Wind power is the most rapidly growing form of renewable energy in the world. It is currently growing at a rate of more than 30 percent per year, and already has an installed capacity more than 7 times greater than that of solar power. 80 countries currently have commercial wind farms. The United States currently gets 3 percent of its electricity from the wind, making it second in capacity only to China. The installed capacity in the U.S. exceeds 40,000 megawatts.
Turbines are springing up all over the country. There are farms in 37 states. 14 of these states have large-scale installations. Texas is the country's leading producer. The largest wind farm in the world is located in Texas. Iowa is the second largest producer, followed by California and then Minnesota. Other states that have large installations include Oregon, Washington, and Kansas. Projects are under construction in several states, and there is a push to install off-shore turbines in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These would be the first off-shore installations in the United States and, if constructed, would greatly add to renewable energy resources on the east coast. There are also a number of conventional farms under development in states from North Dakota to Oregon.
The amount of power generated by these installations varies continuously. Some factors that affect the power generated on any given day include the direction of the prevailing winds, their speed, and the size of the installed windmills. On a windy day in October of 2010, the farms generated 25 percent of all the electricity used in Texas. Iowa gets nearly 20 percent of all its electrical needs from its turbines, and there are plans to add more in the future.
State and federal governments are getting involved in wind power in a big way. The U.S. Department of Energy believes that up to 20 percent of all electricity produced in the United States could eventually come from turning turbines, instead of burning coal or nuclear fission. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is now building a facility specifically to test turbine blades. State governments are also helping out. Texas has committed to expanding its electric grid to aid in power transmission. Many states are also providing significant investment capital to the industry.
Wind power is fast gaining in popularity, both in the U.S. and around the world. This completely green, ecologically friendly, and infinitely renewable power source is changing the future of electricity generation and the world.
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about renewable energy, please visit http://www.windturbineplanet.com/.
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