Wind Power
The average wind energy system costs between $3000 and $5000 per kilowatt-hour generated, though 10 kw/h systems can generally be purchased for around $14,000 to $15,000. Though this may seem like a lot of money at first, it still is cheaper than many forms of renewable alternative energy that is available to homeowners. The turbines for the home wind power generators are usually mounted on 60’ to 80’ towers located on land near the home or business that they will be supplying power to, though smaller systems that are being used as a means of generating energy for wells and similar devices tend to not require quite so high of a tower. Higher towers are used to be able to access stronger air currents and winds that might be blocked by trees or other obstacles closer to ground level.
One of the keys to successful self-sustaining wind energy generation is finding the right site to place your wind turbines on. Government agencies such as the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory offer wind maps and statistical data for most parts of the country to assist with finding the perfect location for your wind turbines. Additional maps and resources can also be located from meteorological societies and private wind energy groups such as the American Wind Energy Association. Many of these agencies and groups also offer practical advice, assistance with finding information on county and city zoning and building permit requirements, and even finding financing assistance and tax credits which you can claim after building your wind power generator.
Currently, only around 7% of the nation’s energy comes from renewable alternative energy sources. Of this 7%, only 5% is generated by wind power. Even with this small of an amount of wind energy being produced in the United States, the country still ranks third in overall wind energy production after Germany and Spain. With the rising costs of petroleum-based fuels and the greater efficiency of modern wind turbines, wind energy is entering a stage of rising popularity and has become a major draw as an alternative means of getting needed electricity to American homes. Whether the energy comes from large multi-acre wind farms, offshore turbines that take advantage of the trade winds, or small wind units that are used by average Americans as a means to reduce their carbon footprint and ease their dependence on petroleum, wind energy is poised to be a major form of energy production throughout the 21st century.
If you are interested in learning more about going “off grid” with wind power, I highly recommend you read Paul Gipe. He has several books out on the subject, including the results of many trial and error “mistakes ” and how to avoid them. You can find his books here: Wind Energy Comes of Age (Wiley Series in Sustainable Design)
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