Today I will feature the fastest growing renewable energy source today: Wind Energy. This underused source of power will likely continue to expand into the 21st century because our current rate of fossil fuel consumption cannot sustain the world’s needs.
       Wind power was present in the 16th century when primitive windmills were used to draw water from wells and to grind wheat into a fine, usable powder. Remember that article I did on the windmills of Don Quixote in Consuegra, Spain? Right next to that historic monument was a modern wind farm (collection of wind turbines), connecting the colorful past and the technological present. However, the new turbines look completely different (i.e. slimmer rotors, technology that converts kinetic energy to electrical power) and cost millions of dollars to construct, unlike the creaky wooden mills of the past. With the U.S. (and likely the world’s as well) peak oil having passed (read up on Hubbert’s peak), renewable energy is the only way to guarantee a steady source of power. Other forms of renewable energy include biomass, hydropower, solar, tidal, ocean current, geothermal, and wind. The biggest downside to implementing these cutting edge solutions is their high upfront costs; additionally, it is extremely difficult to shift an entire economy built on fossil fuels to one built on renewables.

       Wind energy is simple yet effective; the wind energy harnessed from a few of the mid-western states has enough kinetic energy to power every home in the United States! The turbines consist of long blades and a nacelle, a compartment that holds a gearbox (which increases the spin of the blades) and a generator to produce electricity. On windy days, these natural powerhouses generate many kilowatts of energy which can then be transferred to a more mainstream power grid. No pollutants are released into the atmosphere (the same cannot be said for coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power). Other benefits include jobs in rural areas (workers are needed to construct the turbines) and increased economic activity on farms, where many of the turbines are placed. One turbine can last several years with minimal repairs required. However, this unique form of energy does have pitfalls: high initial costs, noise pollution, birds hitting the blades, and more expensive energy for consumers. Many people also think that wind farms are “ugly” and mar the beauty of a landscape, illustrating the not-in-my-backyard principle. 
       In my opinion, I think wind farms look sleek and mesmerizing, especially those that are constructed in the water. However, placing wind farms in the ocean also has its drawbacks (i.e. disturbing the aquatic ecosystems next to the farm and the high cost of bringing materials/maintenance workers to a remote ocean location). Another drawback is that it simply isn't windy all the time in every location. For example, large cities such as New York aren't going to receive much wind because the tall skyscrapers act as wind breakers. Therefore, an integrative approach will be needed in order to switch our world to renewables. The energy crisis is a problem my grandparents and my parents will not have to wrestle with, but my generation will have to think of ingenious solutions to our ever-growing demands and population. The type of renewable used should be tailored to a specific region. For example, Great Britain could switch to hydropower or tidal energy (they are surrounded by water), the Middle East would use solar power, Iceland could continue to use its abundant geothermal energy, and places such as Sweden can develop hydrogen power. Every location has some resource that can be exploited in a safe, sustainable way; wind energy is the answer to many regions’ quagmires.