Wind Energy: Its Environmental Impact
Here’s a great article that sums up the environmental impact of wind energy, and compares it to coal and natural gas in terms of emissions, harm to wildlife, land use, and several other parameters.
From the report: Estimates of total global warming emissions depend on a number of factors, including wind speed, percent of time the wind is blowing, and the material composition of the wind turbine [13]. Most estimates of wind turbine life-cycle global warming emissions are between 0.02 and 0.04 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour. To put this into context, estimates of life-cycle global warming emissions for natural gas generated electricity are between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour and estimates for coal-generated electricity are 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour [14].
This is a great reference tool to have handy when your Uncle Steve comes at you with what he just heard on Fox News, that is, of course, if you want to be bothered.
Craig,
What a bizarre little piece of industry propaganda on which to base such grandiose conclusions!
The article you reference doesn’t “compare” or “analyze” anything except in the vaguest terms.
I’m afraid “uncle Steve” would laugh at your naivety and credulity. Such a vague and woolly “analysis” wouldn’t convince a 12 year old.
But then, it’s not meant to is it?
It’s really just a little “tract” to be used in sermons for the faithful, while you hide from any real debate.
That’s because when all the emotive passion is removed, and an energy sources are subjected to a realistic, factual and objective analysis or appraisal, Wind is shown to be not only impractical and uneconomic except in very few locations, but also environmentally harmful.
But hey, I challenge you(for the umpteenth time) show me up! Take up my challenge to fairly debate the merits of wind energy using objective and logical comparisons ?
Nope, I didn’t think so! You’ll hide because you know the illusion would be shattered.
Ever noticed, how those who can’t accept a challenges for fear of losing, always run away saying “I can’t be bothered” to save face?