Wind Power

By: Greg Fisher

TurbineWind turns propellers surrounding a rotor. Rotor spins a generator to create electricity

UsesElectricity grid

1 MW Single home or building

5-15 KW rating for home.

Wind Power MapsDarker areas indicate more wind

Existing Power Capacity (in MW)

Choice Energy Wind powerStarted by Columbia River PUDPurchase electricity from wind powerSupports future renewable energy

development

Klondike16 1.5 MW turbinesEnough to power 6,126 homes

Condon83 600 kW turbines Enough to power 10,513 homes

Stateline399 660 kW turbinesEnough to power 26,500 homes

Hydro and Wind BalanceExistence of dams creates logistical issuesDams are reliableWind storms cause excess wind energyDivert water around dams.

Impacts on FishWind storm create electricity surgeDams forced to reroute water in a harmful

way to fish

Impacts on BatsBarotrauma is deadly to batsDeadlier to bats than birds

Impact on BirdsVery limitedMillions killed by house cats per yearOnly thousands per year by turbines

Future of Wind EnergyNorth Dakota and Texas have greatest

potentialWashington is nearing max with potential

capacity at 3740 MW and current capacity at 1575.38 MW

Existing Wind powerTexas is in the lead8361.18 MW currently1095.55 MW in production136,100 MW potential

CostsWind: 5-6.4 cents per kWh*Hydro: 4-4.5 cents per kWhGeo: 3.3-3.9 cents per kWh*Nuclear: 4 cents per kWhCoal: 2.6 cents per kWh

* taken from geothermal power website

A few referenceshttp://www.awea.org/projects/http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/

wind_animation.htmlhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/

article4608418.ecehttp://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/

2009/07/wind_power_throws_a_curve_at_t.htmlhttp://heraldnet.com/article/20090727/

NEWS03/707279952http://www.windpowermaps.org/windmaps/

windmaps.asphttp://www.crpud.net/residential/choiceenergy