Wind Power: Its Benefits and Challenges

Should we say “NO” to Wind Power?
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Should We say “NO” to Wind Power?
1 Introduction
In recent years, there has been a shift towards clean energy to enhance environmental protection and address the environmental challenges posed by the emission of green gases. According to Lin and Liu (2020), wind power has been one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in the world. However, not everyone is convinced that wind power is the future of clean energy or that it will help address some of the current environmental challenges. Deciding on whether to embrace wind power or not requires a critical assessment of the benefits and challenges associated with wind power. 
1 Thesis Statement
The use of wind power promises cost-effectiveness and an environmentally friendly source of energy, but it is limited by aesthetic and noise pollution, modification of wild habitats, and huge capital investment. We should not say no to wind power because of its potential to address the climate change challenge facing the planet and impact economies positively.
2 Historical Background of Wind Power
    Human beings have harnessed power from the wind to generate electricity for many years. According to Wu and Sun (2018), humans have utilized wind power for electricity production for 120 years and have also used wind power for other purposes for over 3000 years. Today, a lot of advancements have been made to ensure that wind power can be harnessed effectively to replace fossil fuels and address climate change.
2 Wind Power to Propel Boats and Generate Electricity
          People used wind power as early as 5000 BC to propel boats along the river Nile (U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2021). This is one of the earliest uses of wind power in the world. Over time, other new ways of utilizing wind power were discovered. For instance, in 200 BC, the Chinese were using wind energy to power their water pumps, while Persian and Middle Eastern were using wind energy to power their grain grinding machines (EIA, 2021). These new uses of wind power spread to other parts of the world, and soon, American colonists were using wind power to pump water, grind grains, and cut wood well into the 19th century. 
          The first windmill for electricity generation was built towards the end of the 19th century (Wu & Sun, 2018). More scientists during this period were interested in not only generating electricity using wind energy but also in building functional wind turbines that would enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of windmills in the production of electricity. However, the use of wind power in electricity generation did not last long. This has been attributed to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century, electrical networks were extended into rural areas through electrification programs (EIA, 2021). Also, at the time, fossil fuels were easily available at low costs (Wu & Sun, 2018). This rendered wind-powered electricity useless during the time, and as such, the utilization of wind power declined significantly.
3 Wind Power to Address Oil Shortages and Environmental Concerns
          In the 1970s, wind power utilization took a new trajectory as the world experienced oil shortages. According to Wu and Sun (2018), there were oil crises in 1973 and 1979, and this forced the world to look into renewable sources of energy. Wind power was once again considered for its potential in energy production. There was a focus on research and development into wind energy and wind energy technologies (EIA, 2021). This caused a shift towards wind power in the late 20th century.
          In addition, there were growing concerns for the environment towards the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. In the 1990s and 2000s, there was a significant need to consider alternative fuels sources (EIA, 2021). There were global concerns over the depletion of fossil fuels, energy security, and climate change (Wu & Sun, 2018). As an alternative energy source, wind power has become highly utilized around the world. As of 2019, about 1.42 trillion kWh of wind electricity has been generated in the world (EIA, 2021). The wind power industry continues to grow and shows promise in providing sufficient electricity in the world, thus addressing climate change and fossil fuel depletion concerns. 
3 Benefits of Wind Power
 Wind power provides several benefits to individual communities as well as the world in general. These benefits can be classified into two key categories, namely economic and environmental benefits.
3.1. Economic Benefits
3.1.1. Wind power is cost-effective 
Wind power is a cost-effective source of electricity. According to Lin and Liu (2020), there has been an evolution of wind turbines over the years, which has driven down the prices of electricity. This has, in turn, contributed to an increased ability to meet the demand for electricity in the world. In addition, more cost-effective wind power forecasting methods have been developed in recent years. According to Hanifi et al. (2020), these more accurate, cost-effective wind power forecasting methods have facilitated cost-effective maintenance and operations of wind turbines. This cost-effectiveness has trickled down the wind-powered electricity generation chain and has made electricity more affordable to the masses.
Beiter et al. (2021) reveal that over the years, the cost of wind power has reduced to below or at par with those of other sources of energy in the world, thanks to innovations and technological advancement in wind turbine technologies. As a result of this decline in cost, wind power has become a cost-competitive energy source in many parts of the world. The forecasted further reductions in the cost of wind power (Beiter et al., 2021) will make it even more cost-effective when compared to other renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.
3.1.2. Wind power can lead to significant economic growth 
Another economic benefit of wind power is that it can lead to economic growth. Wind power requires huge investments in terms of wind turbines and other technologies. According to the Wind Energy Technologies Office (2021), such investments contribute to economic growth. Countries that can manufacture wind turbines and develop other wind technologies can then sell them domestically or internationally, thus contributing to their gross domestic product. In the US, local manufacturers of wind turbines provide at least 71% of the turbines needed in generating wind-powered energy in the country (Wind Energy Technologies Office, 2021). Their contribution improves the country’s economy. Zhang et al. (2019) also indicate that significant investments in wind power contribute to the economic stability of the region or country. Like any other form of investment, investments in wind power boost the economy’s productive capacity and contribute to economic growth. Such investments can also increase wind-powered electricity production and make it accessible to more people in the country. More accessibility to low-priced electricity enhances productivity in all sectors of the economy.
3.1.3. Wind power leads to employment growth
 Evidence from the US indicates that wind power creates employment opportunities (Zerrahn, 2017). It creates green jobs for people with skills in wind power generation. For instance, expansion in wind power requires the installation of new turbines (Wind Energy Technologies Office, 2021). Installation of turbines requires human resources, and as such, it is a source of employment. In addition, as the demand for wind power increases, the need for wind turbines and other technologies arises. Companies that manufacture and develop wind turbines and technologies create employment for the locals. There are also job opportunities in operation and maintenance of wind turbines. Overall, the wind industry in the US provides 116,800 jobs (Wind Energy Technologies Office, 2021). 
According to Aldieri et al. (2020), wind power installations create jobs, but the number of jobs created varies depending on the country’s labor intensity. As such, countries that are more labor-intensive are more likely to create more employment opportunities through wind power. In addition, wind power is more likely to create more employment opportunities if there are no economies of scale for each wind power project introduced (Aldieri et al., 2020). This is because the number of employees needed is not proportional to the project when the project becomes more large-scale. It is also important to consider and assess how a wind power project will impact the community, including its potential to create employment opportunities.
3.2. Environmental Benefits
3.2.1. Wind power is a major source of clean energy
Wind-powered electricity is clean because it does not cause water or air pollution in the environment. Torinelli et al. (2018) indicate that wind power does not produce any form of toxic gases or waste compared to other energy sources, especially non-renewable sources. In addition, it has one of the lowest emissions of greenhouse gases when compared to other sources of energy (Vargas et al., 2019). Specifically, Zhang et al. (2021) indicate that wind power reduces the emission of carbon by about 40%. As such, it is an important source of energy to consider because it helps reduce global warming caused by excessive carbon emissions. Its carbon footprint in terms of land usage is lower than that of hydropower, which is what has been used to generate electricity in many parts of the world. Torinelli et al. (2018) also reveal that wind power uses the lowest amount of water when generating electricity. As such, it is an effective method of electricity generation that helps conserve environmental resources while protecting the environment from climate change.
3.2.2. Wind power is sustainable
As a renewable source of energy, wind power is sust...