The United States was quick to follow suit, with turbine wind energy farms cropping up in California, Colorado, Texas, New York, Iowa, North Dakota, Indiana, Washington, Oregon, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana, Maine, Utah, New Mexico, West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas and Wyoming.
Quickly America's wind power output surpassed that of Canada's with the largest wind farm in Texas producing a whopping 781 mega-watts of power, compared to the largest Canadian sources wind energy farm, which is pumping out 197 mega-watts.
In addition to the large-scale commercial turbine wind energy farms, wind power Canada is spreading to residential areas as well. "The consumer interest in small wind is astounding," says Sean Whittaker, VP of the Canadian Wind Energy Association.
He said public interest prompted them to create a website at www.smallwindenergy.ca to explain pros and cons of wind power small business solutions or wind power homeowner solutions. The wind energy cost of a backyard turbine is about $5,000, Whittaker says, which produces electricity at 20 to 25 cents per kilowatt hour. (Each kilowatt hour will keep a light bulb running for 10 hours.)
This cost is double the typical utility rates, he adds, citing that cost savings isn't really why people hop on the alternative wind energy bandwagon.
As countries look to switch to the alternative sources wind energy provides, government grants will make the process more affordable. For instance, in the U.S., taxpayers can receive up to $4,000 in tax credits to retrofit their homes with small wind turbines.
As technology improves, wind power Canada designs will be able to output more kilowatts and infrastructure will improve to share benefits of one wind turbine with the community. If an entire house can be powered by a small turbine, then the investment will have been well worth it.
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