Just as wind energy is poised to become a major energy source, people are beginning to report problems like huge wind machines built too close to peoples houses. People talk about laud noise and the disturbing strobe light effect as the turbine’s blades cut through the morning and evening sunlight.
People are coming up with common sense solutions like putting smaller turbines in residential areas and the huge machines further from people. Of course, the easiest way to avoid the troubles associated with any technology is to need less of it.
Americans are nearly 40 percent more efficient today than during the oil crisis of the 1970’s. That event turned energy conservation into a good business. But the U.S. still uses more energy and creates more pollution per person than any large nation. The U.S. has learned to conserve but other nations have learned to conserve much more.
Renewable technologies like solar panels, wind turbines and fuel cells also offer another benefit. They can be built, installed and used locally. But U.S. government support for renewable technologies still lags far behind subsidies for nuclear, oil or coal.
For years supporters of renewable power have fought to make clean energy competitive. Now technology is catching up with that dream and when people begin to see economic and environmental benefits, public attitude shouldn’t be to far behind.
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