Harnessing The Energy Of The Wind

In spite of a few who still disregard the dangers faced by a continued dependence on fossil fuels, there is a growing consensus that clean, renewable energy sources are essential to the future of life as we know it on our planet. Even if the devastating effects of climate change and global warming are denied or ignored, projections show that the world's oil reserves will no longer be productive by the year 2050. We are simply running out of gas. Without taking action now to develop alternative energy to replace fossil fuels, we will be faced with what could be catastrophic consequences.

Considerable research and resources are being devoted to the development of clean and affordable alternative energy sources globally including solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal energy. All of these have great potential and used together may provide the solution to the world's energy needs. With innovative engineering and technological advances, the world can finally wean itself of fossil fuel dependence and enter into a new era of environmentally friendly, renewable energy.

Wind has been used as a power source since seafaring vessels used sails to catch the wind and propel the sailing ships to the far reaches of the earth. Farmers used windmills to pump water and grind grain. Though wind provides only a small fraction of our energy needs at present, the industry is booming and wind turbines are increasing in number, more than quadrupling between 2000 and 2006 globally. China became the world's leading wind energy provider in 2010 with farms that generate 41.8 gigawatts of electrical energy and a projection of meeting the entirety of the nation's energy needs with wind power by 2030. A single megawatt of wind energy can provide enough energy for service about 250 homes.

Once a turbine is constructed, operational costs are essentially zero since wind is free and there are minimal maintenance requirements. This clean source of energy produces no water, air, or soil pollution. Engineering and mass production advances are reducing the cost of wind turbines to make them more affordable. There are also added tax incentives offered by many governments to encourage wind-energy development. At the current pace, industry experts predict that wind will be providing as much as a third of the world's electricity needs by 2050.

With global dedication and teamwork, the looming fossil fuel energy crisis can be averted. Enter in a new world of clean, renewable energy that spawns innovation and economic growth for those who embrace it.