CLEAN AND GREEN WIND ENERGY
NYPIRG has been a leader in the battle against heavily polluting power plants for decades. But we also know that not only is it important to stop dirty power from being generated but also to promote clean power. That’s why our Fuel Buyers Group is offering New Yorkers the opportunity to buy clean and green wind power.
Blades
on turbines catch the wind and generate electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in 2003, U.S. wind generating capacity increased by more than 30% and wind power plants of various size now operate in 32 states with a total generating capacity of 6,374 megawatts of power, enough to meet the energy needs of more than 3 million homes. That may sound like a lot of homes, but it’s really just a tiny percentage of the electricity we use. It’s a fraction of what our country could produce if we took full advantage of our wind resources.
The DOE’s goal is for the U.S. wind industry to increase wind capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2020, and of course the more demand there is for wind energy, the more likely new wind farms will be built. Old concerns — like hazards to birds — have been overcome with new technologies and improved siting, making wind energy one of the best choices for an environmentally conscious household.
When you purchase wind power it doesn’t mean that a wind farm somewhere is hooked into your house’s wiring. The energy needs of New York State are met by different generating systems pooling their electricity, and when you go wind, more clean and green energy is added to that pool. That means you don’t have to worry if it’s not windy enough to use your blender — other resources will pick up the slack.
Wind power is a little more expensive than dirty power, but it’s worth it. Just one utility-scale wind turbine can prevent the emission of 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. When you go with clean and green wind power, you’re not only keeping the lights on, you’re doing more than a little to protect the air we breathe.
For more information and to sign up with NYPIRG’s Clean & Green Wind Power program, click here.