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Advantages of Wind Energy

 

Environmental Problems with Coal

 

In one year, a typical coal plant generates

  • 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain
  • 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx). NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog).
  • 720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO)
  • 220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.

source: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html

Further Info on Environmental Effects of Coal

 

In one year, a typical coal plant generates (continued)

  • 170 pounds of mercury, will lead to neurological damage.
  • 225 pounds of arsenic
  • 114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, and trace amounts of uranium.
  • 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) –as much carbon dioxide as cutting down 161 million trees.   Carbon dioxide is a global warming gas.

source: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html

Future of Wind Energy

  • Wind suffers from being most available when electricity is least in demand (winter & nights).
  • Smart grid applications may make wind more desirable such as charging an electric car during the evening hours

 

Future of Wind Energy (Continued)

  • DOE (Department of Energy) has determined that it is feasible that 20% of the nation’s electrical energy could be generated by wind by the year 2030.  See 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/41869.pdf.

 

This power point discusses the advantages of wind over other energy sources.

Why Wind Energy

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Wind Energy by Jim Trepka is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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