Paige+sousa


 * ..Off_Shore Wind Power..**


 * ¿Question At Hand? **

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 *  The two biggest problems facing the world today from a scientific standpoint are fresh water and energy. Wind energy farms are starting to dot the countryside in countries all over the world. Alternative energy is becoming more prominent now, and environmental concern is no longer for the "tree huggers" but rather the people who wake up and see that our planet is slowly being destroyed by pollution and lack of responsibility. Easily overpowering the concern of the fact that our nation is so dependent on others to supply our energy needs the endless amount of pollution being admitted to the Earth's atmosphere have far exceeded the safety of our future. Solar energy is becoming more and more common as well as Ethanol. **
 * Do you have alternative energy working for you? Are you concerned about the environment and how it is being destroyed? Are you exploring energy alternatives yet, or are you caught up believing this madness? **
 *  Rather than further congest the thickly populated areas of our nation and other parts of the world, alternative wind energy may benefit most from the offshore winds. Wind flows briskly and smoothly over water since there are little to no obstructions. The large and slow turning turbines for these offshore wind farms take advantage of the moderate yet constant breezes at each location. While the wind may not be as strong, it is very consistent, with the turbines generating substantial power wind may be the newest renewable energy. **
 *  The worldwide demand for renewable energy is increasing rapidly because of the climate problem, and also because oil resources are limited. Wind energy appears as a clean and good solution to adopt the worlds energy source. Observed as a limitless energy source there are various pros and cons of the subject as well as designs specialized for specific locations and work. **



 Onshore wind farms are often located in remote locations that are far from cities where electricity is supplied. Transmission lines built to connect a wind farm to its client city are an added expenditure for developers. Those who wish to enter the offshore wind market must shell out even more funds as offshore wind farms are thirty to fifty percent costlier than their onshore counterparts. However, the tradeoff is higher wind speeds at sea that lead to more energy production, offsetting offshore wind’s additional expenses. Aside from cost-based concerns, critics also find fault in wind turbines’ deafening rotor blades.  The __Anemometer__ measures the wind speed and relays the wind speed data to the controller which makes adjustments accordingly. Most turbines have either two or three __Blades__. Wind causes the blades to "lift" and rotate. A disc __Brake__, which may be applied mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically is used to stop the rotor in emergencies or regulate the rotor speed. The blades and the hub together are called the __Rotor__. The __Tower__ on which the turbines are mounted on are typically made of either tubular steel, steel lattice, or concrete. Since wind speed increases with height, taller towers enableturbines to capture more energy and generate more electricity. The __Controller__ start the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16 mph and shuts down at about 55 mph. Turbines do not operate at wind speeds above about 55 mph because they may damage in the high winds. __Gears__ connect the low-speed and high-speed shafts and increase the rotational speeds from roughly 30 rpm to 60 rpm [about 1000 to 1800 rpm] the minimal rotational speed required by most generators to produce electricity. The __Generator__ is an induction generator that produces 60-cycle AC electricity. The __High-speed shaft__ is what drives the generator as well as the __Low-speed shaft.__The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rpm. The __Nacelle__ sits atop the tower and contains the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake. Some nacelles are large enough for a helicopter to land on. The __Pitch__:or the amount the blades are turned [pitched] out of the wind are used to control the rotor speed and keep the rotor from turning in winds that are too high or too low to produce electricity. The __Wind direction__ is critical; an "upwind" turbine, so-called because it operates facing into the wind. Other turbines are designed to run "downwind," facing away from the wind. The __Wind vane__ measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind.__Yaw drive__ lets upwind turbines face into the wind; the yaw drive is used to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. Downwind turbines don't require a yaw drive, the wind blows the rotor downwind. The __Yaw motor__ motor is what powers the yaw drive to position the wind turbine to the right direction.

__**Carbon savings: **__
 * How much carbon dioxide is emitted during the manufacture, shipping, construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of wind energy facilities? **


 * How much is potential carbon displacement is reduced after the indirect effects of grid integration, as well as more frequent running of fossil fuel–fired stations to counteract power fluctuations of wind-generated electricity? **

__**Concerns: **__
 * *There are some companies that say they can help you. They can help reduce your carbon footprint! For individuals as well as businesses and organizations, they would provide consulting services to assess and reduce your footprint and balance unavoidable emissions. As good as these sound they are only postponing the effects. To act now and construct would eventually relieve the need for any carbon footprint. **


 * “This would also include addressing potential impacts to endangered and threatened species and their habitat, significant wildlife habitats" **[[image:http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b5hcKABPlGI/TH8WRaFjsEI/AAAAAAAAiR8/szA-L7kieHM/s1600/9-210c.jpg align="right"]]

 // Alternative Energy //. 2006. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.energyrefuge.com/>. [|http://www.capewind.org] [] [|http://windconcernsontario.wordpress.com] []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Uncertainty surrounding wind power's impact on wildlife--particularly the potential for deadly collisions between birds and turbines--has tarnished its image and even delayed some wind farms. Indeed, the first large offshore wind farm proposed for U.S. waters--The Cape Wind Project in Massachusetts's Nantucket Sound--has been held up in part by concerns that its 130 turbines could kill thousands of seabirds annually. The American Lung Association reports that Cape Cod has the worst air quality in Massachusetts. Cape Wind will contribute to improved air quality by reducing air pollution emissions in New England. Cape Wind will also reduce global warming greenhouse gas emissions by 734,000 tons per year. Global warming contributes to rising sea levels and more frequent storms that erode our beaches and cause coastal property damage. Global warming and climate change presents the greatest threat to birds and sea life and their habitat. The amount of emissions introduced to the atmosphere by the machinery constructing these turbines may be great but even if so the same exhaust would happen anyways. Everyday people drive cars for far less important reasons.media type="youtube" key="jVwn2ivxyxM?fs=1" height="423" width="528" align="left" **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">From an overall view the nation and the world seem to be considering the idea of wind. Three Michigan farms are planned. John Deere Wind Energy is planning to build three Michigan wind farms that will increase the state’s wind power capacity to 374 megawatts, or by 61 percent by 2012. **