| The power of wind can be used to provide energy | | | | blade is connected to a drive shaft that turns a |
| for people across the world, no matter where they | | | | generator to produce electricity. Wind turbines need |
| live. | | | | wind speeds over 12 miles/hour to be successful. |
| You see a sailboat gliding across the ocean pushed | | | | When winds get too high the turbines are able to |
| by its harmless wafts, you get some relief on a hot | | | | keep the blades from being damaged and turning too |
| day from it's gentle breeze and a pinwheel starts | | | | fast through the use of a brake. |
| spinning to a youngsters delight from it's puff of air. | | | | Wind power plants consist of about a dozen wind |
| There are also cases of umbrellas being turned inside | | | | turbines machines and are called wind farms. These |
| out, shingles being blown off rooftops and tornados | | | | farms are owned and operated by businessmen |
| causing ruins from its strong gusts. By using it to our | | | | known as Independent Power Producers. The |
| advantage, we can turn it into a renewable source of | | | | electricity produced on a wind farm is collected and |
| energy, which will not cause pollution and will produce | | | | transmitted through long distance high power lines. It |
| a clean energy alternative to harmful fossil fuels. | | | | is important to locate these farms in ideal areas |
| Wind energy has existed through time. Ancient | | | | where the most wind can be captured. This is why |
| peoples used it for sailing ships, grinding wheat and | | | | you will find them located in high altitudes and open |
| pumping water. Today, wind energy is the world's | | | | areas such as hilltops, open plains and shorelines. |
| fastest-growing energy source and we are able to | | | | The advantages to wind power are many. It is a |
| use it to produce electricity. This source of energy is | | | | clean form of energy that is non-polluting and does |
| a renewable resource that became popular during the | | | | not produce global warming effects. Although large, it |
| oil crisis of the 70's. | | | | allows for land use under the wind turbines for |
| Wind energy is captured through the use of wind | | | | farming. Some disadvantages are it can have a |
| turbine machines. There are two types that are | | | | damaging effect on the wild bird population. Also, |
| available. The horizontal axis machine consists of | | | | some people consider them eyesores. |
| propellers with three blades. It is usually around 20 | | | | As new technologies emerge, wind power will |
| stories tall and 200 feet wide. The vertical axis | | | | become a more cost effective source of energy. |
| machine consists of blades that go from bottom to | | | | The government currently issues tax credits for its |
| top. They are 100 feet tall and 50 feet wide. | | | | use and there are green pricing programs available. |
| Propellers on wind turbines are large so as to capture | | | | There is also a renewed concern for the |
| a great volume of air. They can be angled or turned | | | | environmental damage that the uses of fossil fuels |
| to face the wind for maximum effect. | | | | create. As we search for an alternative to fossil |
| The machines work by using the blades to hold the | | | | fuels, the answer to our energy problems may just |
| wind's kinetic energy. The wind turns the blade. The | | | | be blowing in the wind. |