The Truth About Wind Energy
Many cities offer renewable energy credits to consumer to offset pollution, offering energy alternatives like wind energy. However, there has been a lot of talk about how wind farms kill birds and clutter up landscapes. It probably makes you wonder if this “green” energy source is worth the consequences. It is important to make environmentally friendly decisions, but you also need to practice down-to-earth common sense. So before you make a decision, let’s look at the facts.
Power plants can create a lot of pollution. If you we want to clean breather air, we will have to make some compromises. The important thing is to figure out what those compromises should be.
For the Birds
In the 1980s, wind energy was created by turbines that whirled around like blenders. Some of these windmills were placed along bird migratory routes. I’m sure you can figure out what kind of catastrophic results this combination created.
A lot has changed since the 1980s. Newer windmills have blades that move a lot more slowly, making it easier for birds to avoid them. As well, power producers now have to outline what the environmental impact of their sites will be before the turbines are approved. Today’s turbines still cause bird casualties, but less than an average of two a year. This is a fraction of the number of birds killed by flying into skyscrapers or cell phone towers.
There are still concerns when it comes to birds and wind energy. Studies have shown that birds are reluctant to go near wind-energy sites. This can be a problem if turbines are in places that are important habitat areas, especially in coastal regions because birds tend to nest in these areas. Some believe that placing the windmills farther out at sea could help protect the birds.
About the Landscape
There are people who truly believe that windmills can destroy a beautiful landscape, while others don’t. There is no right or wrong answer here as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It comes down to compromise on all sides. Just remember that wind generators produce green energy; and, leasing land to wind generators provide income to farmers who need it. You might consider new sources of clean energy as beautiful.
