In today's world when the economy is down and there seems to be no progress to improve the current state, there is one way to enrich the economy. If the country would invest in renewable energy, the current state of the economy could take a step forward. Numerous types of renewable energy have been developed and improved. However, a strong market for renewable energy products has not been established. To boost the economy, renewable energy could be incorporated into a stimulus package to encourage the purchasing of products. One prime example of renewable energy for homeowners is wind power.

Wind power is not a new technology; it has been around for hundreds of years. Windmills have been used for everything from pumping water or grinding grain. However, in recent years windmills have been enhanced into modern wind turbines that are used to generate electricity. Currently, the U.S. can power 7 million average American homes using wind power. This number could easily be increased to 20% of the population. A barrier preventing this step forward is the cost. Currently the cost of wind power cannot compete in the energy market.

Wind power is the most cost-effective renewable energy system for the homeowner. A wind turbine can be practical if the property is at least one acre in a rural area. The zoning for the property also must allow wind turbines. Additionally, there should be a good wind resource. It is practical for homeowners who have an electric bill of at least $150 per month to install a turbine.

Wind turbines can be grid-connected or off-grid. A grid-connected system provides electricity to your home, however if it cannot deliver the required amount the electric company supplies the difference. If the turbine produces, more electricity than the household requires it is sold back to the utility system. An off-grid system is known as a stand-alone system. This type of system is not connected to an electric distribution center. Off-grid helps to provide power to homes or farms and even communities that are far from utility lines.

The cost of purchasing grid-connected wind power has dropped significantly in the past 20 years. Now, the price is competitive with new coal-fired or gas-fired power plants. The cost varies depending on the size of the wind farm, the speed of wind at the site and the cost of installing the turbines.

The wind turbines can easily development the economy in the United States with an increased market. The American Wind Energy Association said the United States leads the world in homeowner sized wind technologies. It is estimated that in 2008, American company's produced 98 percent of the homeowner-sized wind turbines sold in the United States.

In March 2009, President Obama created a $787 billion economic stimulus packed. The bill provides a 30 percent investment tax credit for consumers who purchase wind turbines to power homes or small businesses. This type of bill helps to open up the market for wind energy. It is estimated by the American Wind Energy Association that with a federal stimulus plan for the small-turbine, the market will increase by 40 to 50 percent yearly. An incentive like this would help parallel the wind industry with the solar photovoltaic industry after the similar 2005 initiative.

The stimulus works for people living in rural areas because of the requirements of wind turbines. Some zoning regulations and permit requirements may prevent people from acquiring a wind turbine on their property. It is advised for city dwellers to invest in other renewable energy forms since they cannot meet the requirements for a wind turbine.

Wind energy offers affordable, vast energy to the economy. It will not cause pollution, produce hazardous waste or reduce the natural resources. Additionally, it opens more job positions in the United States which can become a good source of income for citizens. Currently, the wind power industry is responsible for employing over 2,000 people in the United States. According to the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) with a study they conducted and released results in October 2004, if the installation of wind energy be increased to eight times the current level then around 150,000 manufacturing jobs would be created in the nation. Also, the results estimated that jobs would be added to 20 key states that lost the greatest number of jobs in recent years.

It is simple to see that wind power is beneficial to the economy. A stimulus like Obama's plan to provide taxpayers a rebate for purchasing a wind turbine to power their home will increase the market. In turn, more jobs will be created to produce, install and maintain the wind turbines. In the past, windmills have been used to power water pumps and to grind grains. In the 21st century, let's continue our past with the improved wind turbines to power homes, business and small communities. In turn, wind turbines help our environment and the country's economy.

 

Christine Esterline

Works Cited

"Energy Savers: Evaluating a Potential Small Wind Turbine Site." EERE: Energy Savers Home Page. Web. 29 Dec. 2009.

"Energy Savers: Small Wind Electric Systems." EERE: Energy Savers Home Page. Web. 29 Dec. 2009.

"Stimulus may get small wind turbines spinning - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Web. 29 Dec. 2009.

"Wind Energy and the Economy." American Wind Energy Association. Web. 29 Dec. 2009.

"Wind Energy Costs." American Wind Energy Association. Web. 29 Dec. 2009.