Wind Energy FAQs
How does wind power work?
Wind power is essentially another form of solar power. Differences in temperature and pressure around the earth cause air to move.
Wind turbines operate on a simple principle to capture the energy in this moving air and convert it into electricity. The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity.
Is wind energy affordable?
Yes. And it keeps getting more affordable as it becomes more widespread. Over the past 10 years, wind energy has been averaging an annual growth rate of 30%. The more we invest in it, the more affordable wind energy becomes. New wind generated electricity is cheaper than electricity generated from new coal plants.
What are some other forms of sustainable energy?
Sustainable energy can also be obtained from biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, and solar sources. All of these sources are either not depleted after energy is extracted, or are easily renewable as in the case of biomass reactors. In addition, some forms of nuclear fuel or even clean coal technologies could be considered sustainable in some sense. At Heritage we only consider an energy source sustainable if it is also fully compatible with environmentally sensible standards.
