Wind Energy

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Wind energy is harnessed by wind turbines, which convert the energy of the wind into electricity. Wind energy is one of the largest sources of renewable energy. Wind farms can now be found in more than 40 states.

Basics

A wind turbine.

Wind energy is harnessed by wind turbines, which convert the energy of the wind into electricity. Wind energy is one of the largest sources of renewable energy.
Wind farms are most effective in areas with high and steady wind speeds, such as the central United States: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa together produce around half of all the wind power in the country. Wind speed generally increases with height, which is why wind turbines tend to be very tall.
Wind speeds over the ocean tend to be faster and steadier than on land. As a result, some countries have developed offshore wind farms, which come with their own geoscientific and engineering challenges. The first offshore wind farm in the United States began producing electricity off the coast of Rhode Island in 2016.   Read more

Frequently Asked Questions