About the Book
While covering the fascinating history of wind power as a whole, this timely handbook focuses on current technological developments and the promise—and pitfalls—of wind energy as part of the world's energy future.
The use of wind power for the generation of electricity holds vast potential for solving the world's energy problems, but numerous technical and social issues must be addressed before that potential can be realized. This handbook will both educate students about current issues related to wind energy and introduce the ways in which mankind has harnessed the wind through the ages. The book covers topics as diverse as early windmills in Europe, the United States, China, and the Middle East; the development of wind farms for electricity generation; and political factors involved in the development of wind energy today. Conventional wind turbine mechanics are explained, as are the technical improvements that drive modern wind turbines and other wind systems.
What makes the handbook unique is that it combines hard science with perspective pieces that address topics such as potential environmental damage that can result from modern wind technology, and how recent developments in wind turbine technology hold the promise for considerably reducing the cost of this alternate energy source, making it competitive with conventional fossil fuels. Readers will be engaged by extensive discussion of the economic, political, and ethical issues raised by the expanding use of wind energy in the United States and elsewhere, and they will be intrigued by a look at what wind power can mean to the planet's energy future.
Table of Contents:
List of Tables,
Preface,
1 Background and History,
Early Sailing Ships,
Wind Power at Work: The Beginnings,
Windmills in Europe,
Development in Wind Power Technology,
Windmills Arrive in North America,
The First Windmill Dynamos,
Decline of the Wind Industry in America,
Table 1.1. Production of Windmills, 1927–1963,
Table 1.2. Oil Consumption in the United States, 1915–2010,
Table 1.3. Price of Crude Oil, World Markets, 1920–2008,
Development of the Wind Turbine,
Wind Power Technology: Neglect and Resurgence,
Governmental Support for Wind Energy,
The Declining Interest in Alternative Energy,
State Actions on Wind Energy,
Table 1.4. Funding for Renewable Energy Sources, FY 2007 to FY 2010 (in millions of dollars),
Wind Turbine Technology,
Table 1.5. Units of Energy and Power,
Components of a Wind Turbine,
Wind Farms,
Table 1.6. Growth in Wind Farms in the United States, 1975–2012,
The International Scene,
Denmark,
Table 1.7. Wind Energy Production in Denmark, 2003–2013,
Africa,
Table 1.8. Installed Wind Power Capacity in Egypt, 1997–2013 (MW),
China,
Table 1.9. Growth in Wind Power Capacity in China, 2001–2012 (MW),
Conclusion,
References,
2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions,
Wind Power Costs,
Government Policies toward Wind Power Research,
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA),
Energy Tax Act of 1978,
Federal Renewable Energy Policies since 1978,
State Programs,
Effects of Tax Credits on Wind Power,
Wind Farms and Land Use Issues,
Offshore Wind Farms,
Objections to Wind Farms,
Aesthetic Concerns,
Noise Issues,
Infrasound,
More about Noise,
Shadow Flicker,
Desecration of Tribal Lands,
Technical Issues,
Harm to Animals,
Possible Solutions,
Public Attitudes about Wind Power,
Arguments in Favor of Wind Power,
Conclusion,
References,
3 Perspectives,
Introduction,
Against the Wind: Wind Power Opposition in Australia, Neil Barrett,
The Nocebo Effect,
The Groups: Landscape Guardians and the Waubra Foundation,
Lips Trembling at 10 Kilometers (7 Miles),
Wind Energy: How We Got Here, John Droz Jr.,
Why Wind Energy Is Good for America and the World, Tom Gray,
Small-Scale Wind Power, Yoo Jung Kim,
Where the Winds Don't Stop: High-Altitude Wind Energy Has Big Potential, Dave Levitan,
Siting a Wind Farm, John Thomas Post,
Wind Turbine Syndrome: Health Effects of Noise from Large Wind Turbines, Eric Rosenbloom,
The Careful Planting of Offshore Wind Farms, Linda Zajac,
4 Profiles,
Introduction,
American Wind Energy Association,
Albert Betz (1885–1968),
James Blyth (1839–1906),
Charles Francis Brush (1849–1929),
William Cubitt (1785–1861),
Georges Jean Marie Darrieus (1888–1979),
Distributed Wind Energy Association,
Anton Flettner (1885–1961),
GE,
Paul Gipe (1950– ),
Daniel Halladay (1826–1916),
Heron of Alexandria (c. 10–70 CE),
William ("Bill") Edward Heronemus (1920–2002),
Marcellus Jacobs (1903–1985),
Poul la Cour (1846–1908),
Rudd Mayer (1943–2002),
Mexican Wind Energy Association,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
National Wind Coordinating Collaborative,
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy,
Small Wind Certification Council,
Utility Variable Generation Integration Group,
Vestas Wind Systems A/S,
Wind Energy Center,
Wind on the Wires,
Windustry,
Women of Wind Energy,
World Wind Energy Association,
5 Data and Documents,
Introduction,
Data,
Table 5.1. Wind Energy Generation (in megawatt hours), United States, 2011 and 2012,
Table 5.2. States with Largest Installed Wind Power Capacity (in megawatt hours), 2011–2012,
Table 5.3. Energy Generation by Wind in the United States and Worldwide (in billion kilowatt-hours), 1983–2012,
Table 5.4. Wind Energy Budget Allocations, FY 2012, and Requests, FY 2014 (in thousands of dollars),
Table 5.5. Candidate Wind Turbine Sites,
Table 5.6. Energy Consumption from Renewables in the United States, Actual and Projected (in quadrillion Btu),
Table 5.7. Global Offshore Wind Capacity, as of 2013,
Table 5.8. Offshore Wind Policy Highlights for 2013,
Table 5.9. Postsecondary Education in Wind Energy,
Documents,
Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975,
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Competitiveness Act 1989,
Interim Guidelines to Avoid and Minimize Wildlife Impacts from Wind Turbines (2003),
Federal Wind Program: Goals (2006),
Initiative 937, Washington State (2006),
Rankin v. FPL Energy, LLC, 266 S.W.3d 506 (2008),
Wildlife Guidelines for Wind Power Facilities, State of Arizona (2009),
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5),
Sowers v. Forest Hills Subdivision, 294 P. 3d 427 (2013),
Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County v. Director, Ministry of the Environment (2013),
Wind Energy: Additional Actions Could Help Ensure Effective Use of Federal Financial Support, GAO Report 13–136 (2013),
Wind Technologies Market Report (2013),
Offshore Wind Market and Economic Analysis (2013),
Specific Standards for Wind Facilities, State of Oregon (2014),
Ostrander Point GP Inc. and Another v. Prince Edward County Field Naturalists and Another, 2014 ONSC #974 (2014),
6 Resources for Further Research,
Introduction,
Books,
Articles,
Reports,
Online Sources,
7 Chronology,
Glossary,
Index,
About the Author,
About the Author :
David E. Newton has been a freelance writer of nonfiction books and ancillary materials for young adults for nearly 55 years.
Review :
This volume in the Contemporary World Issues series provides a thorough introduction to the science behind and the history of the use of wind for energy. . . . The organization of the book makes it easy to use, and the extensive and up-to date number of resources is impressive. This is a reference that could be adapted for use by high school and college students as well as general readers interested in the topic.
Newton, a prolific author and former secondary school and academic educator, provides a nontechnical introduction to wind energy with a focus on history and policy. . . . The content is solid but standard, fitting for an early undergraduate audience. . . . Lower-division undergraduates and general readers.
