Wind energy provides several economic and environmental benefits. It creates jobs, uses a free and unlimited resource, and produces no pollutants or emissions. While the upfront costs of wind turbines are higher than some other energy sources, wind energy conserves water and fuel resources. The main disadvantages are higher initial costs compared to some other energy sources and occasional environmental effects like bird and bat deaths. Wind power is increasingly used in states like Texas, Iowa, and California that have strong wind resources and potential for large-scale wind energy production.

1. WIND ENERGY
Maya Tharakan, Lauren Salsbury and
Madeleine Schmidt

2. Section 1
PRO WIND POWER
creates jobs
wind is free and will never run out, only a small cost for
harnessing wind
no pollutants
wind turbines only take up a small plot of land

3. History
first use of a large windmill to generate electricity was a
system built in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1888 by Charles F.
Brush
first windmill to incorporate a step-up gearbox
1980, the market in the United States was dominated by
the emergence of the wind farms
(telsonet.net/wind/future.html)

4. Disadvantages of Coal
Burning coal emits harmful waste
leads to acid rain
Transporting coal causes extra pollutants
There is limited coal remaining
mining industry can cause health difficulties for miners
(http://fossil-fuel.co.uk/coal/the-disadvantages-of-coal)

5. Section 2
renewable - never runs out
blades turned by wind, attached to hub, which is
mounted onto a shaft and connects to a gearbox
transmission to a high speed shaft which turns the
generator which produces electricity
(windenergy.ornl.gov)

6. Coal VS Wind
wind - less carbon emissions, no fossil fuels
coal - burn coal and steam turns turbines which turn
generators
both use generators by spinning turbine or high speed
shaft

7. Future of Wind Power
rising trend

8. ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVANTAGES
by Maya Tharakan

9. Economic Advantages
Wind energy can provide new types of income
The wind is free and will never run out, however the
harnessed energy has a small cost
Wind energy creates both short and long term jobs

10. Environmental Advantages
Wind energy produces no pollutants
Wind energy conserves water and fuel resources
because there’s no need for transportation
It only takes a small plot of land for a wind turbine
which is used to harness the energy
cleanenergy.com

11. ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
DISADVANTAGES
Madeleine Schmidt

12. Economic Disadvantages
Wind power - $55.80 per MW-h
Coal - $53.10 per MW-h
Natural Gas - $52. 50 - MW-h
kilowatt hour - the product of power in watts and time
in hours
couple more dollars which adds up to millions
wikipedia.com

13. Environmental
Disadvantages
abnormal bird and bat deaths
rare leaking of dangerous fluids
rare instances of catching on fire
only harnessed when available
windenergy.com

14. WHERE IS WIND
POWER USED TODAY?
By Lauren Salsbury

15. Where is it used?
in the U.S. it’s used in Texas, Iowa, California, Illinois,
Minnesota.
These places have to potential to produce the following
megawatts of wind energy....
Texas (10,377 MW)
Iowa (4,322 MW)
California (3,927 MW)
Illinois (2,743 MW)
Minnesota (2733 MW)

16. Why should it be used in
other places?
Wind power is clean, getting more affordable, and has a
large possibility to produce mass amounts.
Converts wind in the mechanical energy to turn
turbines that creates electricity to power homes and
schools.

17. Bibliography
windenergy.ornl.gov
bpalternativenergy.com
wikipedia.com
telsonet.com
clean-energy-ideas.com
Science Explorer, Prentice Hall (156)

18. THE END