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Wind power is picking up speed in the United States.

With rising concerns about global warming boosting interest in alternative sources of energy, wind power is starting to receive greater attention. In fact, the business of generating energy naturally is booming. Growth in the industry is expected to soar 40% this year, as wind farms crop up in states as diverse as New York, Texas, and California.

While the U.S. is well on its way to becoming the world’s largest wind-power market, wind power still makes up less than 1% of all power generated in the United States. And that’s with at least 22 states pushing renewable sources of energy through legislation – legislation that requires utilities to make use of alternative power sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass.

Rising natural gas prices and concerns about air pollution have also helped fuel the increase in wind power. Wind power is particularly attractive because it produces no carbon dioxide emissions, which are one of the largest causes of global warming.

Opponents to wind power cite two concerns. They worry that wildlife will be hurt.  Birds and bats, sometimes in large numbers, fly into the whirling blades. People are also concerned about the impact of large wind farms on scenery, for example, off the shores of Cape Cod.  Donald Trump has announced his opposition to plans for the world’s largest onshore windfarm, in Scotland, because it will harm the views from a large resort he is developing.

For more information on the increasing use of wind power, go to: http://csmonitor.com/2006/0119/p02so1-usec.htm

To obtain a copy of a recent study on wind power markets, click here.

For more information on what you can do to prevent or slow global warming, go to:

www.fightglobalwarming.com

www.cleartheair.org

www.earthday.net

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org