Recent reports by the United States Energy Department confirm wind energy is the fastest growing power source in America, producing 4.4% of our electricity in 2014. In President Barack Obama’s 2015 State of the Union address on January 20th, he proudly proclaimed that, “America is number one in wind power” (qtd. in Gillin). Unfortunately, even as President Obama pushes for tax credits in the wind energy industry, many citizens as well as congressman are resisting the surge of “going green”. This struggle can be highlighted in the Cape Wind Project, where owners of luxury coastline real estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts are battling Cape Wind Associates on the installation of over 30 offshore wind turbines that could potentially provide power
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Unfortunately, many conservationist groups, such as the National Audubon Society, have accused wind turbine operators of indirectly killing birds and fish both on and off shore. However, the crucial elimination of greenhouse gasses, which cause irreversible climate change, far outweighs this slightly negative impact on wildlife. Additionally, offshore wind turbines help to reduce the force of hurricanes, which cause millions of dollars in damage to coastal cities and can potentially result in the death of both humans and animals. Scientists at both Stanford University and the University of Delaware state that the turbines would, “suck out the energy of the storms and pay for themselves with the clean electrical power they produce.” These scientists go even further as to predict that had offshore wind turbines been present during Hurricane Katrina, wind speeds could have been reduced by more than 50% …show more content…
While some argue that the prices are much too high for the creation of the turbines, others are deterred by the aesthetic problem they create. However, those in favor of wind energy, such as Bill McKibbon, a Harvard graduate and well known author, look at the issue from an environmental standpoint. “The choice is not between windmills and untouched nature” McKibbon states, “it’s between windmills and the destruction of the planet’s biology on a scale that we can barely begin to imagine” (McKibbon). Since wind energy has a nominal environmental impact and has a limitless availability, the initial costs should not prevent America from developing this sustainable source of
Unfortunately, many conservationist groups, such as the National Audubon Society, have accused wind turbine operators of indirectly killing birds and fish both on and off shore. However, the crucial elimination of greenhouse gasses, which cause irreversible climate change, far outweighs this slightly negative impact on wildlife. Additionally, offshore wind turbines help to reduce the force of hurricanes, which cause millions of dollars in damage to coastal cities and can potentially result in the death of both humans and animals. Scientists at both Stanford University and the University of Delaware state that the turbines would, “suck out the energy of the storms and pay for themselves with the clean electrical power they produce.” These scientists go even further as to predict that had offshore wind turbines been present during Hurricane Katrina, wind speeds could have been reduced by more than 50% …show more content…
While some argue that the prices are much too high for the creation of the turbines, others are deterred by the aesthetic problem they create. However, those in favor of wind energy, such as Bill McKibbon, a Harvard graduate and well known author, look at the issue from an environmental standpoint. “The choice is not between windmills and untouched nature” McKibbon states, “it’s between windmills and the destruction of the planet’s biology on a scale that we can barely begin to imagine” (McKibbon). Since wind energy has a nominal environmental impact and has a limitless availability, the initial costs should not prevent America from developing this sustainable source of