| Wind power is growing in popularity as an | | | | source for consumers the world over. AWEA |
| alternative to fossil fuel and one of the | | | | represents developers of wind power projects, |
| best of the renewable energy sources. The use | | | | those who are in the business of supplying |
| of wind power requires wind turbines. Wind | | | | wind power equipment, wind power service |
| turbine generators do little to harm the | | | | providers, manufacturers of wind power parts, |
| environment and are far preferable in this | | | | utilities that provide wind power for |
| regard to fossil fuel. The only disadvantage | | | | electrical power, scientists researching |
| is that they cannot be used everywhere. In | | | | green energy resources that include the use |
| order to effectively use turbines to generate | | | | of wind power and others involved in any way |
| wind power you would need an average wind | | | | in the wind power industry. Hundreds of |
| speed of at least 13 miles per hour. | | | | advocates of wind power are also members of |
| Obviously, that is not found everywhere. | | | | AWEA. |
| | | | |
| Palm Springs California is ideal for wind | | | | The American Wind Energy Association provides |
| turbines that generate power and as you pass | | | | the latest information on the operation of |
| through there along highway 10 you will see | | | | current or potential wind power projects, the |
| these wind turbines in various sizes. Called | | | | ongoing development of new wind power |
| a wind farm, This San Bernadino Mountain area | | | | projects, companies who work in the |
| has over 4000 windmills in its San Gorgonio | | | | burgeoning industry, the development of new |
| Mountain Pass. These turbines provide enough | | | | wind energy technology, and government |
| wind power to provide electricity to all of | | | | legislation and policies that pertain to the |
| Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area as | | | | use, production and funding of wind power and |
| a whole. Most of the current wind power | | | | other renewable energies. |
| generation in the U.S. resides in California. | | | | |
| | | | AWEA acts as a clearing house for the wind |
| The largest of the wind power windmills is | | | | power industry, and as such communicates the |
| 150 feet in height with blades that stretch | | | | pertinent statistics, facts and news. From |
| halfway across a football field. There are | | | | AWEA consumers and others can find out the |
| compartments at the windmills top that house | | | | latest legislative decisions and efforts, |
| its generators, its hub and its gearbox. | | | | including the best information on grants and |
| These weigh at least 30,000 and as much as | | | | loans to aid in the implementation of |
| 45,000 pounds. At this size the turbine for | | | | residential, commercial and governmental wind |
| wind power may cost more than 300,000 but | | | | power projects. |
| will provide 300 kilowatts each hour. This | | | | |
| amount of wind power is enough to keep one | | | | AWEA publishes and disseminates the only |
| typical household in electrical power for an | | | | weekly wind power newsletter that exists |
| entire month. | | | | anywhere. It also hosts an annual wind power |
| | | | conference, with presentations on the latest |
| The American Wind Energy Association AWEA is | | | | technological developments and trends as well |
| a U.S. - wide non-profit organization | | | | as access to businesses offering help in its |
| promoting wind power as a clean electrical | | | | implementation. |