WIND FARMS

Wind Farms in the US as well as wind power and wind farms in general are hot topics today as we are looking for clean alternative energy sources. Wind power is not only a clean source of electricity but is also a very renewable and inexpensive source as well.

A wind farm is an area that has installed a number of wind turbines that offer electricity service to an entire area or population at very inexpensive costs and wind farms in the US are becoming a well tapped resource.

The Big Country is ranked first in the United States for the installation of wind power; however, leading in wind farm growth is Indiana.

As wind farms become approved in areas of the United States including the wide open plains areas, coastal areas and even for offshore wind farms the nation benefits in many ways.

The national economy is helped with the reduction of imported oils for electricity plants, the environment benefits from the clean energy source of the wind and on an individual level, people benefit from a reduced cost for electricity.

According to the executive director of the Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse and Sweetwater Mayor, “There’s unlimited opportunity from those two districts due north through the U.S. from Montana to Michigan up into central Canada.” This is due to the abundant wind flow that is common in this area. Tapping into this natural and renewable energy source is vital to the environment and in lessening our dependence on foreign fuel.

Wind is most abundant on the coast, wide open plains and mountain regions. Additionally, offshore wind farms are a very valuable source of electricity that is also in the plans for the United States.

Installing offshore wind farms not only keeps the unsightly appearance of the wind farms away from public view but also the noise is not noticed; the two major disadvantages to a wind farm. 

The Big Country holds four of the ten biggest wind farms in the US; Horse Hollow producing 735.5 megawatts, Sweetwater producing 585.3 megawatts, Buffalo Gap producing 523.3 megawatts and Roscoe Wind Farm producing 335.5 megawatts.

This clean source of energy also creates jobs and can revitalize the local economy where they are located. This makes using the wind for a source of electricity not only a good thing for the environment but also a viable way to strengthen the economy on the whole.