The reading and the lecture discuss the pros and cons of using wind power as an alternative source of energy to conventional ones. The author of the passage believes that wind is an available, cheap, and clean energy. However, the lecturer states some problems with wind energy that cast doubt on the premises of the passage.
First of all, the lecturer explains that wind is not a reliable source of energy; Because it varies, regarding its strength, from a mild breeze to a wild tornado. Moreover, wind does not blow continuously in a single area. Therefore, in order to exploit its energy, there must be a considerable number of power plants on variouslocations. This rejects the claim that wind power is very accessible and abundant.
Second, despite the technological advancements, the cost of constructing a wind power plant is high and could exceed that of a fossil fuel, especially in initial phases. Furthermore, the price of buying a proper piece of land may add a large figure to the overall expenses. Unfortunately, such ideal locations are sometimes far from the consumer endpoints, which makes the transmission of energy very costly. This refutes the claim that wind is the cheapest source of energy among the all possible alternatives.
Finally, wind farms are major sources of noise pollution. Although they do not emit greenhouse gases, they are still not completely environment-friendly. In addition, migrating birds are attracted to the areas where wind power plants are built. They habitually have a tendency to fly through high speed wind tunnels. Hence, they are hit by blades of the generators. In a single wind farm about 200 migrating birds were reported to be killed. This undermines the claim that wind energy has no harm to the environment.
The reading and the lecture discuss the pros and cons of using
wind
power
as an alternative
source
of
energy
to conventional ones. The author of the passage believes that
wind
is an available,
cheap
, and clean
energy
.
However
, the lecturer states
some
problems with
wind
energy
that cast doubt on the premises of the passage.
First of all
, the lecturer
explains
that
wind
is not a reliable
source
of
energy
;
Because
it varies, regarding its strength, from a mild breeze to a wild tornado.
Moreover
,
wind
does not blow
continuously
in a single area.
Therefore
, in order to exploit its
energy
, there
must
be a considerable number of
power
plants on
variouslocations
. This rejects the claim that
wind
power
is
very
accessible and abundant.
Second, despite the technological advancements, the cost of constructing a
wind
power
plant is high and could exceed that of a fossil fuel,
especially
in initial phases.
Furthermore
, the price of buying a proper piece of land may
add
a large figure to the
overall
expenses. Unfortunately, such ideal locations are
sometimes
far from the consumer endpoints, which
makes
the transmission of
energy
very
costly. This refutes the claim that
wind
is the cheapest
source
of
energy
among the all possible alternatives.
Finally
,
wind
farms are major
sources
of noise pollution. Although they do not emit greenhouse gases, they are
still
not completely environment-friendly.
In addition
, migrating birds
are attracted
to the areas where
wind
power
plants
are built
. They
habitually
have a tendency to
fly
through high speed
wind
tunnels.
Hence
, they
are hit
by blades of the generators. In a single
wind
farm about 200 migrating birds
were reported
to
be killed
. This undermines the claim that
wind
energy
has no harm to the environment.