Introducing Wind Energy

Wind turbines provide significant amounts of energy using only the natural power of the wind. In fact, wind power is one of the fastest growing and most commercially viable forms of clean energy. Because it produces no emissions and can be installed locally, it is a growing energy choice for everyone from residential customers to communities and municipalities to entire nations.

What is wind energy and how does it work?

View of the new IBEW Local 103 wind turbine from Rte. 93, Dorchester, MA.

Today’s wind technology harnesses the kinetic energy of flowing air and then transforms the mechanical energy of spinning blades into pollution-free electricity. Over the past 25 years, major advances in turbine technology have made this process ever more efficient, making wind energy a cost-competitive option for a growing number of applications.

Visit the Wind Technology section to learn more about how wind turbines work and are installed.

Why is wind considered clean, renewable energy?

Wind is considered renewable energy because it uses only the power of the wind to produce electricity, rather than using a material fuel like coal, natural gas, or oil. It is also considered a clean technology because it produces none of the emissions that come from using fossil fuels and has very few other environmental impacts.

Where is wind used?

For thousands of years, flowing air has powered human endeavors by filling sails and turning windmills. Modern turbines are fueling wind energy’s current renaissance.

Some countries rely on these high-tech machines to meet a significant percentage of their demands for electricity. Denmark, for example, gets some 20% of its electricity from wind. In Germany, which has more than twice as much installed wind capacity as any other country, wind turbines produce about 6% of the electricity. European and other nations have also established ambitious targets for expanding the role of wind and other renewable resources in their future power supply portfolios.

Wind energy still supplies less than 0.5% of overall U.S. needs for electric power, however. But wind power’s contribution to the nation’s supply portfolio will likely increase significantly over the next 20 years.

What are the benefits and barriers to using wind?

Wind power is the world’s fastest growing source of energy because of its economic and environmental characteristics. In many applications, wind is already competitive with conventional options for generating electricity. Better yet, wind technology produces electricity without creating air pollution, water pollution, greenhouse gases, or hazardous wastes.

The greatest barrier to wind development is siting and permitting where local concerns about environmental impacts such as effects on local bird and bat populations can necessitate in-depth environmental studies. As a highly visible generating technology, wind can also face community concerns about views, though communities with wind turbines often end up installing additional turbines once residents see how a turbine looks in reality.

Visit the Benefits and Barriers section to learn more.

Is there wind power in Massachusetts?

Wind turbine in Hull, MA.

Massachusetts has both onshore and offshore wind energy resources that are among the best in the continental United States. The state’s first recent, commercial-scale turbine began generating electrcity in the coastal town of Hull in 2001, and local residents have authorized plans to add more wind capacity. Working in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Trust, many other communities are exploring wind energy development on municipally owned lands. Numerous other projects are being considered by homeowners, institutions, businesses, and energy companies.

Visit the Wind Power in Massachusetts section to learn more.

How can I get involved?

There are many ways to get involved with wind energy, from installing a small-scale turbine to getting involved with community developments of wind turbines.

Visit the What You Can Do section to learn more about how to get involved.

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