Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Wind Energy - It's Right for Texas is it Right for You?

With the economic crisis and more and more people becoming wary about our dependence on foreign oil, it only makes sense to start looking at alternative energy sources like wind power.

Wind power essentially refers to the conversion of wind energy into electricity through the use of wind turbines. Between 2005 and 2008, the world doubled its production of wind energy, and recently, it has been cited that it accounts for 19% of the energy in Denmark and 11% of the energy in Spain and Portugal.

When we hear about wind farms, we often hear about ones that are built on a large scale. These larger wind farms are connected to the local electric transmission network, while smaller turbines are used to send electricity to isolated locations. Large and small wind farms may both end up having their electricity bought back by utility companies.

With the fact that wind power has been cited as an impressive alternative to fossil fuels, and given the fact that it is derived from a plentiful and renewable clean resource, there are plenty of reasons to be interested in this form of power. While the means to back the system up due to intermittent winds is something that is important to think about, the truth is that the costs of backing up these intermittent outages are considered moderate.

What do you need to know when you are thinking about setting up your own wind farm? The truth is that it is easier than you might think. One major factor that you need to look for is wind consistency. Remember that you should look for a place with relatively consistent winds of around fifteen to twenty five mile an hour speeds. Remember that typically, higher is better.
You may be surprised to find that people who are looking to make a go of the wind farm industry are heading en masse to Texas. Texas is leading the nation in terms of wind power capacity and production, and as a state, it has long believed that the future of the off shore wind industry is off of the Texas Gulf Coast.

On a smaller scale, it is worth noting that Texas farmers can lease out land to wind developers, They can charge a fee for each turbine rented or for a small percentage of the gross annual income from the project. Not only is this pumping life into an economy that sorely needs it, it is also providing more clean energy with a negligible effect on traditional farming and grazing practices.

Where do you stand when it comes to the debate on wind power? There are many people who are interested in seeing where wind power can take us, and its future in America is quite bright. Take some time to consider what your options are going to be as you look at the possibilities of getting your Texas electricity service from Wind Energy. You can compare wind energy options at www.ChooseEnergy.com.

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