WIND ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
It is important to consider the environment as we think about the future of our planet. We need to make sure that the earth can house us for generations to come, and that means developing sustainable energy methods—in other words, energy that takes into account present needs while not compromising the availability of energy or a healthy environment in the future.
Wind energy is an excellent sustainable energy source. But no energy production is completely without impact on the environment. After all, even the slightest change in our surroundings has some effect, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. However, energy from the wind is a very low-impact source of energy for the following reasons.
WIND IS CLEANER
Many kinds of energy production produce harmful substances. For example, burning coal for energy yields sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain and nuclear produces hazardous waste. Wind energy helps offset traditional electricity generation's negative effects on the environment. Wind farms do not release any pollutants such as carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change), sulfur dioxide (which causes acid rain), nitrogen dioxide (which causes smog), or mercury (which causes neurological damage). By supplying power from a clean, renewable resource, wind energy helps reduce pollution, keeping our environment healthy for future generations.
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WIND IS ABUNDANT AND RENEWABLE
Unlike fossil fuels, which are non-renewable and will ultimately become more and more expensive, wind is free and will always blow. This means that wind will always be an inexpensive and abundant source of electricity.
WIND IS SAFE FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS
Wind farms have many advantages for both people and animals, some of which have already been discussed. They are safe for animals on the ground, and since wind farms take up a very small percentage of land on which they are sited, most of the land can remain in use for crops or grazing. There are regions in the world in which wind farms can have an adverse impact on birds. However, many studies have been done in the United States and Europe (particularly in Denmark, which derives more than 12% of its total power from wind energy) on birds and wind turbines. Most of these studies have shown that birds tend to change their flight path in order to fly safely past the wind turbines. Nevertheless, at Horizon Wind Energy we always take into account bird migratory routes or flyways when siting our wind farms to prevent avian difficulties. We also take into account nesting grounds and other bird-related issues.
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