Bad Aspects of Windmills
Windmills used to generate renewable electricity have been popping up across the countryside with increasing frequency in the past few years. The goal of producing clean energy that does not use any natural resources has been the focus of many, from governments to electric utilities. While there are many great benefits to wind power, and windmills, there are some negatives to consider before investing in this alternative energy option.
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Power Generation Reliability
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The main disadvantage to windpower, and windmills, is the unpredictability of wind. When the wind blows, windmills are a great producer of clean energy. The problem is wind does not blow at constant speeds, and sometimes does not blow at all. Because of this it would be very difficult to rely on wind power as the primary energy source. Also, it is very difficult and expensive to store excess electricity produced so it is a bit of a "use it or lose it" situation.
Impact on the Environment
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Windmills are a very clean electricity producing option. This does not mean they do not have an impact on the environment. First, they require large areas of land to place enough windmills to generate sufficient amounts of electricity to make the investment economically feasible. Second, noise is generated when the blades rotate that can be bothersome to people living near a windmill. The noise generated by a large windmill can be similar to a small jet engine. Third, some critics have said that windfarms can block views and spoil natural landscapes. Finally, migrating birds have been known to get caught in the rotating blades and killed.
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Cost
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The cost of a windmill will probably keep your average person out of the electricity-producing business. For a windmill that will power a home, the cost starts around $10,000. For the large windmills found on wind farms, the cost is well over $100,000 per. There are some government programs to help reduce these costs but the application process can be challenging to navigate.
Location
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In real estate, the old adage is "location, location, location." With windmills, it is the same thing as there are several issues with location. First, locations where there is high volumes of wind tend to be far away from areas with high electrical needs. As a result, the cost of transporting the electricity over power lines is high. Second, due to government restrictions and community pressures, finding appropriate sights for windmills is getting more difficult.
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References
- Photo Credit windmill image by Einar Bog from Fotolia.com
