| If you're like the rest of us, you're probably well | | | | free. Even though it may not be able to produce |
| aware of how today's high energy costs are starting | | | | 100% of our energy needs, it has the ability to |
| to have a detrimental effect on your way of life. | | | | produce a large amount of what we need. If we |
| Whether the record high prices are the result of the | | | | combine this with conservation and other forms of |
| falling value of the dollar, peak oil, market speculation, | | | | alternative energy, the future suddenly looks a little |
| or a combination of these, the end result is the same. | | | | brighter. |
| More pain in the wallet and an increasingly uneasy | | | | One of wind powers biggest selling points is that it's a |
| feeling about the future. We've had a very cozy | | | | proven producer of energy. Early examples of |
| relationship with fossil fuels for many years, but it | | | | harnessing wind power date back to the 1st century. |
| looks like that relationship is quickly coming to an end. | | | | Since then Wind has been used for a variety of |
| The need for a reduced cost power source has | | | | tasks; pumping water, grinding wheat, milling lumber, |
| moved from a lofty ideal, to an urgent necessity. | | | | and producing electricity to name a few. Because of |
| So what's the best plan of action, what can we do? | | | | it's long development life, it's one of the few |
| Is there any technology that can adopt to replace | | | | alternative energy technologies that's capable of |
| fossil fuels? The simple answer is no, there is no | | | | being cheaply deployed. So cheap in fact that there |
| magic bullet. But there are some alternatives that if | | | | are plans available to construct your own home-made |
| properly executed could provide substantial benefits. | | | | wind powered generators. These too are proven |
| Part of the answer, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, may | | | | producers with reliability that rivals factory produced |
| indeed be blowing in the wind. | | | | units. |
| Alternative energy is now no longer a trendy | | | | While we're definitely in a state of flux regarding our |
| catch-phrase, it's been thrust to the front of the line | | | | energy sources, it doesn't necessarily have to be a |
| of possible solutions to the energy crisis. One possible | | | | bad thing. If you're looking for answers, you really |
| solution to our problems is wind power. It's been | | | | need to consider adding wind power to your solution. |
| extensively tested for years, and wind is plentiful and | | | | |