Shamcieh Doosti, - Environmental energy research center of Niroo research institute,
Azadeh Sarafraz, - Renewable energy research center of Niroo research institute

Wind is a clean, inexhaustible source of domestic energy that can be transformed into electricity using a wind turbine. The intensity of wind varies by region and season. The best U.S. resources for utility scale wind farms are in the Midwest, Texas and the West, as well as offshore sites in the Great Lakes and off the Atlantic Coast. Electricity produced by turbines can be transported over transmission lines from the windy regions of the West and Midwest or offshore sites to populated cities with high energy demands. Today’s wind turbines are available in a variety of sizes, with power ratings ranging from ۲۵۰ watts to ۶ megawatts (MW). Utility scale land-based turbines can have blades more than ۴۵ meters long, and on average, a single ۳ MW turbine can produce enough power to enough to power ۱,۵۰۰ homes. The cost can also vary widely, with large turbines costing more than $۷ million, while small wind turbines sized for residences or small farms cost as little as a few thousand dollars up to $۸۰,۰۰۰ The United States currently has over ۶۵,۸۷۹ MW in wind energy capacity, second only to China, but this renewable energy source represented only ۴.۴ percent of U.S. electricity supply in ۲۰۱۴ (Denmark met ۳۹ percent of its electricity needs with wind in ۲۰۱۴). However, the use of wind energy is growing in the United States, with a twenty-six-fold increase in MW produced since ۲۰۰۰. In May ۲۰۰۸, the Department of Energy released a report demonstrating that wind could contribute up to ۲۰ percent of the U.S. electricity supply by ۲۰۳۰. U.S. investments in wind energy can bring multiple benefits. A one MW wind turbine can displace ۱,۸۰۰ tons of CO۲ each year that would otherwise be emitted from burning fossil fuels. Alternatively, if that turbine were displacing nuclear energy, it would reduce water use by ۶۰ million gallons per year. In addition, the wind industry creates domestic jobs, produces tax revenue, stabilizes energy prices and helps achieve energy independence. The federal government has provided incentives such as production and investment tax credits, along with research and development funds, which are critical for wind industry growth.

Clean Energy Jobs, Renewable Energy, Wind Power