Changes

== Controversy ==

== Controversy ==

There is a good deal of controversy over whether wind power is a good idea as a viable energy source.  This should come as no surprise—energy is big business.  A significant fraction of a nation's wealth goes into providing energy, and the energy companies (oil, gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, wind) have a lot at stake.  They devote a lot of their resources into promoting their interests.  As a relative newcomer to the field, and with a lot of technological advances going on, it's no surprise that wind power comes in for a lot of praise and criticism.

There is a good deal of controversy over whether wind power is a good idea as a viable energy source.  This should come as no surprise—energy is big business.  A significant fraction of a nation's wealth goes into providing energy, and the energy companies (oil, gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, wind) have a lot at stake.  They devote a lot of their resources into promoting their interests.  As a relative newcomer to the field, and with a lot of technological advances going on, it's no surprise that wind power comes in for a lot of both praise and criticism.

On the pro-wind side, the "treehugger.com" (the name pretty much says it all) website says:

On the pro-wind side, the "treehugger.com" (the name pretty much says it all) website says: "The energy payback for a 2-megawatt wind turbine that lasts over 20 years is... 5-8 months."<ref>https://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/energy-paypack-2-megawatt-wind-turbine-lasts-over-20-years-5-8-months.html</ref>}}

{{cquote|The energy payback for a 2-megawatt wind turbine that lasts over 20 years is... 5-8 months.|||<ref>https://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/energy-paypack-2-megawatt-wind-turbine-lasts-over-20-years-5-8-months.html</ref>}}

The American Wind Energy Association says:

The American Wind Energy Association says:

{{cquote|Recent improvements in turbine technology has reduced the cost of wind energy, allowing electricity consumers and utilities to lock in low, affordable electricity rates through 20 to 30 year contracts.|||<ref>http://www.awea.org/falling-wind-energy-costs</ref>}}

{{cquote|Recent improvements in turbine technology has reduced the cost of wind energy, allowing electricity consumers and utilities to lock in low, affordable electricity rates through 20 to 30 year contracts.|||<ref>http://www.awea.org/falling-wind-energy-costs</ref>}}