The wind has helped to power Midwestern farms for many years. Windmills pumped water for irrigation and livestock and generated electricity where there was no utility power available. As the government-funded electrical grid spread to rural areas, farmers became as dependent as town dwellers on the more reliable electricity from fossil-fueled generation plants. Wind-generated electricity seemed to be a thing of the past.
But today, relying primarily on fossil fuels for electric generation is being seriously challenged. Wind turbines have become an important technology in the search for renewable, non-polluting ways to generate power. Now, all over the Midwest, wind turbines are appearing not only on farms, but at factories and in schoolyards as well. Today’s wind turbines are efficient and reliable—the product of years of research and experience.
THE BENEFITS OF WIND ENERGY
- The wind is free. As an energy source, it doesn’t have to be purchased, mined, refined or transported.
- Wind energy is clean, non-polluting and non-depletable. It does not produce smog, acid rain or greenhouse gases, nor does it release mercury or particulates.
- Like other renewable energy systems, wind turbines support the electric utility infrastructure by providing energy exactly where it is needed. When connected into the grid, these systems help prevent costly line upgrades and postpone the building of new power plants.
- Installing a wind turbine is a productive way of making a commitment to the community and the environment. Whether installed at a school or elsewhere, a working wind turbine can demonstrate to everyone the possibility of a clean energy future.
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