Best of Wind Farms

What Makes a Wind Farm Wonderful?

With so many things to love about wind-powered renewable energy farms, it’s hard to say that one thing makes this farm better than that one. Your local energy company may be getting some of the power that you use everyday from a wind turbine, and as a result, you’re actively helping the environment. While wind farms are a great way to use what natural resources provide us, the upfront investment can be off-putting for many. Once in, though, wind turbines can virtually pay for themselves through power produced and additional tax incentives. With those savings, plus the knowledge that you are doing something good for the planet, wind turbines and wind farms are a step in the right direction.

Prettiest Windfarm

The Altamont Pass Wind Farm is located near Livermore, California, approximately fifty miles outside of San Francisco. Several of the golden hills are dotted with dozens of white pinwheels spinning, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, through the breeze. Freeway 580 runs right through the middle of the farm, which was originally owned by a cattle rancher by the name of Joe Jess. The farm produces about one terawatt of energy per year, enough to hypothetically power millions of homes, but with increased energy demands, this may not be as possible or as simple as it once was.

Largest Offshore Wind Farm

Also a sight to see is the London Array Wind Farm, an offshore wind farm in the United Kingdom. The London Array Wind Farm consists of 175 turbines placed in rows in Thames Estuary, where the Thames River meets the North Sea, just off of the coast of Kent, Great Britain. Like the Altamont Wind Farm in California, the project has been criticized for its danger to wildlife: hundreds of birds have flown into the blades, often dying on impact, or falling into the water. London Array produces about 2,500 gigawatts of power each year, or enough to power almost a half-million homes. London Array covers several miles of the bodies of water in which it is found, and continues to produce power, though phase two has been suspended until a solution is found that will protect wildlife.  

Least Expensive Wind Power

The least expensive way to access the benefits of wind turbine power is an individual turbine made for a single home. Priced from several hundred to several thousand dollars, wind turbines made specifically for the home can positively contribute to both the environment and to your wallet by lowering your energy costs and lessening your reliance on the traditional electric grid. Just like a solar panel, a wind turbine is connected to generator, which is connected to a converter that will power your home. Any generator can also connect to a battery, if you are concerned about having backup power on less windy days.

First Wind Farm

This designation is not as simple as it seems: sailors have used wind power for thousands of years to take them across seas and oceans, and windmills have been used to grind wheat and power smaller simple machines. Some windmills were even used for irrigation and to pump water out of lakes and natural reservoirs. Wind power is an under-utilized source of power with a rich history, and dozens of uses.