Turbines capture the wind and convert it to energy

A smart way to power cities or communities is using wind power. Wind power provides electricity from the wind by using what are called wind turbines.

These wind turbines are placed in fields to capture the wind. They are expensive, but in the long run you are saving millions of dollars. Wind power is safe and clean.

Wind turbines capture the wind’s energy. Propeller-like blades or similar-purpose structures mounted on a rotor turn the turbine creating Direct Current (DC), which is converted into Alternating Current (AC) for use.

The large turbines are usually mounted on towers about 100 ft. in the air where the wind is more consistent. The turbines can be stand-alone or grouped into farms for direct connection to the electric grid.

The American Wind Energy Association has excellent resources on how to develop your own wind farm here.

As part of green building practice, the small turbines are now being integrated and sometimes paired with solar systems to serve regular commercial buildings, agriculture, residential and mobile use.

Forty-six of the fifty states contain wind resources suitable for commercial development, although only fifteen percent of the country has excellent wind.

Total installed U.S. wind capacity at year’s end 2006 was 11,603 megawatts (MW), or enough to serve more than 2.9 million average households. New, larger wind turbines (from 1 to 3 megawatts per turbine) generate 120 times as much electricity as 1980′s models, at one-sixth the cost, and with much more reliability due to substantially improved gear boxes.

The U.S. Federal government is taking an active role in the development of renewable energy technologies such as the use of wind turbines.

On May 5, 2009, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar spoke to a gathering of the American Wind Energy Association in Chicago, Illinois.

During his remarks, Salazar stressed the importance of building America’s clean energy economy.

“With millions of new jobs at stake, this is an opportunity America can’t afford to miss.

We must lead the clean energy revolution, and with your help, we will spark it in the coming months by passing comprehensive energy legislation that lifts our nation’s production of renewable energy and helps secure our energy future!”

States across the country are doing their part as well. Colorado is home to new wind turbine manufacturing plants.

In California, the Public Utilities Commission on April 24, 2008, acted to assist larger wind projects by increasing from 1 MW to 3 MW the size of the wind projects that can qualify for cash incentives under the Self-Generation Incentive Program for 2008 and 2009.

Wind turbines are helping America build a clean energy economy.

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Editor’s Note: Alan Gardner, President of Eco Friendly Energy Company, provided background information & courtesy photo for this article.

For more information, please contact Mr. Gardner at www.ecofriendlyenergyco.com 215 Tiburon Court, Walnut Creek, CA 94597. Main telephone:925-943-6282. National Toll-Free: 866-943-6282. Fax: 925-935-3078. Email: info@ecofriendlyenergyco.com or ag@ecofriendlyenergyco.com

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