Alternative Energy Sources, Essay Example

Wind is considered a renewable energy source because there is a daily wind cycle that will always occur. This daily wind cycle is caused by the uneven heating of land and water by the sun. As such, “the wind will blow as long as the sun shines.” (U.S. Energy Information Administration , 2010) In recent years wind energy has gained popularity for use in generating electricity. Giant wind turbines use long blades to harvest kinetic energy from the wind. The blades transfer this energy to the drive shaft, which uses the energy to turn an electric generator. In this way, electricity is produced. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2010)

There are both pros and cons to wind energy. Storms can damage the expensive turbines, making for costly repair. Also, the large machines emit noise at a level of 50-60 decibals, that gets louder the slower the wind blows. Electricity produced by wind turbines can be inconsistent, requiring that there be another energy source available for outages. Of course, it is a never-ending energy source, one of the cheapest forms of energy available, and does not produce any pollutants or harmful gases as by-products. (Deshmukh, 2010) The pros make for a very strong argument. In 2009, wind energy generated about 1.8% of the United States’ electricity. This amounts to enough energy to power 6.4 million households, or the entire state of Wisconsin. (U.S. Energy Information Administration , 2010) Since its use has continued to grow in the U.S., it is inexpensive to produce and can even generate income, and is even being promoted with “green” tax breaks, the future of wind power as an alternative energy source is bright. I look forward to the chance to actively participate in the growing use of wind power.

Works Cited

Deshmukh, U. (2010). Wind Energy Pros and Cons. Retrieved October 09, 2010, from Buzzle.com: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/wind-energy-pros-and-cons.html

U.S. Energy Information Administration . (2010). Renewable Wind. Retrieved October 09, 2010, from Energy Kids: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=wind_home-basics