Wind Power

I don’t think it’s possible to go through a day without discussing the topic of energy. It might be the price of gas, or a proposed oil pipeline to carry crude oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast, or fracking for natural gas, or new light bulbs, but everyone I know has an opinion regarding some aspect of energy production and use.

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I’m fascinated with the concept of wind power. I suppose it’s because it seems as if a windmill can be assembled almost anywhere. According to Windmill World, windmills were first used in Europe in the 12^th century. Phyllis McKenzie writes they were the engines of pre-industrial Europe, supplying clean energy for tasks such as pumping water and grinding grain.

McKenzie states that windmills played a major role in the settlement of the American West. Across the vast semiarid landscape, windmills pumped water to slake the thirst of livestock, railroads and incipient towns

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According to The Washington Post the United States gets less than 4% of its energy from wind power but that could be changing. The Washington Post reports that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the United States first offshore wind farm should become reality before the end of 2013. Salazar’s optimistic that the Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts will be built because the developers have agreements with utilities to purchase 75% of the electricity produced.

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Denmark has made wind power a priority. DVICE reports that Denmark has completed an offshore wind farm that provides 25% of the country’s electricity needs and in eight years they plan to have 50% of their power needs supplied by wind turbines.

Bloomberg reports that by 2020 the United States will surpass Saudi Arabia’s oil output. I don’t think wind power is the answer to the United States’ energy deficiency, but I think it needs to be a part of the equation.

I think we should have an energy plan that includes solar, wind, natural gas, coal and oil.

What do you think … is wind power integral to the United States’ future energy needs?