Wind Energy Advantages Are Clear, Now Where Is It Headed

 Whitelee wind farm, located near Glasgow in the UK, is a success story for those who support wind energy generation. According to a 2019 Engineering and Technology article, this wind farm began producing energy in 2008, and the National Grid incorporated it in 2009. Experts in the UK found that not only did the farm generate enough electricity to power 90 percent of households and businesses in Scotland, but it also captured five million tons of carbon emissions.

Wind energy has many advantages, including creating possibilities for placing wind turbines in more locations through advances in this technology. Wind turbines are located on land or near the coast and rely on shafts and gears to rotate the turbine's blades and power a generator that produces electricity.

Some of the advantages of wind energy generation are that it is cheaper to maintain and is a cleaner fuel source. According to the US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, the land-based energy source is one of the lowest-priced sources of energy available today. It costs one to two cents per kilowatt after the production tax credit, a one to two-cent tax credit given to wind energy producers in the first 10 years.

Furthermore, energy buyers purchase wind energy at one fixed price over an extended time, avoiding price fluctuations that occur with other energy sources. Finally, after initial installation costs, wind turbines cost little to maintain.

Additionally, some experts state that, with advances, the cost to integrate this technology will decrease in the future. In the last 40 years, prices have dropped drastically, and while prices might not continue to drop as sharply, past trends indicate that prices are on a decline.

Outside of cost, wind turbines generate a cleaner source of energy. With turbines, wind generates energy without negative impacts, emitting harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, particulate matter (a mix of solid particles and liquid droplets), or sulfur dioxide. In addition, wind energy does not contribute to acid rain, greenhouse gases, or smog.

Because the wind provides an inexhaustible energy source, it provides the country with some measure of energy independence. According to the US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, the US wind power capacity has expanded 15 percent every year over 10 years, illustrating its potential as a viable energy source.

Finally, most experts report that wind energy also generates jobs. The wind turbine engineer is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country. Also, some experts state wind energy will create over 600,000 jobs in maintenance, manufacturing, installation, and support services by 2050.

These advantages have fueled innovations in wind energy, for example, the vertical axis wind power revolution. Vertical axis wind turbines work differently from standard turbines in the blades rotate around the tower (central axis) compared with blades that oscillate circularly out in front and at the top of the turbine tower.

While the vertical axis wind turbine has been around since the beginning of the millennia, it is only in recent years that advances in this technology have made it possible to place these turbines in more locations outside of open plains. This technology has advanced so much since its early days that the US Air Force incorporated vertical axis wind turbines as a part of its Expeditionary Energy campaign, an initiative to fund innovative fuel and renewable sources.

Moreover, because of its ability to be placed in more locations, it can be deployed for on-site use, also called distributed wind power. Corporate campuses, farms, and industrial facilities are just a few of the places where vertical axis wind turbines might be installed.

What Is Energy Deregulation?

In a fully regulated energy market, a government body oversees all aspects of energy product prices and processes. This means that only the local utility can sell directly to consumers, and the regulating body establishes prices for electricity and natural gas. Additionally, the government dictates distribution and transportation costs, leaving consumers with no choice about their energy provider.

The process of deregulation returns control to the consumer, allowing competitive energy suppliers to emerge. With a wider variety of providers and choices, prices tend to become more competitive. Suppliers must set themselves apart from competitors through innovative features and attractive options. In addition to innovation and pricing improvements, deregulated markets lend themselves to more emphasis on renewable energy sources. Energy suppliers can introduce renewables to the electricity grid.

Over the past several decades, multiple US states and Canadian provinces have undergone the deregulation process. As a result, consumers in these areas can freely choose their suppliers, just as they would a particular Internet provider or cell phone carrier. Although the government does not regulate energy prices, marketing is still subject to regulation.

In 1978 the US Congress passed the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), which aimed to promote alternate energy sources, decrease dependence on foreign oil, and diversify the American electric power grid.

The biggest change came in 1992. The Energy Policy Act gave residential and business customers the right to choose their electricity supplier. This landmark case determined that energy utilities and energy suppliers must be separate entities. Over the next decade, more than a dozen states became deregulated and allowed competitive energy companies to develop. Utilities, however, continue to be regulated because of their position as monopolies.

The state of Texas, for example, regulated electric power in 2002. In the new electricity market, consumers can compare plans and rates to choose their electric companies. If they wish to change plans, various online tools allow them to browse rates and new contract terms. While they may pay a termination fee with their previous companies, they have the right to switch plans whenever they wish.

Generally, Texas consumers can choose between a fixed-rate plan, which keeps the price constant for the contract’s duration regardless of market volatility or weather, or a variable rate plan. With a variable rate, consumers pay a different price each month depending on market factors.

One disadvantage of a deregulated energy market is that consumers bear more personal responsibility. When faced with dozens of choices, they should research suppliers and compare rates. Furthermore, they should fully understand all contractual obligations before signing up.

Consumers will typically save substantially by shopping around. Because energy rates fluctuate daily, consumers should compare them on multiple occasions, in addition to talking to more than one company. According to the Small Business Administration, many businesses are paying hundreds and even thousands of dollars more than they should on energy. Similarly, individuals pay an average of 20 percent more than they should.

A deregulated energy market offers consumers more flexibility than a regulated market. For example, consumers can change their providers when their life circumstances change. The birth of a baby or new home purchase will affect energy consumption. A deregulated market ensures that consumers can select a new plan that aligns with their current energy needs. Many suppliers offer a variety of plans, including two-year or four-year plans. For consumers with unpredictable usage, a supplier with a fixed-rate payment plan may make sense.

The Proposed REPLANT Act

Green Choice Energy is a licensed supplier of clean and renewable electricity and natural gas for commercial and residential consumers in seven states and the District of Columbia. Green Choice Energy supports the mission of One Tree Planted by planting trees for every new consumer who switches their energy supply to the company.

One Tree Planted is an environmental nonprofit organization that focuses on global reforestation. Every dollar donated to One Tree Planted results in the planting of one tree.

One Tree Planted expressed support to the REPLANT (Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees) Act that will expand the Reforestation Trust Fund (RTF). RTF was created in 1980 to fund reforestation efforts to stop natural calamities such as wildfire. RTF’s funding cap was $30 million annually, with the funds coming from tariffs on wood products. However, the funds have become insufficient to keep pace with the growing reforestation need.

If passed, the REPLANT Act will remove the funding cap and direct all tariffs on wood products to the RTF. It is estimated that the proposal will increase the RTF to $123 million annually. The bill will also empower the United States Forest Service to plant 1.2 billion trees within 10 years. The REPLANT Act is expected to solve the reforestation backlog of about two million acres of national forestlands.