What Are The Advantages Of Wind Energy?
- Wind is a renewable source of energy. It is a natural phenomenon that does not have to be discovered or extracted.
- Small wind farms can be set up by almost anyone to save money and conserve natural resources.
- Wind farms can help reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
- Wind farms provide electricity without contributing to air pollution.
How Is Furman Getting Involved With Clean Energy?
Furman’s Environmental Action Group (EAG) is working to build support and knowledge among the student body, faculty, and administration about wind energy options for Furman’s campus. For example, renewable energy certificates can be purchased from Renewable Choice Energy to offset our use of fossil fuel-generated electricity.
The way energy certificates work is fairly simple:
- Wind farms in the Midwest sell their energy to power companies. However, because electricity generated from wind is slightly more expensive than the electricity produced from fossil fuels, power companies don’t buy much.
- But, if consumers are willing to pay the cost difference, then the cost of wind power can be reduced and the power plants will buy more of this cheaper, cleaner, energy.
- So, wind farms or power companies sell ‘certificates’ to consumers. People from anywhere in the United States can buy these certificates, and this money offsets the higher cost of generating power from wind, thus increasing the demand for this clean energy supply.
- This clean energy will probably not be used directly in that consumer’s house or business, because wind power is currently such a small contributor to our power budget. However, each certificate that is purchased represents a certain amount of clean energy that will be placed onto the national grid.
- The more people that buy wind certificates, the more energy from a renewable energy source that is put on the grid instead of energy from a non-renewable source.
Furman has already taken the first step in the process of supporting wind energy: a resolution acknowledging that Furman supports renewable sources of energy was recently passed by the Association of Furman Students. Results of a poll indicate that the Furman student body strongly supports purchasing wind energy for a $25 per year additional fee. The next step will be to present a final 
resolution to the administration; if passed Furman will join the growing ranks of over 60 schools buying renewable energy certificates, including Duke University, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, and Harvard.
Wind Energy
The harnessing of wind has increased rapidly over the past decade, at a rate of 20% per year. Even with this rapid growth, wind accounts for less than 1% of the U.S.’s overall energy production.
U.S. areas where wind speeds make wind power a viable option.
There are plans from the American Wind Energy Association to boost production to 6% of the total energy production by the year 2020. This would equal the power currently generated by hydroelectric dams in the U.S.
The leading U.S. company focusing on greener energy is General Electric. They have begun to focus on wind as the best bet for energy in the future. GE’s support is an important first step towards more sustainable use of resources.
Wind farms offer a feasible means to shift away from fossil fuels and towards more renewable energy.
The Danish Wind Industry Association recently supported an ambitious plan in their own country. Denmark currently meets around 20% of their total power demand with wind farms. Their goal is to develop enough wind power to cover 50% of the national energy needs.
Although wind power bears expensive up-front costs, there are long-term savings that must be considered. As wind power becomes a more economically-viable option, the U.S. could become a major player in the world wind market.
| Cons: | Overcoming the Cons: |
The purchase and set-up of wind turbines can be expensive |
Invest wisely in areas with high rates of return (coasts, western states) |
Wind turbines require certain constant speeds to be productive (13 mph for large turbines, 9 mph for small turbines) |
Place wind farms in windy areas that are otherwise not useable (such as ocean wind farms) |
Wind farms can't sustain constant power due to daily and seasonal variance in wind |
Invest in hydrogen fuel cells in order to extend the time that power is available to consumers |