By Hannah Whitmer
Climate change is continually occurring, for the earth is warming and something must be done to reduce the warming caused by humans. Climate change is affected by what humans do to get energy, whether using renewable or non-renewable resources.
Wind turbines use wind naturally created on Earth to generate electricity. Wind is a renewable source of energy and can create power without the use of fossil fuels or emitting polltion. Other options emit greenhouse gases or radioactive or toxic waste, and using wind does not. The fact that humans can produce electricity without reducing limited fossil fuels and without producing any pollution is just amazing.
Wind turbines are also versatile, being able to produce electricity on land, on the ocean, and as micro wind. This allows wind turbines to be used in various locations to produce even more clean energy. Not only this, but wind turbines leave a small footprint, taking up very little space. This allows other activities to be done on the land while turbines are in use.
Wind turbines are becoming more common, now competing with coal-generated electricity. An 18-percent increase of wind turbines on land can reduce 84.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide. This is a massive decrease, which I find inspiring.
Hannah Whitmer is the winner of the climate essay contest for Bayfield-area students organized by the Environmental Center of Fort Lewis College.
