Wind Energy
Wind is a renewable energy source that emits no pollution. It is the
fastest-growing "green" energy in the U.S. and provides light to the Statue of
Liberty. Wind farms—clusters of huge windmills—produce electricity by
using the motion of their blades to spin a shaft connected to a generator.
Experts estimate that the electricity created in 2006 by America's wind farms
will displace some 15 million tons of carbon dioxide. Over five million acres
of forest would be needed to absorb that much CO2. Some people
oppose wind farms because they occupy large tracts of land and can sometimes
harm birds, but most agree that their environmental costs are much lower than
those of fossil fuels.
