Wind Makes a Comeback
In the late 1800s, an inventor named Charles Brush powered his home and laboratory with wind power, marking the debut of wind energy in the United States.
But this energy form is by no means a modern invention.
Travel back to 5,500 years ago when humans used wind to propel sailboats.
During ancient times, architects used wind-driven natural ventilation in buildings.
The industry began in earnest in 1402 with wind turbines in Denmark, a country that nowadays generates one-fifth of its electricity from wind: the highest percentage of any country in the world.
Here in the United States, wind power helped develop agriculture, transportation and other industries.
The introduction of water-pumping windmills served as a key factor in providing irrigation for farming and ranching in areas previously devoid of readily accessible water.
Small wind machines provided electricity to isolated farms.
The technology also helped expand railway transportation by pumping water from wells for steam locomotives.
Currently, wind power has experienced renewed interest and money from the federal government's economic-stimulus funds to invest in the research and development of this clean-energy technology.
Because wind energy is renewable, widely distributed, plentiful and produces no greenhouse-gas emissions, environmentalists encourage its use as a substitute for fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
Wind makes electricity, supplies mechanical power and pumps water.
Two years ago, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was about 1.
5 percent of worldwide electricity usage, a statistic that doubled from 2005.
That number continues to rise.
More than 80 countries use wind power on a commercial basis, with the United States, Germany, Spain, China and India undergoing the most substantial growth in recent years.
The average output of one MW of wind power equals the average amount of electricity consumed by 250 American households.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind generated enough electricity in 2008 to power more than 1 percent of total electricity in the United States.
That equals 4.
5 million households.
The U.
S.
Department of Energy estimates that wind harvested in the Great Plains states would be sufficient enough to provide electricity to power the whole country.
Wind power is growing in Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Colorado.
As this form of renewable energy develops, we need more trained workers prepared to take on the task of installing, operating and maintaining wind-related technologies.
Those interested in training in wind energy can enroll in programs to learn about the design, installation and electrical integration of small and large wind systems.
Topics covered include: site assessment, industry regulations, wind-turbine operation and maintenance, and more hands-on information for engineers, electricians, contractors and architects eager to learn this technology.
Training programs also focus on wind measurements and instrumentation, power and energy calculations, utility interconnection, economics of wind energy, safety practices and more.
There's more good news ahead: Between 2000 and 2006, worldwide wind-generation capacity more than quadrupled and the World Wind Energy Association expects capacity to continue to grow up to 21 percent annually.
The majority of modern-day wind power installations are occurring in the United States and Europe, which means even more jobs in the clean-energy sector wait on the horizon.
But this energy form is by no means a modern invention.
Travel back to 5,500 years ago when humans used wind to propel sailboats.
During ancient times, architects used wind-driven natural ventilation in buildings.
The industry began in earnest in 1402 with wind turbines in Denmark, a country that nowadays generates one-fifth of its electricity from wind: the highest percentage of any country in the world.
Here in the United States, wind power helped develop agriculture, transportation and other industries.
The introduction of water-pumping windmills served as a key factor in providing irrigation for farming and ranching in areas previously devoid of readily accessible water.
Small wind machines provided electricity to isolated farms.
The technology also helped expand railway transportation by pumping water from wells for steam locomotives.
Currently, wind power has experienced renewed interest and money from the federal government's economic-stimulus funds to invest in the research and development of this clean-energy technology.
Because wind energy is renewable, widely distributed, plentiful and produces no greenhouse-gas emissions, environmentalists encourage its use as a substitute for fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
Wind makes electricity, supplies mechanical power and pumps water.
Two years ago, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was about 1.
5 percent of worldwide electricity usage, a statistic that doubled from 2005.
That number continues to rise.
More than 80 countries use wind power on a commercial basis, with the United States, Germany, Spain, China and India undergoing the most substantial growth in recent years.
The average output of one MW of wind power equals the average amount of electricity consumed by 250 American households.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind generated enough electricity in 2008 to power more than 1 percent of total electricity in the United States.
That equals 4.
5 million households.
The U.
S.
Department of Energy estimates that wind harvested in the Great Plains states would be sufficient enough to provide electricity to power the whole country.
Wind power is growing in Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Colorado.
As this form of renewable energy develops, we need more trained workers prepared to take on the task of installing, operating and maintaining wind-related technologies.
Those interested in training in wind energy can enroll in programs to learn about the design, installation and electrical integration of small and large wind systems.
Topics covered include: site assessment, industry regulations, wind-turbine operation and maintenance, and more hands-on information for engineers, electricians, contractors and architects eager to learn this technology.
Training programs also focus on wind measurements and instrumentation, power and energy calculations, utility interconnection, economics of wind energy, safety practices and more.
There's more good news ahead: Between 2000 and 2006, worldwide wind-generation capacity more than quadrupled and the World Wind Energy Association expects capacity to continue to grow up to 21 percent annually.
The majority of modern-day wind power installations are occurring in the United States and Europe, which means even more jobs in the clean-energy sector wait on the horizon.
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