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Some of those activities are still
accomplished using wind power today. Most recently, wind power
has been used to generate the electricity needed to power homes,
businesses, and even cities. Using the wind to generate
electricity generates very little carbon emission, making it one
of the most environmentally friendly ways to generate power. For
countries wanting to decrease their reliance on power purchased
from other nations, wind power provides an attractive
alternative.
Wind generated power has been a part of human society for
thousands of years. The wind has generated power to sail ships,
cool and ventilate buildings, move water for irrigation, and
mill grain and flour. More recently, wind power has been used to
generate electricity for everything from single homes to entire
cities. Wind energy is harnessed through the use of a wind
turbine (also known as a windmill). As the wind turns the blades
of the turbine, power is generated. The wind-powered turbine
either powers another activity, such as milling or irrigation,
or is stored as electricity. Some of the earliest uses of wind power
were for agriculture and milling. |
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The history of wind-generated power includes a wide variety of
uses. The earliest turbines were rudimentary windmills that used
a number of arms covered with the same material used to make
sails. The energy captured and created by these windmills was
used to move water and grind corn and sugarcane. The first
electricity-producing windmill is thought to be a
battery-charging machine built in Europe in the late 19th
century. Similar turbines were introduced in the United States
soon after, and the number increased steadily from there.
In the early 20th century, before electricity was available
outside of the larger cities, many farmers had wind-producing
windmills on their properties. Windmills have been improved over
the years, and today’s turbines are highly efficient energy
collectors.
Today, a collection of wind turbines are often grouped together
on a piece of land called a “wind farm”. The wind farm uses the
turbines to generate electricity that is transferred into the
electrical power network. That network provides the power that
is used to heat houses, operate machines and factories, and many
other activities. In some areas, entire towns are powered solely
using the power from wind farms.
One of the most pressing global concerns today is the damage
being done to the environment by greenhouse gasses. Many
individuals and groups have begun to actively work to decrease
their “carbon footprints” (the amount of greenhouse gasses
released into the environment by their activities). Using the
power of the wind is a very “green” way to generate electricity.
Many countries that currently use large amount of imported oil
for their energy needs are trying to become less dependent on
that oil. These countries are looking carefully at the
possibilities presented by wind-generated power. The idea of
easing their dependence on imports and generating all of the
energy they need right at home seems almost too good to be true.
Whatever their reason, individuals, organizations, cities, and
nations will continue to explore using the wind to generate more
of the power they need. |
