| more options to traditional energy are being | | | | rotates and as such isn't likely to stop anytime soon. |
| considered more than ever before. However, as with | | | | The Disadvantages of Wind Energy |
| other things, there are advantages and | | | | 1. It is intermittent. Except in some extreme regions, |
| disadvantages to wind energy. In this article, we'll | | | | for the most part wind energy is largely intermittent. |
| take a look at the pros and cons of wind energy | | | | The problem with this of course is that energy needs |
| which should give you the ability to make an | | | | are constant and so a backup energy source is |
| intelligent decision about it as well. | | | | required to compensate for this gap. Off all of the |
| The Advantages of Wind Energy | | | | advantages and disadvantages to wind energy, the |
| 1. It is abundant. This is especially true in the US | | | | intermittent nature of it may be its biggest drawback. |
| where a major effort is underway to expand the | | | | 2. Has higher transfer costs. Unfortunately most ideal |
| country's wind production infrastructure. | | | | wind production regions are often in remote areas. |
| 2. Inexpensive. In energy production terms, it all boils | | | | Because of this, the costs to transport the energy |
| down to kilowatt-per-hour costs. Wind typically costs | | | | over long distances cannot be overlooked. |
| around $.06 whereas more traditional energy sources | | | | 3. It has a high start up cost. Wind turbines are not |
| like natural gas can be as high as $.075. When | | | | cheap to install and operate. When combined with the |
| considering advantages and disadvantages to wind | | | | issues of long distance power transfer, a wind site |
| energy, cost is a key factor. | | | | must be very productive to compete with more |
| 3. It is a clean power source that does not have to | | | | traditional forms of power generation. |
| be converted from something else to extract the | | | | 4. Has a high opportunity cost. Rural areas often |
| energy we need. For example, coal must be mined, | | | | have other uses for farm or ranch land that a wind |
| pulverized and the combusted to produce energy. | | | | farm may compete for and so the loss of these |
| Each of these steps adds environmental costs to the | | | | income producing activities must be weighed when |
| final product, energy. | | | | considering wind farm construction. |