As citizens become more aware of the potential for wind as an efficient renewable energy source, policies have been changing to address its environmental benefits.

Randy Winter, agriculture professor, discussed the several benefits of wind power, including no air pollution, no global warming contribution, no fuel, no waste producing and no water consumption.

Winter is a member of ISU's Wind Energy Team, a group that informs citizens, policy makers and wind energy developers of the potential for wind energy production in Illinois. The team delivers facts about wind energy production inside the state, wind data and the impact of wind turbines on the environment.

"More and more people are convinced that human activity is having a negative impact on the environment," Winter said.

"In the last five or six years, we've seen tremendous growth in renewable energy," said Winter.

"Energy demand is growing in this country," he added. "We have the opportunity to become more energy efficient."

Currently, 49 percent of the electricity source in the U.S. comes from coal, 20 percent from natural gas and 19.4 percent is nuclear. In Illinois, 47.6 percent is from coal and 48.9 percent is nuclear.

Winter said energy is an important part of economic growth.

"It is projected that by the year 2030, there will be a 30 percent increase in our energy demand," he added.

The total worldwide installed wind capacity is 90,521 megawatts. Illinois placed eighth nationally with 699 megawatts.

"It's not really a choice between having a wind farm and not having a wind farm," Winter said.

He added that the choice is between having a wind farm and having a nuclear plant.

Several other countries are adopting the utilization of wind as an energy source.

"Europe has been ahead of us in a lot of renewable energy," Winter said.

In Illinois, Winter said, "There are 100 proposals for new wind farms."

"There is a tremendous interest in wind," he added.

Another advantage of wind farms is the creation of jobs. Winter said, "As wind energy grows in the U.S., the manufacturing is coming here." One-hundred to 200 jobs would be created per 100 megawatts of construction and six to 10 permanent jobs per 100 megawatts. The turbines are approximately 400 feet tall.

"We're one of the first universities in the U.S. to have a major in renewable energy," Dave Kennell, coordinator of the Renewable Energy Program at ISU, said. "There has been a lot of student interest."


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