| Wind is one of the cleanest, if not cleanest, | | | | electricity as any other state. |
| renewable energy sources available to us. | | | | |
| What most people don't know is it is also the | | | | 7. Modern windmills actually come in two |
| fastest growing energy sector. | | | | forms, vertical and horizontal models. |
| | | | |
| Wind is an indirect version of solar power. | | | | 8. Horizontal windmills are the stereotypical |
| Different surfaces on the Earth react | | | | version that comes to your mind when the word |
| differently to being hit by sunlight, | | | | is mentioned. |
| particular in regards to heat. As sunlight | | | | |
| heats up surfaces, they warm up at different | | | | 9. Vertical mills look like upside down egg |
| rates. The surround air also warms up at | | | | beaters, but are hypnotic when they spin. |
| different rates, fertilizing the wind | | | | |
| process. Temperatures over a body of water | | | | 10. Unlike traditional utilities, most energy |
| like a lake will always be cooler than | | | | produced by wind is done by private |
| temperatures over rocky ground. Hot air rises | | | | businesses and sold to utilities through an |
| and cool air rushes into fill such voids. As | | | | electric grid hookup. |
| this process occurs, the rushing air | | | | |
| manifests as wind and an incredibly cheap and | | | | 11. Wind power in the U.S. generates a |
| clean energy source. | | | | whopping 17 billion kilowatts per year, more |
| | | | than enough to provide all electrical needs |
| The fact that wind is a naturally occurring | | | | for the city of Chicago. |
| event makes it a great energy source. | | | | |
| Consider the following: | | | | 12. More than 30 states have wind farms |
| | | | generating and supplying electricity to |
| 1. Wind is a renewable energy source because | | | | utility companies. |
| it will exist as long as sunlight beats down | | | | |
| on us. | | | | 13. California, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, and |
| | | | Wyoming are the dominant forces in producing |
| 2. Wind has been used by man as an energy | | | | energy from wind. |
| source ever since we've sailed boats. | | | | |
| | | | 14. The biggest energy producer from wind is |
| 3. The first windmills were used to turn | | | | Germany, which is also dominant in solar |
| wheels to grind grain in Iran. | | | | power production. |
| | | | |
| 4. American colonist used windmills to move | | | | For many, these wind findings will be a |
| water, grind grain and cut wood. | | | | surprise. The sole fact that there is enough |
| | | | power produced by wind energy to handle a |
| 5. Wind energy harnessed by windmills was a | | | | city the size of Chicago is pretty |
| dominant source of energy in rural America in | | | | impressive. As we move into the 21st century, |
| the 1920s. | | | | new technology is heading in the direction of |
| | | | creating wind energy platforms for individual |
| 6. In modern times, California is the biggest | | | | residences. |
| user of wind power and produces twice as much | | | | |