From The Workbench - Alternative + Renewable Energy Blog Valuable information for do-it-yourselfers interested in the latest in alternative + renewable energy

Welcome back and happy Wednesday.  No worries, you’re almost there and the weekend is in sight.  Today we’re going to hit you up with Part 3 of the Wind Energy Buyer’s Guide…The Benefits of Wind Energy.  Parts 1 and 2 were all about the how’s, then where’s and the origins; today we are going to cover the most important thing to you and your pocket book:  The WHY.

That’s right, we are fine learning about the how’s and the when’s and the where’s, but if we’re honest, the real reason we’re doing this is to help our planet, and help our wallet.  The good news is, implementing wind energy into your life will do both of those things brilliantly.  So, without further ado, here are some amazing benefits of actually using the wind that we so often complain about:

What are the benefits of wind power?

* Affordable—Wind power is one of the most cost-effective energy resources available, costing just 4-6 cents per kilowatt hour. Additionally, wind power can help homeowners reduce or even eliminate utility bills entirely.
* Renewable—Unlike fossil fuels, the wind is free and its supply can never be depleted, nor is it exclusive to any one region of the world, so it’s not subject to shortages, embargos, or price increases. It is a completely renewable form of solar energy created by the sun heating the atmosphere in combination with the earth’s rotation and surface irregularities.
* Eco-friendly—Wind power is a clean resource, creating no waste and no green house gases. What’s more, the more wind power used, the less fossil fuels will be consumed, keeping toxic byproducts created by those fuels from entering the atmosphere.
* Economically stimulating—Because the best sites for erecting wind farms are in rural areas, wind turbines can benefit local economies. Unlike drilling or mining, the land surrounding a wind farm can still be used for agricultural purposes, allowing farmers to lease land to utility companies while continuing to farm their land.
* Tax Incentives and Rebates—If connected to a grid, wind power system owners may be eligible for a tax credit for the electricity sold back to the utility company. In addition, some states offer rebates or other incentives to help offset the cost of purchasing and installing wind systems. For more information go to Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (http://www.dsireusa.org/)

We’ll wrap things up tomorrow with Part 4 and final of our Wind Energy Buyer’s Guide! I hope this has been as inspirational as it has been informative!  Stay tuned!