Tweney, Dylan. "Wind Turbines." Wired Science. July 25, 2007. 3 Apr 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Johnnys Bibliography
"Wind Energy Pros and Cons." Pros and Cons. 1988 . ProCon.org. 3 Apr 2008 .
Tweney, Dylan. "Wind Turbines." Wired Science. July 25, 2007. 3 Apr 2008.
Tweney, Dylan. "Wind Turbines." Wired Science. July 25, 2007. 3 Apr 2008
Wind Turbine Facts
There are a lot of factors to be able to determine the cost of a wind turbine. Wind turbines come in many size. They are typically sized in Kilowatts (1000 watts) or Megawatts (one million watts). An example of a small wind turbine is the one we have at NRG, it is rated at 10 Kilowatts. Our turbine makes about $1200 in electricity a year and you could expect to pay about $40,000 to have one installed. The amount of energy the turbine makes depends on the site. At NRG our average wind speed is about 10mph. This is not a very good site. If energy costs stay the same it will take us 33.3 years ($40,000 / $1200) to pay back our original investment. Energy cost will rise over the next 30 years so our payback will be a bit faster but it gives you an idea of how the investment works.
commercial-scale wind turbines typically cost from $1.4 to $2.1 million per Megawatt of capacity. The actual cost depends primarily on brand, location in the world, the site, and maintenance over the life of the turbine.
A turbine with a megawatt capacity does not make a megawatt of electricity all the time. The amount of power it makes on average is much less than megawatt. The actual amount of energy it makes depends primarily on average wind speed.
When looking at the cost of a turbine it is more important to investigate how long the turbine will take to pay for itself, rather than how much the initial cost is. A coal plant may be less expensive but you have to continually buy coal to keep it running. A wind turbine may cost more initially but you do not have to buy the energy source, wind is free.
This information came from Dale
commercial-scale wind turbines typically cost from $1.4 to $2.1 million per Megawatt of capacity. The actual cost depends primarily on brand, location in the world, the site, and maintenance over the life of the turbine.
A turbine with a megawatt capacity does not make a megawatt of electricity all the time. The amount of power it makes on average is much less than megawatt. The actual amount of energy it makes depends primarily on average wind speed.
When looking at the cost of a turbine it is more important to investigate how long the turbine will take to pay for itself, rather than how much the initial cost is. A coal plant may be less expensive but you have to continually buy coal to keep it running. A wind turbine may cost more initially but you do not have to buy the energy source, wind is free.
This information came from Dale
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Billy's Bibliography
Unknown, Unknown. "20 Shocking Facts on the Environment." Green Expander 26 March 2008 .
Unknown, Unknown. "Pros and Cons of Wind Energy." Nuclear Power Procon.org 27 March 2008.
Dale dew@nrgsystems.com He works at NRG in Hinesburg, VT
Unknown, Unknown. "Pros and Cons of Wind Energy." Nuclear Power Procon.org 27 March 2008
Dale
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Wind Power Facts
Helpful Facts for Essay
A small turbine can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000 installed, depending upon size, application and service agreements with the manufacturer.
A mature tree can suck up Co2 at a rate of 48 pounds a year, and produces enough oxygen to support 2 human beings.
Already, the 43 million tons of carbon dioxide displaced by the new wind plants installed last year equaled more than 5 percent of the year’s growth in global emissions. If the wind market quadruples over the next nine years—a highly plausible scenario—wind power could be reducing global emissions growth by 20 percent in 2015.
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/07/new-wind-turbin.html
Pros
1.)Wind is available everywhere, and is plentiful.
2.)Wind produces no thermal discharge and therefore places no thermal burden on the earth's atmosphere.
3.)The technology for harnessing the wind's energy is well-developed.
4.)Wind turbines are ready to be mass produced.
5.)Given the amount of energy wind machines capture, both the material and energy requirements for their manufacture are impressively low.
6.)If well-designed wind machines are placed at good wind sites, electricity can be generated for as little as 10 cents per kilowatt hour.
Cons
1.)Wind must move at speeds greater than seven m.p.h. to be usable in most cases.
2.)The rotation of windmill blades can interfere with home TV reception and other electromagnetic signals.
3.)Capital costs for wind power production are high.
4.)Mechanical failures of wind turbines could be dangerous.
5.)Possible damage to the environment from wind power includes tree removal, hill alteration to promote winds, and hazards to birds.
http://www.nuclearpowerprocon.org/pop/wind.htm
A small turbine can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000 installed, depending upon size, application and service agreements with the manufacturer.
A mature tree can suck up Co2 at a rate of 48 pounds a year, and produces enough oxygen to support 2 human beings.
Already, the 43 million tons of carbon dioxide displaced by the new wind plants installed last year equaled more than 5 percent of the year’s growth in global emissions. If the wind market quadruples over the next nine years—a highly plausible scenario—wind power could be reducing global emissions growth by 20 percent in 2015.
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/07/new-wind-turbin.html
Pros
1.)Wind is available everywhere, and is plentiful.
2.)Wind produces no thermal discharge and therefore places no thermal burden on the earth's atmosphere.
3.)The technology for harnessing the wind's energy is well-developed.
4.)Wind turbines are ready to be mass produced.
5.)Given the amount of energy wind machines capture, both the material and energy requirements for their manufacture are impressively low.
6.)If well-designed wind machines are placed at good wind sites, electricity can be generated for as little as 10 cents per kilowatt hour.
Cons
1.)Wind must move at speeds greater than seven m.p.h. to be usable in most cases.
2.)The rotation of windmill blades can interfere with home TV reception and other electromagnetic signals.
3.)Capital costs for wind power production are high.
4.)Mechanical failures of wind turbines could be dangerous.
5.)Possible damage to the environment from wind power includes tree removal, hill alteration to promote winds, and hazards to birds.
http://www.nuclearpowerprocon.org/pop/wind.htm
Billy's Essay
Did you know that 55 square feet of tropical rainforest is an equivalent to making 1 "quarter pounder". If you put up a wind turbine you save a lot of money on your natural gas bill, heating bill and electric bill. You will also help combat global warming by switching to wind power. Wind energy is a very clean renewable resource. Wind energy is the best because it is inexpensive and there are good wind sites to put up a turbine all across the country.
The first reason that our country should switch to wind power is because it is inexpensive. The price for 1 barrel of crude oil is over 100 dollars. The price of the wind turbine at NRG, in Hinesburg, VT was about 40,000 dollars. They save about $1,200 per year. That will pay back in about 33.3 years. But it has been admitted by one of the workers that the average wind speed is about 10 mph. This is said to not be a very good site. Good wind sites would pay back much quicker. If you want to make a huge hydroelectric dam you need to pay a lot. The Hoover Dam costs about $165,000,000 to build. That is expensive.
The second reason that wind power is the path to take is because there are many good sites to put up a wind turbine across the country. We are culpable to set up many alternative sites that will help our country leave the field of oil energy. Oil is bad for the environment and it is limited. Grass plains in states such as Nebraska, Texas, Kansas and Wyoming would be very good places to put up a wind turbine. You need to make sure that you don't put up a wind turbine in a area that is extremely windy because a wind turbine can destroy itself if it gets spinning too fast.
Many people think that wind is not our best choice of energy to switch to. They think this because wind turbines don't look great sitting on a hill. Wind turbines can also kill birds at night because they can't see them. putting up wind turbines can cause several environmental problems too. Hills may need to be landscaped for maximum wind. Trees have to be cut down also to put up some wind turbines. It costs a lot to put up a wind turbine, but it saves money in the long run. Wind speeds also have to be at a reasonable speed for the turbine to run.
In, conclusion wind power is the best form of energy for our country. It is inexpensive while while beingplentiful in many areas of the country. It may not be all that pleasant to look at, but would you rather have your grandchildren's children have to look at a black sky?
The first reason that our country should switch to wind power is because it is inexpensive. The price for 1 barrel of crude oil is over 100 dollars. The price of the wind turbine at NRG, in Hinesburg, VT was about 40,000 dollars. They save about $1,200 per year. That will pay back in about 33.3 years. But it has been admitted by one of the workers that the average wind speed is about 10 mph. This is said to not be a very good site. Good wind sites would pay back much quicker. If you want to make a huge hydroelectric dam you need to pay a lot. The Hoover Dam costs about $165,000,000 to build. That is expensive.
The second reason that wind power is the path to take is because there are many good sites to put up a wind turbine across the country. We are culpable to set up many alternative sites that will help our country leave the field of oil energy. Oil is bad for the environment and it is limited. Grass plains in states such as Nebraska, Texas, Kansas and Wyoming would be very good places to put up a wind turbine. You need to make sure that you don't put up a wind turbine in a area that is extremely windy because a wind turbine can destroy itself if it gets spinning too fast.
Many people think that wind is not our best choice of energy to switch to. They think this because wind turbines don't look great sitting on a hill. Wind turbines can also kill birds at night because they can't see them. putting up wind turbines can cause several environmental problems too. Hills may need to be landscaped for maximum wind. Trees have to be cut down also to put up some wind turbines. It costs a lot to put up a wind turbine, but it saves money in the long run. Wind speeds also have to be at a reasonable speed for the turbine to run.
In, conclusion wind power is the best form of energy for our country. It is inexpensive while while beingplentiful in many areas of the country. It may not be all that pleasant to look at, but would you rather have your grandchildren's children have to look at a black sky?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Johnnys Wind Power Essay
What kind of energy is being used in your home? Well, chances are that it comes from a non-renewable source of energy. Though it is not a renewable source, renewable sources are growing fast and becoming more popular each day. Soon your energy may be renewable. One of the cleanest sources of energy is Wind Power. Did you know that Wind Power produces about 1%-2% of America’s energy. There are many reasons why it is the cleanest sources of renewable energy.
The reason that Wind Power is becoming big is that our earth is becoming infested with Co2 gas, and fossil fuels are becoming scarce. We need Wind Power because it will help the environment by not creating greenhouse gases. Other things that help the environment by sucking in Co2 and releasing pure oxygen are trees. Trees are being cut down for space of buildings that could create Co2. Did you know that the average mature tree sucks in Co2 at a rate of 48 pounds a year and releases enough oxygen to support 2 humans. By cutting down those trees we are losing ways to stop Global Warming. Wind Power is a big factor in fighting Global warming. This is a very clean way of preventing emissions from destroying our earth. Wind turbines are inexpensive, and can cost from $6,000 to 20,000 depending on the size plus the manufacturer. By putting up a wind farm you can remake your money back soon. Wind turbines are very easy to put up and produce a lot of energy. Unlike a nuclear plant, a wind farm doesn't take 10 years to build. Though a wind farm does take up a lot of space, it is a very clean source to rely on.
If well-designed wind machines are placed at good wind sites, electricity can be generated for as little as 10 cents per kilowatt hour. In this country wind is plentiful and is available just about anywhere. The cost of wind powers is becoming cheaper every years. More people today are putting up wind farms. Already, the 43 million tons of carbon dioxide displaced by the new wind plants installed in 2007 equaled more than 5 percent of the year’s growth in global emissions. If the wind market quadruples over the next nine years wind power could be reducing global emissions growth by 20 percent in 2015. There is a very high chance that this will happen. If we use all the various sources of renewable energies then just imagine how much global warming’s impact on earth will decrease over the next several years. Wind power is very easy to collect. Although you need seven M.P.H. to be useable in most cases, most of the time wind turbines collect a lot of energy at any given time. There is a lot of unused space in America that can be used for wind farms. Other sources of energy such as solar power are very pricy. There can be wind during the night, and there can be wind during cloudy days. Solar power cannot be produced during the night or during cloudy and stormy days. Solar panels are very costly and even more fragile. A solar energy system big enough to power a computer and a few other small items might cost you about $700 to $1000. Solar power is depend on the sun and is very unreliable. Wind power is just a better choice of renewable energy.
Although wind power is very reliable, there are still some drawbacks to this source. One thing is that wind power does take up lots of space. An average wind farm takes up a few acres. A few acres can be a lot of space depending where it is. Renewable source of energy aren’t very pleasant to look at; for example, solar power and wind power takes up space the people would rather have roofing or trees. Wind power also is not a very good thing to look at on top of the mountains. These wind towers should not be placed in places that have such a marvelous environment like Vermont. Putting up wind towers most likely means cutting down precious and valuable trees that are needed everywhere. Putting wind towers in fields or places that don’t have trees is a better idea. The most important damage to the environment from wind power includes tree removal, hill alteration to promote winds, and hazards to birds. Some wind towers, depending where they are, can interfere with TV and Radio reception. Mechanical failures of wind turbines could be dangerous. These are more pros then cons of wind power.
Wind power is on the better end of clean, renewable sources of energy. People don’t realize how much good wind power can do to stop global warming. If we all learned a little more about different sources of renewable energies then we can put up a fight against global warming. If we are wise and use our knowledge to educate the community about wind power then we can be prepared when fossil fuels expire. Our generation is going to be most affected by global warming. If we step up with wind power then we can be a step ahead of global warming.
The reason that Wind Power is becoming big is that our earth is becoming infested with Co2 gas, and fossil fuels are becoming scarce. We need Wind Power because it will help the environment by not creating greenhouse gases. Other things that help the environment by sucking in Co2 and releasing pure oxygen are trees. Trees are being cut down for space of buildings that could create Co2. Did you know that the average mature tree sucks in Co2 at a rate of 48 pounds a year and releases enough oxygen to support 2 humans. By cutting down those trees we are losing ways to stop Global Warming. Wind Power is a big factor in fighting Global warming. This is a very clean way of preventing emissions from destroying our earth. Wind turbines are inexpensive, and can cost from $6,000 to 20,000 depending on the size plus the manufacturer. By putting up a wind farm you can remake your money back soon. Wind turbines are very easy to put up and produce a lot of energy. Unlike a nuclear plant, a wind farm doesn't take 10 years to build. Though a wind farm does take up a lot of space, it is a very clean source to rely on.
If well-designed wind machines are placed at good wind sites, electricity can be generated for as little as 10 cents per kilowatt hour. In this country wind is plentiful and is available just about anywhere. The cost of wind powers is becoming cheaper every years. More people today are putting up wind farms. Already, the 43 million tons of carbon dioxide displaced by the new wind plants installed in 2007 equaled more than 5 percent of the year’s growth in global emissions. If the wind market quadruples over the next nine years wind power could be reducing global emissions growth by 20 percent in 2015. There is a very high chance that this will happen. If we use all the various sources of renewable energies then just imagine how much global warming’s impact on earth will decrease over the next several years. Wind power is very easy to collect. Although you need seven M.P.H. to be useable in most cases, most of the time wind turbines collect a lot of energy at any given time. There is a lot of unused space in America that can be used for wind farms. Other sources of energy such as solar power are very pricy. There can be wind during the night, and there can be wind during cloudy days. Solar power cannot be produced during the night or during cloudy and stormy days. Solar panels are very costly and even more fragile. A solar energy system big enough to power a computer and a few other small items might cost you about $700 to $1000. Solar power is depend on the sun and is very unreliable. Wind power is just a better choice of renewable energy.
Although wind power is very reliable, there are still some drawbacks to this source. One thing is that wind power does take up lots of space. An average wind farm takes up a few acres. A few acres can be a lot of space depending where it is. Renewable source of energy aren’t very pleasant to look at; for example, solar power and wind power takes up space the people would rather have roofing or trees. Wind power also is not a very good thing to look at on top of the mountains. These wind towers should not be placed in places that have such a marvelous environment like Vermont. Putting up wind towers most likely means cutting down precious and valuable trees that are needed everywhere. Putting wind towers in fields or places that don’t have trees is a better idea. The most important damage to the environment from wind power includes tree removal, hill alteration to promote winds, and hazards to birds. Some wind towers, depending where they are, can interfere with TV and Radio reception. Mechanical failures of wind turbines could be dangerous. These are more pros then cons of wind power.
Wind power is on the better end of clean, renewable sources of energy. People don’t realize how much good wind power can do to stop global warming. If we all learned a little more about different sources of renewable energies then we can put up a fight against global warming. If we are wise and use our knowledge to educate the community about wind power then we can be prepared when fossil fuels expire. Our generation is going to be most affected by global warming. If we step up with wind power then we can be a step ahead of global warming.
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