Wind power could meet 20 percent of U.S. energy demand by 2030, according to Energy Department calculations, even though currents currently provide a mere 1 percent of U.S. electricity. Making the leap would be "ambitious" but "feasible," says the report: it wouldn't require technological breakthroughs, but would necessitate the construction of 75,000 new and improved turbines and a major expansion of the electricity grid. If wind did hit that 20 percent marker, it could eliminate 25 percent of the greenhouse gases currently spewed by natural-gas and coal power, as well as reducing water consumption by 4 trillion gallons. The cost, says the report, would be about $6 per person per year. Even though the DOE calculations assume that renewable-energy tax credits will not be renewed (which is a whole nother story), the fact that boosting wind power is feasible doesn't mean it'll actually happen.
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Kristina & Jason Makansi Posted 6:36 am
13 May 2008
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roncastle Posted 3:17 am
14 May 2008
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GoodCheer Posted 4:29 am
14 May 2008
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tomgray Posted 6:53 am
14 May 2008
Regards,
Thomas O. Gray
American Wind Energy Association
www.powerofwind.org
www.awea.org
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