How does it work?

A turbine is a device that rotates with the flow of a gas or fluid. When the kinetic energy of a flowing wind hits the blades of a turbine it causes rotational energy. This drives a generator and produces electrical energy.

Wind turbines are most efficient when positioned high off the ground with no obstacles nearby.

Many alternative energy efforts focus on developing groups of large turbines – wind farms – on land and in bodies of water. However, there is growing interest in small wind – individual installations that can generate energy for more targeted use.

Downside

1. Inconsistency – it only works when the wind blows in the right direction
2. Location – suitable spots tend to be remote, requiring new power lines
3. Aesthetics – some see the large wind turbines as an eyesore
4. Threat to birds – it’s estimated that more than 600,000 are killed each year
5. Noise – turbines produce a whooshing sound and a mechanical hum

Facts

• There is more than enough wind energy potential on LAND to cover US electricity needs.
• The wind energy industry employs more than 125,000 full-time workers in the US.
• Between 2010 and 2023, wind energy generation capacity in the US grew by over 300%.
• In Iowa, wind accounts for 50% of total electricity generation.
• Wind turbines produce 20 times more energy than is used to build and install them.
• Wind turbines can mostly be recycled at the end of their working life.
• It’s not the speed, but the consistency of wind that produces the most power.
• Fossil-fuel-based power generation kills more birds per gigawatt produced.
• From a half-mile away, the noise created by a wind farm is like that of a quiet bedroom. 

Resources

• Wind Energy Fact Sheet (PDF, 2024, U.Mich.)
• Consumer Guide to Small Wind Energy Systems (PDF, 2021, US DoE)
• Article about a wind farm near Ludington (2011? Consumers Energy)
• Wind Energy (International Renewable Energy Agency)
• Wind Resources (EGLE, Michigan)
• Fact Sheets and Reports (Clean Grid Alliance)