Modern Debates on Wind Power

A          Wind has been used as a source of power for millennia. In the past, wind was used to assist in agricultural activities, and even today, some small communities continue to use wind power to pump water and grind grain. Wind was also harnessed by early civilizations to power their boats; this was responsible for greatly increasing the growth of human civilization by allowing greater trading opportunities. More recently, the application of wind power to energy generation has been touted as a potential “clean” alternative to other forms of energy generation. However, there is debate as to whether the use of wind-based energy will become a viable alternative to current methods of generating energy.

B          The turbines that make up wind farms have a simple design relative to other forms of energy generation. These turbines convert kinetic energy into mechanical energy using three blades attached to a rotor, which rotates the magnets of a generator. The resultant electricity can then be transmitted through cables to an electric grid that can disseminate the power to users. One reason for the appeal of wind farms is that after they are set up, the cost of running and maintaining them is minimal, owing to their simple design.

C         Debates on the use of wind power can roughly be divided into “global” and “local” viewpoints. The global viewpoint is primarily related to the potential of wind-based energy generation on an international scale. For advocates, climate change is an important issue; they believe that wind power is one component of a holistic approach to battling climate change. Technological innovations, moreover, tend to see increases in efficiency and decreases in cost after their introduction and gradual adoption. Proponents expect a similar trend to apply to wind turbines and argue that this justifies the further large-scale development and promotion of the technology. Finally, advocates on the global scale emphasize that in comparison to the high cost of installation, the cost of running wind farms afterward is negligible.

D         However, arguments from the global viewpoint have also been made against the use of wind power. The strongest of these oppose adoption on economic grounds. Critics question whether having governments subsidize what is currently a relatively inefficient and more expensive alternative energy source is sound policy. They argue that this money could better be spent on expanding currently existing energy sources that boast higher efficiency and lower costs. Examples of such alternative energy sources include nuclear power, while examples of high efficiency and lower cost traditional energy sources include coal and shale oil. In addition, they argue that in the interest of environmental conservation, there are other potential alternative energy sources that deserve equal attention, such as solar and geothermal power.

E          In contrast to the global viewpoint, the local viewpoint is focused on the wind turbines’ effect on the immediate surroundings. Here, supporters argue that the installation of wind turbines can benefit communities. For instance, municipalities in some parts of the United States have been able to receive stipends for allowing wind turbines to be built on their land. Some of these communities also benefit by paying a reduced cost for electricity.

F          Those that argue from the local viewpoint against the adoption of wind power usually focus on the potential unintended environmental consequences of wind farms and the social burden placed on rural communities. For instance, species of birds and bats have been negatively impacted by the installation of wind turbines, which can kill creatures that venture too near the turning blades. Recent arguments have also been made that wind farms can affect crop yields by changing the local temperatures. If true, they argue it is likely to become a pressing issue if more wind power is adopted. Additionally, research found that citizens living in communities where wind turbines have been installed complain about the intrusiveness of their appearance. Those in these communities who rely on tourism could see their livelihood impacted by these large turbines changing the local scenery. Finally, some have highlighted that residents in large cities benefit from the installation of wind farms while being insulated geographically from the downsides. Given the importance of the local community’s cooperation for large-scale construction of new technology, this resistance may prevent advocates of wind power from seeing their dreams realized in the near future.