With every breath we take and every move we make, we are surrounded by unavoidable pollution. We see cities such as Los Angeles and Mexico City corroded with smog. Not only so, but now our once heavenly, pure rain is now falling down no longer in its pure form, but as acid. These environmental impacts are largely a side effect from our dependency on nonrenewable energy sources - fossil fuels. During the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, the use of coal and oil were key sources that catalyzed the economic boom. However, little did they know about the detrimental environmental toll it would soon bring forth.
Not only is our world is in the midst of an economic crisis, but also we see cancer rates soaring through the roof. Renewable energy is cost efficient during this economic crunch and in addition will aid in decreasing the level of pollution engulfing both our environment and our lives. The reality is: the leading sources of energy - coal and oil - are depleting rapidly. Fossil fuels took millions of years to form, and now as the world population is over six billion, the remaining fossil fuels are being consumed at an exponential rate in order to support earth's exceeding carrying capacity. From everyday tasks such as cooking and heating homes to mass industrial production, our lives are dependent and driven off of energy. At this point in time, we must begin integrating and transitioning towards renewable energy sources if we wish to maintain our heavily industrial lifestyle. We cannot sit around and wait for our common day fuel sources to be exhausted. Then as a result, be suddenly thrown into a chaotic mess attempting to invent potential uses for alternative energy. At present, we must initiate growth in the renewable energy market.
While there are multiple forms of renewable energy, the one that cumulatively is the most cost efficient and has the least environmental impact (as shown in the Figure 1 below) is wind energy. Wind is currently the fastest growing form of renewable energy. Many benefits are yielded from it. A major advantage, relating to public health, is that harvesting and production of wind energy does not expel any pollution. Nor does it require the consumption of other energy sources - coal, oil, or natural gas - in order for it to run. As well, wind can be harvested in large or small quantities. Meaning, a large wind farm can be established in a designated area such as in a desert, or a single unit can be set up at a single family home.
Looking at the construction of wind energy, it is cheaper than the other forms of renewable energy for it structure consist mainly of wind turbines. Another major benefit of wind energy over the other renewable is that wind can be collected both day and night and is not solely dependent on the sunlight. Viewing Figure 2 the chart, which is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, displays the high potential for wind power in the United States. With a vast majority of the United States capable of pursuing the route of wind energy, it should be taken into high consideration. Likewise, wind energy is highly competitive in the energy market. Back in 2002, it was calculated that the cost of wind energy in the United States was 5-7 cents/kW-hr whereas oil was 6-8 cents/kW-hr. Though the cost of coal was substantially cheaper at 1-4 cents/kW-hr, it must be remembered that fossil fuels finite, while renewable energy is infinite. Comparing the cost of production between wind and oil, it is seen that wind is slightly cheaper and is also much cleaner that oil.
Contrary to the reaping benefits of wind energy, many gaze upon the disadvantages. One of the main known disadvantages of wind energy is that the wind turbines are judged as an "eye sore". However, personally I can recall as a young child, my fondest memory of our road trips to Palm Springs was driving past the windmills. I was, and still am, captivated in awe by the grandeur of the wind farm out in the desert. For me, it served as a landmark and also mesmerized me into our progressing culture. Another shortcoming to wind energy is that the occasional bird may unsuccessfully dodge the wind turbines. However, it should also be kept in mind that the pollution released from the nonrenewable energy sources has a negative effect on bird life as well.
We must realize that times they are a changing. Innovative and new techniques for alternative, renewable energy must be grasped. It is our duty to maintain a healthy environment for the future. With fish filled with mercury, the ozone depleting, and children suffering from chronic asthma, it is our call to duty to clean up the turmoil that our society is facing. Our community needs help. It is not a quick fix that one person can accomplish by themselves, but cumulatively as a community, as a nation we can rise above. One of the answers my friend, is blowing in the wind.
Figure 1:
Alissa Klinzmann
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