1. By: Ariana Worcester

2. Why should we switch to wind any way? Is it because it is reliable and plentiful in 80% of the world? Or maybe because the turbines are strong and durable in many climates. Why? For one the wind is free. Plus according to the American Wind Energy Association, wind energy in the United States could provide as much as 10,777 billion kilowatts annually more than twice the electricity generated in the U.S. today. To add to that wind energy can be combined with solar to nearly double it’s power . Next is the fact that electricity generated by wind turbines won’t dirty the air we breathe or emit pollutants like other energy sources—that means less smog, less acid rain and fewer greenhouse gas. Also most other electricity generation sources, wind turbines don’t consume water that means marine animals like them to. Then there is wind energy is a valuable crop of the future for farmers and ranchers. Not to mention there fun to watch as they spin. So yes we should switch to wind over traditional fuel .

3. Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity. Generators are made of really strong magnets that are spun around very quickly next to coils of magnet wire. The effect of the magnets whizzing by each coil produces an electrical current in the coil. You connect the coils together in a certain fashion and then it’s like solar power : you go to a charge controller, which is connected to batteries, then an inverter, then regular house wiring. Click to fallow link to wind turbine animation http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10501