TAPPING INTO WIND POWER

The report presents wind power as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in the U.S., highlighting its competitiveness with natural gas and its ability to reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption. It details economic advantages such as job creation and local tax revenue, while addressing environmental impacts on wildlife and human concerns regarding noise and aesthetics. The document concludes that reaching a target of 20 percent wind electricity by 2030 is feasible and affordable, provided the U.S. adopts stable long-term policies like a national renewable electricity standard.

• Wind power is cost-competitive with other new power generation sources, often competing with natural gas as the lowest-cost option, and is cheaper than new coal and nuclear plants.
• The wind industry significantly contributes to employment; by the end of 2009, it employed approximately 85,000 full-time workers, with domestic manufacturing of equipment increasing from less than 20 percent in 2006 to about 60 percent in 2009.
• Widespread adoption of wind power can drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water usage; the DOE estimates that 20 percent wind electricity by 2030 would cut annual CO2 emissions from power plants by 25 percent and save 4 trillion gallons of water over 20 years.
• While wind turbines can cause bird and bat deaths through collisions or barotrauma, the National Wind Coordinating Committee found these impacts are relatively low at most locations and do not threaten species populations.
• Wind energy integration into the electrical grid is manageable and does not compromise reliability; at 20 percent penetration, integration costs are estimated to add 10 percent or less to wholesale generation costs.
• To maintain global leadership and expand wind capacity, the report recommends a national renewable electricity standard (RES) of 25 percent by 2025, alongside tax credits and improved transmission planning.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2011). TAPPING INTO WIND POWER. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/tappingintothewind.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. TAPPING INTO WIND POWER. 2011. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/tappingintothewind.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=TAPPING INTO WIND POWER |date=April 2011 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/tappingintothewind.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2011tapping, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{TAPPING INTO WIND POWER}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2011}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/tappingintothewind.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }