According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America Program the average cost of producing electricity from wind generators today is 5 to 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. The site states that the power from wind energy for electricity, in the United States, is increasing 30% to 40% per year. The site does not provide facts about how the Department of Energy arrived at the wind per kilowatt hour cost or how they determined the 30% to 40% wind energy increase saying...“integrating 20% wind energy into the grid can be done reliably for less than 0.5 cents per kWh...” Their stated goal is produce 20% of U.S. electrical energy with wind generators by 2030.
The Wind Program offers the following advice and warning, "...the local utility company should be contacted to insure that they have no rules regarding the use of wind power as extra energy...next is to find a reliable wind generator which could be the hardest part. There are a few companies that offer good wind generators." One firm rating wind generator reliability and expected output is ConsumerReports.org.
The U.S. Department of Energy, some businesses and celebrities are promoting wind and other clean energy sources. T. Boone Pickens has organized landowners in the Texas Panhandle to switch to wind energy generators. Pickens predicts his “wind farm” will be the world’s largest and power 1.3 million homes. Al Gore is also promoting wind energy generators in his projects to reduce global warming. Leonardo DiCaprio's Foundation supports clean energy including wind turbines.
Home Wind Power Generator Energy Requirements
The author anonymous Powered Generators site includes generator facts, links, and news. The site provides advice for anyone considering a home wind generator. First, it is recommended that potential buyers learn how much energy [wattage] they are going to need. Fill-in charts are provided for calculating the amount of energy needed.
Power Generators advises that portable wind generators serve well for charging batteries, minimal lighting for construction and camping, and other activities where small amounts are needed. Permanent wind turbines are required for home electricity, and the site provides a link to the U.S. Department of Energy wind map showing average wind availably in each area in the U.S.
Household items that require the highest wattage are:
- hair dryers [1250]
- iron [1000]
- toaster [1,250]
- microwave [1500]
- dishwasher [1500]
- waffle iron [1200]
- frying pans [1200].
Current Wind Energy Environmental Issues
The Wind Powering America Program warns that wind average speeds vary from day to day in each area. When wind is absent another source of energy is necessary. Noise is a common complaint related to wind generators. The vibrations from wind generators and low-frequency noise are reported to cause headaches. Birds and bats are killed when flying into windmills. Forthcoming better aerodynamic designs will reduce these problems.
Even with the disadvantages the mentioned proponents agree that people must convert from fossil fuel energy to wind turbines and other clean energy sources. The advice to the public is to accumulate all of the information needed to decide if wind generators are practical for their situation.
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