By Gavan Boguszewski
Update
H. Dow HS
1st Place Division 3, News Writing
News Analysis
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Sharp, attention-getting lead that underscore the why/how elements of the news
- Clarifies the news elements, i.e. timeliness, nearness, impact and prominence
- Clarifies through research the background necessary to understand current news
- Develops an understanding of the issues/problems through interviews with varied and balanced sources
- Avoids personal opinion unless properly attributed
- Sentences, paragraphs of varied length, written clearly, concisely and vividly
- Effective use of facts/quotes from both primary and secondary sources
- Proper diction/grammar; use of third person
Renewable energy is on the rise in the United States, and as of 2016, nearly 15 percent of all domestically produced electricity came from sources such as hydroelectric, solar, and wind power. In Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis, wind energy is the most cost friendly source of energy for both conventional and alternative sources of energy, with prices ranging from $29 to $50 per kilowatt.
Arguments against using wind turbines for energy are beginning to run out. People used to suspect that costs per megawatt hour were $150 to $175. However, this suspicion was proved to be false when the first wind contract ended up costing only $115 per megawatt hour. Environmental activists and the Michigan Public Service Commission were pleased. The price has only dropped significantly since then, with some wind contracts only costing $45 in 2014.
“We are very likely going to see wind turbines built in south west Midland County, Porter, and Mt. Haley Township,” environmental activist Peter Sinclair said in an email interview. “As part of a development that will also extend into one township in Saginaw County.”
Sinclair also said that people should be expecting to see a lot more wind turbines. Midland County is only one of a massive build out of wind turbines all throughout Mid-Michigan. Wind turbines have already been prevalent in the Breckenridge area, which have been around for five years.
“After watching the experience of Breckenridge, communities to the west, east, north and south are in the process of securing wind turbines and the benefits they bring,” Sinclair said. “Northern Isabella county will become home to Michigan’s largest turbine farm, almost 400 megawatts.”
Wind turbines are used to harness wind energy, then use it to generate either mechanical power-machines that grind grain or pumping water- or electricity. Wind flow patterns can often be predicted and certain regions often provide more wind. There are two types of wind turbines, the horizontal-axis turbines, and vertical-axis turbines, the latter being more common.
Farmers and owners of large plots of land have the option to rent out certain parts of their land, placement for a single wind turbine can be up to, $8,000 per year on average, however, the prices may vary. Wind turbines can be built within three months. Wind farms are also becoming a way to make money. People who own private land can receive a wind farm lease by either a energy developer reaching out to a land owner, or a land owner reaching out to a energy developer. However, not every stretch of land has the potential to farm a lot of energy. If a wind farm lease is obtained, a surveyor is sent to take a look at the site’s suitability. As long as the property receives a minimum wind speed of 4.5 meters per second.
Wind energy is a clean source of energy, and is plentiful in certain regions. It doesn’t pollute air like power plants, that tend to rely on fossil fuels, do not produce atmospheric emissions, and don’t produce greenhouse gases.
However in terms of environmental impacts, the pros vastly outweigh the cons. While acknowledging both sides of the spectrum, there are claims made by a highly organized campaign by fossil fuel companies that overshadows the negative impacts wind turbines have by certain fossil fuel companies. One of these claims being that the spinning turbines can have harmful effects on flying wildlife such as birds or bats. According to Sinclair, these claims hold little, if any, actual impact to wildlife.
“Careful science shows that, compared to other human impacts, say from roads, buildings, and even kitty cats, wind turbines are minor,” Sinclair said.