Region 1: EPA New England

Wind Power

Visit DOE's New England Wind Forum for a map of the wind projects in New England that are operating, permitted or under construction. You can also see which projects are windfarms, community-scale, customer-sited, and small wind.

Wind can be used to generate electricity and mechanical power. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the uneven surface of the earth, and the earth’s rotation. In the case of electricity generated from the wind, the wind pushes the blades of wind turbines, and the kinetic energy generated from that activity is converted to mechanical power. That mechanical power is then used to drive a generator that then produces electricity that can be used in homes and businesses.

Since 2001, energy costs in New England have increased substantially. This is due almost entirely to the higher cost of fuel (e.g., natural gas). Since the wind is free, wind power is not subject to swings in the price of fuel. In many instances, it has become cost competitive with fossil fuel sources. Thus, there are numerous proposals for wind power facilities all over New England.

Benefits: As concerns about climate change and air quality continue to mount in New England, wind energy provides residents and businesses with the electricity they need without the harmful emissions associated with conventional electricity sources. Wind is also the fastest growing energy source in the world for the last three years, creating jobs and economic growth. Every kilowatt hour generated by wind turbines offsets a kilowatt hour that would have been generated from other conventional sources of electricity and displaces the potentially harmful emissions associated with that power.

Concerns: Wind power is not without controversy. The modern towers are quite tall, and can range anywhere from 200 to 400 feet to the tip of the rotor. The wind also blows best in places that make the turbines more prominent such as on top of ridgelines and in the ocean. As a result, many wind facilities face significant local opposition based on aesthetics.

In addition, the impacts on wildlife such as birds and bats are not always known. Some wind facilities such as the one in Searsburg, Vermont, have instituted pre and post construction monitoring programs to assess the impact on local wildlife, including birds, and bears. However, due to the site specific nature of this information, it is not easily extrapolated to other sites. Thus, many proposed new wind facilities are also being subjected to similar analysis.

Additional Resources:

• US Department of Energy – Wind Powering America
• American Wind Energy Association
• National Renewable Energy Lab