Currently, wind energy capacity amounts to more than 11,600 megawatts in the United States, although much of it is in California (2,300 megawatts) and Texas (2,700 megawatts). Wind energy has been the fastest-growing source of energy in the world since 1990, increasing at an average rate of 20 to 30 percent per year, a trend driven largely by dramatic improvements in wind technology.

 

Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind is used to rotate blades around a hub. The hub is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator. Utility-scale turbines range in size from 50 kilowatts or 1 or 2 megawatts. Small turbines, below 50 kilowatts, are used for homes, farms, ranches, telecommunications, or water pumping.

 

Buckeye Power, Inc., and Logan County Electric Cooperative installed a demonstration 10-kilowatt wind turbine at Indian Lake High School in 2006. Students at the school monitor the performance of the turbine as part of their science curriculum. You can view real-time data on how much electricity is generated by the turbine by visiting http://www.buckeyepower.com/. You can also learn more about wind power by contacting Washington Electric Cooperative.