5 Wind Energy Questions for Global Wind Day 2021

June 15 is Global Wind Day, which is a time to celebrate wind energy all over the world and to educate people about the benefits of wind energy to society. We love to go on and on about the advantages of wind energy and how our 100% wind energy plans can help you mitigate the effects of climate change, so we’ve gathered the answers to some of the basic wind energy questions in one light and breezy package.

What is wind energy?

If you’re just starting out on your journey to understand wind energy, you may have some basic questions that you’re too afraid to ask. What is wind energy? Is wind renewable or nonrenewable? How does wind energy work? Well, as far as we’re concerned, no question is too basic. For all you newbies to wind energy, here’s our quick video rundown on how we capture clean, renewable wind power and convert that to electricity.

For an even more in-depth breakdown on wind energy, visit our Renewable Energy 101 page.

What are some of the benefits of wind power?

We can talk forever about the benefits of renewable energy, from helping preserve and protect the environment to creating employment opportunities right here in the U.S. Simply put, generating electricity from naturally replenished sources like wind can help us build a cleaner, greener future.

See the benefits of using wind power to generate 100% clean electricity.

Is there a difference between wind energy and solar energy?

When it comes to renewable energy, wind and solar are two of the most well-known and the fastest-growing clean energy sources. And while they’re both naturally replenished and virtually inexhaustible, they each have unique advantages that make them ideal in different situations. For example, wind turbines are more efficient and can produce electricity day or night, while solar panels require less maintenance and can be installed in densely populated areas, including on rooftops.

Learn more about the differences between wind and solar energy.

Do I need to have a wind turbine in my backyard to get wind energy?

Not at all (though you could, and it would be really awesome). At Green Mountain Energy, we source all our wind energy from wind farms right here in the United States. Not only does that mean that you can choose to start powering your home with wind energy today, your choice helps increase the percentage of wind energy on the grid overall, ultimately helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. It’s a win-win!

See all of the renewable energy projects that we support.

What’s the future of wind energy?

Wind energy is currently the fastest-growing industry in the United States.* The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that we’ll be able to fulfill more than a third of the nation’s electricity needs with 100% wind energy by 2050. As the technology advances, it’ll become more reliable and cost-effective, meaning more wind farms will start popping up across the country and more investment will be put into wind energy.

Check out our in-depth roundup about the future of wind energy.

This Global Wind Day, take some time to give a shout-out to wind power for helping us make the future cleaner and greener. Once you’re done giving the wind its due, get the conversation going with your friends by sharing these benefits of wind power. And if you’d like to start using that beautiful breeze to power your home, you can choose the plan that’s right for you today.

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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