Electricity generated by wind turbines won’t dirty the air we breathe or emit pollutants like other energy sources -- that means less smog, less acid rain and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Power plants are the largest stationary source of air pollution in the United States, emitting millions of tons of sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide each year. These pollutants are believed to be the cause of global warming. Running a single 1-MW wind turbine can displace 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide in one year (equivalent to planting one square mile of forest).
Wind generated power, holds great hope for producing clean electricity for our homes, business, and transportation. The sound turbines produce is similar to a light whooshing or swishing sound, and much more quiet than other types of modern-day equipment. Wind turbines generate electricity most of the time (65%-80%), although the output amount is variable. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates America’s wind energy potential to be much larger than total U.S. electricity consumption today. Tapping only a fraction of that potential would provide a significant part of America’s electricity supply. In the United States, wind energy currently produces approximately 17 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to powering about 1.6 million average American homes year-round.
Solar Power Clean
Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. The existence of nearly all life on Earth is fueled by light from the sun. Solar power is by far the Earth’s most available energy source, easily capable of providing many times the total current energy demand. Solar power is an intermittent energy source, meaning that solar power is not available at all times, and is normally supplemented by storage or another energy source, for example with wind power and battery backup systems, etc. The amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s land areas in 1 hour is enough to supply the U.S needs for 1 year. At Earth's distance from the Sun, about 1,368 watts of energy from the Sun fall on an area of one square meter. The solar radiation that reaches the Gobi desert alone could supply almost all of the worlds total energy demands. Solar and wind energy systems work great together, and hold great promise for a clean world energy system.
